Chapter 1

My name is Hendrix Wilker, and I'm a salesman.

I had spent most of the month working outstation. This time, my boss sent me on another two-week business trip, and all I could do was resign myself to my fate. There was nothing I could do because I needed the money—even if that meant I had to work extra hard for it.

After two weeks, I came back from my trip. However, unlike last time, I didn't tell my wife in advance because I wanted to surprise her.

My wife's name was Kathleen Todd. We used to work at the same company. After she married me, she became a full-time housewife and relied entirely on me to support her financially. Even so, I never felt resentful because I loved her very much.

I opened the door and snuck into our apartment. Kathleen was preparing food in the kitchen with her back turned to me. She was wearing a see-through shirt over a white bodycon mini dress. Her outfit put her perky butt and long legs on full display.

Although we had been married for years, I gulped reflexively upon seeing her like that. To me, she was still the most beautiful woman, and my feelings for her hadn't changed over the years. I missed her every night in the two weeks I was away.

I couldn't hold back any longer when I saw her dressed so provocatively. I rushed over and hugged her tightly from behind. As I put my hands on her supple bottom, that amazing feeling uplifted my soul.

But just as I was holding her, she suddenly said, "You rascal. You're always so sneaky."

Upon hearing this, I was instantly confused. From the day we got married until now, Kathleen had never called me that.

I thought I might have misheard. So, I quickly asked, "Honey, what did you just say? Who are you calling a rascal?"

As soon as my words fell, I felt Kathleen's body jolt a little. Then, she turned around and looked at me with a very surprised expression. "D-Darling, why are you back from your trip?"

Kathleen's reaction made me suspect that she was referring to another person when she called them "rascal". It made me question whether she had been unfaithful during the two weeks I was away.

"Who did you call a rascal just now?" I confronted her sternly.

"You, of course, you rascal. You've been gone for half a month. How could you not call me when you got back from your trip?" Kathleen responded.

Something about her words didn't feel logical to me. However, it was normal for women to speak illogically sometimes. Since I didn't have any evidence of her having an affair, I decided not to dwell on it.

"I had a feeling you'd come back today, darling. I prepared all this delicious food for you."

"Well, you were right. Here I am," I said with a smile, snuggling up next to her.

After dinner, I didn't even bother to shower before I took her to bed. Just as I was about to get intimate with her, I deflated.

Kathleen reached out to touch me and asked, "Darling, what's wrong?"

"Sorry, honey. I think I might be tired," I replied in exasperation.

Kathleen sighed, and I felt helpless. I didn't know when it started, but every time I tried to get intimate with her, I couldn't sustain myself.

Why couldn't I bed my wife like a man? What was wrong with me?

I remembered our wedding night when we first shared a bed. She had called out, "Darling, you're amazing! I love you so much."

Back then, I could always make her beg for mercy. But now, my body wouldn't even react to physical stimulation.

Lying in bed, I thought about it for a long time. I vaguely recalled that this condition started from the time Kathleen quit her job. My body had been gradually declining since then.

But I'm only 28 years old, and I can still do over 200 push-ups in one go. My body shouldn't be failing me. Why do I keep losing steam at the most critical moments?

I felt too embarrassed to go to the hospital alone, so I could only keep this bottled up without any real solution all the while.

After a long day's travel, I soon drifted into sleep.