Chapter 38

Only soft background music came from the unoccupied karaoke bar. A hollowness filled me when I heard Chad's name. For a moment, I was weightless as disappointment knocked me off my feet, only to pin me down and crush the air from my lungs. She had said Chad's name with such natural pride and devotion. He was a man she could only love from afar but could never have, and she would always think of him. She had never mentioned him to me before. This was the first time I had heard his name from her mouth. It was as if his existence was sacred to her, yet bringing him up in conversation was sacrilegious. I ignored the bitterness rising in me and feigned a lighthearted tone. "So, your husband is a rebound." She seemed intent to drop the matter as she said curtly, "No. It's more like he forced himself into my life as if he could replace Chad. The thing is, we might have worked out for the long run if he hadn't ruined everything. I'll never forgive him." My heart sank as the last four wor