Chapter 2

By the time the wave of pain subsided, my clothes were already drenched in cold sweat. My phone buzzed. I quickly pulled my vibrating phone from my pocket. The moment I saw the name on the screen, all the tension drained from my body, leaving me slumped in the driver's seat. It wasn't her. My grip on the phone tightened slightly as I let out a bitter laugh and answered Jayden Mitchell's call. "What is it?" Jayden had been my best friend since childhood and, ironically, my doctor who delivered the grim diagnosis. His voice came through the line, filled with concern. "Joshua, when are you planning to check into the hospital for treatment?" I looked at the dark clouds looming in the distance, a wry smile tugging at my lips. "At this point, going to the hospital won't change much." The disagreement in Jayden's voice was apparent. "What are you talking about? You've only been diagnosed with a manageable illness. Don't make it sound so hopeless. If you go through with the treatment, you'll recover in no time." I could hear the weight in his tone, and my grip tightened. He was the doctor overseeing my treatment, so he knew how severe my condition truly was. What he said was merely an attempt to stretch out my remaining time just a little longer. "Jayden, I want to spend the time I have left living on my own terms." I didn't want to be confined to a hospital room staring at blank walls. I wanted to be nice to myself for once. He was silent for a long moment before his rough voice returned. "Does she know?" I lowered my gaze, my lips pressing into a thin line. Her knowing or not made no difference. She had never cared about me anyway. Suddenly, Jayden snapped, "Joshua! How much longer are you going to let yourself be humiliated by that woman? All these years, you've done everything for her, and what has she ever done for you? Besides cheating on you, what has she contributed to your life?" I clenched the phone tightly and took a deep breath. I wanted to say something, but the words wouldn't come. Jayden noticed my silence and sighed. "You've been a doormat for so long. Haven't you had enough? Let her go and free yourself." A divorce? The thought had never truly crossed my mind. To me, Sophia was the light in the darkest corners of my existence. I had clung to that light for many years, making her my everything. How could I let go of her so easily? However, death was looming over me now. I wiped the tears off my face and forced myself to sound steadier than I felt. "I'll think about it." Jayden didn't press further, only reminding me to come by the hospital the next day to pick up some medication to help ease the pain. I agreed. After all, I owed it to myself to feel better for the remaining time I had left. When I got home, I spent the entire afternoon preparing a table full of dishes. They were all her favorites. She had mentioned she might come home tonight. We hadn't shared a meal in a very long time. I waited for her the whole night. When the clock struck midnight, there was still no sign of her. I quietly cleaned up the untouched dishes and prepared to sleep. That was when I heard the faint sound of the door unlocking. Sophia walked in while looking exhausted. Her gaze landed on me, laced with impatience and a hint of scorn. "You're still up?" "Sophie, I didn't expect you back." I was lost for words. I wanted to ask if she had eaten, but before I could get the words out, her voice cut through the air like a knife. "This is my house. Do I need permission to come back?" "No. That's not what I meant." Once I finished my sentence, she strode toward me and slid her hands around my neck. My body froze. A suffocating pain tightened in my chest. In the three years we had been married, every intimate moment between us had felt like a battlefield. She was always cold and always humiliating me. However, I could never refuse her. Her lips pressed against mine abruptly, her voice slurring, barely audible. I turned my head away. "Don't do this." It was as if she had heard a ridiculous joke, her gaze was filled with mockery. "Joshua, don't pretend you don't want this." I stayed silent. She leaned in again the next moment. "The person I loved was Edson. The only reason you're alive is to atone for your sins." My body froze as I tried to leave. However, I couldn't just leave her alone like that. In the three years of our marriage, Sophia had barely ever returned home. She treated me like a boy toy, and our house like a hotel, dropping by only when she felt like it. "Joshua, you're nothing but a disgusting, dark-hearted scumbag. Stop pretending to be some lovesick fool. It makes me sick!" I frowned and remained silent, savoring the moment greedily. Sophia, I met you first. You were supposed to choose me. Her movements faltered for a split second when she saw the resignation in my eyes before continuing. When it was over, the tidy bed had become messy. Sophia lay on the bed and shoved me off with a disgusted look. I frowned as my head hit the floor hard. "You've had your fun. Now stay away from Eddy!" Her voice was cold and impatient as if I didn't deserve to exist in this world. I curled up on the cold floor, every breath a struggle. I felt like a turtle retreating into its shell, desperate to protect what was left of me. Before, it was Edson. Now, it was Edison. In the future, there would be many others like Edson, but that person would never be me. That night, I made a decision to divorce her. In the remaining time, I wanted to live for myself. By the time I woke up the next morning, she was already gone. Standing in front of the bathroom mirror, I barely recognized the man staring back at me. My once sharp features were gaunt, my complexion pale and lifeless. I had held on for so long, but it was time to let go. After tidying myself up, I drove straight to my design studio. In the three years since we had married, I only spent time with her and in my studio. The business had been struggling lately, and I knew why. Sophia had deliberately opened a rival studio, stealing my clients just to spite me. The studio was my life's work. Now, as my life was nearing its end, I didn't know who could I trust to carry it forward. My partner was talented but lacked the management skills. If I handed it over to him, it was only a matter of time before it failed. However, I didn't know who else to hand it to if not him.