Too Late to Marry in HasteChapter 3

Vincent was restless that night. He insisted on coming home from the hospital, even though he should have been resting. I knew it was because Layla’s wedding was tomorrow. He was afraid I would cause a scene, so he was keeping me under surveillance. Even though he didn’t want her to marry someone else, he still wanted her to be happy. He was always so good to her.

When we got home, he saw the empty, clean dining table and froze. “Sophie, it’s our anniversary. Where’s the dinner you made?”

“Why did you drink yourself into the hospital?” I snapped. “You weren’t going to eat it, so I gave it to the stray dogs.”

He stared at the table in silence.

I was tired. I went to take a shower, not bothering to decipher his mood.

In the early days, when he was just starting his business, his eating habits were terrible, and he developed stomach problems. From then on, I cooked every meal for him, even bringing lunch to his office to make sure he ate. Then Layla came along, and he started standing me up, one time after another. I would reheat his dinner over and over until it was mush. He would come home, see the cold food on the table, and offer a simple, “Sorry, I already ate.” I’d throw the food in the trash. I stopped saving him dinner after that.

But it seemed he was only just now noticing.

When I came out of the shower, he was waiting with a glass of warm water. “We’re husband and wife. We can’t keep sleeping in separate rooms.”

“Thank you, but no.”

“You always have a glass of warm water after your shower. I measured the temperature. It’s just how you like it.”

“That cup is part of a matching set you bought with Layla.”

I met his gaze directly. “I accidentally broke your cup once. Layla was furious. You didn’t come home for a month. I lost ten pounds. When you finally came back, you asked if I had learned my lesson. This is the second one she bought you. You specifically told me never to touch it, that I was not to disrespect Layla’s feelings.”

He flinched and quickly put the cup down. “I forgot.” He looked at me hesitantly.

“What is it?”

“Are you going to see the new place tomorrow?”

When I nodded, he seemed to relax. “I’m free. I’ll go with you.”

I snorted silently. He would do anything to make sure I didn’t crash Layla’s wedding.

“Fine.”

He seemed thrilled.

I don’t know if it was what Ben said earlier, but that night, I kept dreaming of the child I lost. I tossed and turned, unable to sleep. I was about to get up for some fresh air when a pair of warm hands wrapped around my waist from behind.

I smelled alcohol. A wave of revulsion washed over me, and I shot out of bed.

“Vincent, are you serious? Layla’s getting married, so you can’t keep it in your pants and you decide to come to me?” The anger I’d suppressed for years flared up, and I couldn't hide the loathing on my face.

My expression seemed to burn him. “I just think it’s time for us to move on to the next stage. To turn the page.”

I smiled. “Alright.”

Before he could react, I unlocked my phone and showed him the screen. “How many children do you want? We can go to the orphanage tomorrow.”

The photos were of blind, deaf, and disfigured orphans.

“Cheating, emotional abuse, shirking responsibility,” I said. “I’m afraid any child we have will learn from you. Only the ones with no eyes to see would want to be in our family.”

He was silent.

“Get out,” I said. “Don’t disgust me.”

I pushed him out and locked the door.