Chapter 2

As I sent that last message, my hands trembled uncontrollably, and a wave of indescribable emotion surged within me.

I never imagined that one day, I would be sending such words to a woman I had never met.

She replied, "If you want the truth, come to Maple Gardens."

The moment I read her message, I jumped out of bed and rushed through my morning routine.

I grabbed the first set of clothes I could find from my wardrobe and headed straight for Maple Gardens.

On the way, my heart pounded with anxiety.

To be honest, I didn't know what I would do once I got there.

Maybe I just desperately needed an answer, too afraid to face the reality of Seth’s betrayal.

As soon as I stepped out of the taxi, I saw a woman walking out with Seth.

She was beautiful, with a perfect figure, a youthful face brimming with vitality, and an aura of sheer confidence.

Seth said something that made her cover her mouth and laugh, her joy ringing through the air.

The sight was unbearable.

I rushed toward them, blocking their path with my outstretched arms.

Though I intended to confront them, my voice trembled, “What are you two doing?”

Startled by my sudden appearance, Seth frowned.

The moment his eyes met mine, they filled with surprise—and something else… disgust. The girl beside him raised an eyebrow at me, a challenging smile on her lips.

Seth pulled her behind him, his tone sharp. “Why are you here?”

I stared at him in disbelief. “Who is she?”

He didn’t answer, his impatience growing.

Instead, he shoved me away. "What are you doing here? This is not a place for you."

His push sent me reeling, and I snapped.

I shoved him back with all the strength I had. "I’m asking you, who is she?!"

I shouted with all my might, my voice breaking on the last word.

Seth staggered back a step, then glared at me.

"Are you out of your mind? Look at yourself! Have you no shame?" he shouted back.

I froze, staring at him in shock, unable to believe what I was hearing.

He didn’t spare me another glance.

Without hesitation, Seth took the woman’s hand and led her to his car.

Like a gentleman, he waited for her to settle in the passenger seat before starting the engine and speeding away, leaving me standing there, feeling as if all the blood in my veins had frozen.

I pulled out my phone and caught a glimpse of myself—exhausted from a sleepless night, my face gaunt, eyes hollow, and hair disheveled.

The sight startled me.

I wandered back home in a daze.

By the time I got there, Seth still hadn't returned.

My head was spinning, and my feet throbbed with pain, blisters forming and bursting from the long walk.

My whole body ached.

I collapsed onto the sofa, curling up tightly.

My eyes drifted to the small green plant on the coffee table.

Seth had bought it to cheer me up.

He had said, “Succulent is resilient, just like you, who grew up so strong.”

But it hadn’t been watered for days, and now its edges were dry and withering, a faint shadow of death creeping in.

The pain in my body was unbearable, and suddenly, I longed for my mother.

On countless sleepless nights as a child, she would hold me close, telling me stories until I fell asleep in her arms. I wished she could hold me again.

I sent my mother a message, asking if I could come home for a few days.

I didn’t want to stay in Seth’s place any longer.

Her reply came quickly, and I opened the conversation eagerly, reading slowly in the thin light that filtered through the curtain.

But my excitement turned to disappointment; the smile that had formed on my lips faded away.

She told me to be sensible.

She said Seth was handsome, had a good job, and treated me well.

She urged me not to be stubborn and to take care of my home.

She told me not to throw a tantrum, and if there were conflicts, I should communicate with Seth.

After all, every couple would get into an argument.

She added that if Seth had upset me, I should be forgiving—after all, no man is without faults.