Part 3Her New Lover's Dog Bit Our Marriage Apart

I finished scrolling through that guy's SnapChat stories, feeling utterly bored.

After washing up, I lay down, ready for sleep.

Unexpectedly, Veronica came home just then, right on time.

I listened to her footsteps ascending the stairs, closing my eyes and feigning sleep.

Behind me, I heard the rustle of her changing clothes.

A moment later, I felt the mattress dip beside me.

She reached out an arm and pulled me closer.

She smelled of her familiar perfume, the one she always used.

But it was mixed with a faint, unfamiliar scent of men's cologne.

It wasn't mine.

I couldn't help but wonder if she'd just been lying in another man's bed, just like this.

Was that unfamiliar scent a lingering trace of it?

The thought made my stomach churn.

I subtly pulled away from her embrace, resisting her closeness for the first time.

In the past, I would have instinctively nestled against her when she lay down.

Burying my face in her neck, longing for her scent.

Never had I felt such repulsion, not until now.

The person behind me stiffened, seeming confused, and reached out to pull me closer again.

"Don't touch me. I'm tired."

With that, I turned my back completely and closed my eyes.

But Veronica didn't give up. She sat up and abruptly pulled me up with her.

My sleep interrupted, annoyance was clear on my face.

"What are you doing?"

Seeing my expression, her own assertive demeanor suddenly faltered.

"Did you… see something?"

"Or did I do something to upset you?"

Faced with her questions, I had nothing to say.

What if I did see something?

Was I supposed to ask her who that guy was? Ask her what she truly thought of me?

None of that mattered to me anymore.

"Veronica, I've been working all day, and I stayed late tonight to revise a proposal. I'm exhausted."

"Can you just stop this? I just want to get some sleep."

Her temper flared upon hearing my words.

"Alex, are you insane? Is it wrong for me to want to hug my own husband?"

With that, she slammed the door and stormed out.

In the past, I probably would have chased after her, pulled her back, and meekly begged her not to be angry.

But now, I just quietly pulled the covers higher, tucking myself in.

Then I closed my eyes and went back to sleep.

Now, nothing was more important to me than rest.

An invisible wall seemed to have risen between Veronica and me.

Neither of us contacted the other, and a cold war began, inexplicable and chilling.

For the next week, she didn't come home for dinner, nor did she send a single message.

When we met at the office, she'd just give me a fleeting glance.

Our colleagues whispered, wondering if we'd had another fight, or if it was about what happened during the video conference.

Meanwhile, that guy's SnapChat stories were updated frequently.

I thought we would remain in this stalemate forever.

Until a message came from my parents, saying there was a family dinner that night.

That's when I tried to contact Veronica, but my messages went unanswered.

With no other choice, I went to the apartment she lived in before we got married.

She always went back there whenever we fought or had a cold war.