Part 1The wife and the male secretary are on a business trip on Valentine's Day

On Valentine's Day, I set up a candlelit dinner, eagerly waiting for my wife to return from work.

At 9 PM, she texted me: “Something came up at work. Don't wait for me.”

Moments later, I stumbled upon a tweet from her secretary, Asher.

“On a business trip with the boss lady on Valentine's Day, and all the hotels are fully booked... How awkward...”

The photo accompanying his tweet showed a woman in a bathrobe in front of a large window.

The comments praised his luck, admiring the boss lady's elegant figure and femininity.

Asher only responded with a smirking emoji.

So, the “something” that came up was her taking her male secretary out for a good time.

I took a screenshot of his tweet and shared it on Instagram with a smiling emoji.

In the blink of an eye, Adeline called, reprimanding me:

“Asher was just joking. Why do you care so much? Why are you so petty?”

I hung up and texted her back: “Let’s get a divorce.”

At 2 AM, Adeline finally came home.

As soon as she opened the door, we stared at each other, neither saying a word.

Her eyes drifted to the candlelit dinner, yet she showed no guilt. Ins d, she snapped:

“Just because I came home a bit late? What’s with that Instagram post? You’re always so passive-aggressive, it’s infuriating!”

Seeing my silence, she tossed a tie at me.

“Asher bought this for you. See how thoughtful he is? He said if you don’t accept his apology, he’ll delete his Twitter.”

I looked at the old stains on the tie and chuckled. An old tie, probably one he wore himself.

Asher surely knows how to push my buttons.

Thinking I had calmed down, Adeline handed me the phone.

“Asher is so considerate; aren’t you going to thank him?”

I ignored her and continued watching TV.

“Declan, are you deaf?”

She pulled me up violently, throwing me off balance, and I fell to the floor.

Unluckily, my waist hit the corner of the table.

It hurt!

The injury was from a fire seven years ago when I saved Adeline and was hit by a falling beam.

I clutched my waist, trembling in pain.

Adeline looked at me with a hint of guilt.

“I’ll get the ointment.”

I glanced at her retreating figure, wanting to stop her but held back.

The medical report in the drawer had been there for three days.

When the results came out, the doctor specifically advised me that it’s early-stage stomach cancer. The cure rate is still high if I stay positive, watch my diet, and take my medication.

Next to the report were two tickets for a seven-day trip to Iceland. I planned to tell her on Valentine's Day, hoping to relax before the surgery.

Now, there's no need.

Adeline hurried back with the medical kit, searching quickly but then paused.

“The ointment is gone, could it be…”

She didn’t finish her sentence. I saw a flicker of guilt cross her face.

I suddenly remembered Asher’s reply on Twitter to someone: “She’s so gentle. When I accidentally burned myself cooking, she immediately applied ointment for me.”

If it weren’t for the recent events, I would’ve confronted Adeline about the imported ointment. Did she use it on Asher? But this time, I didn’t expose her.

I smiled wryly.

“Adeline, stop searching. I'll go out and buy some.”

She looked at me seriously.

“How can you go out like this? Stay home. I’ll go…”

Before she could finish, her phone rang.

She glanced down and immediately answered it.

“Asher, what’s up?”

Asher’s voice came through, sounding aggrieved.

“Ms. Chen, I’m feeling down and drinking at the bar. Some people caused trouble and hurt me. Can you take me to the hospital…”

Adeline threw the medical kit on the sofa and stood up abruptly.

“Asher, wait, I’m coming right away.”

“Ms. Chen, thank you, but it’s best you don’t come. Declan would be upset. I’ll find a way myself!”

“What right does he have to be upset!”

After hanging up, she glanced at me curled up on the floor with disdain.

She was about to rush out.

“Adeline, wait!”

I quickly called out to her.

“Declan, can you stop making a fuss?”

“How are you going to save someone without your phone and wallet?”

I pointed to the sofa.

Her phone and wallet lay quietly beside the medical kit.

Adeline looked at the kit for a moment.

“I’ll save Asher first and take you to the hospital when I get back.”

With that, she rushed out.