After coming home from working late that night, I found my husband applying ointment to the inside of his first love’s thigh. She was wearing my pajamas and lying in my bed. So I immediately listed everything in the house on a secondhand marketplace, including the house itself. When my husband found out, he kicked me out of the master bedroom, furious. “Leah got scammed by her boyfriend, and he abused her too.” “She had nowhere to go, so I brought her to our place.” “How can you have no sympathy at all? Girls should help girls!” The way he guarded the master bedroom stabbed right through me. All of a sudden, I felt that this marital home I had decorated myself was so cold it made me shiver. I did not question him like I usually did, and only turned around in silence and walked toward the couch in the living room. Julian Graham glanced at me, thought I was throwing a tantrum, shook his head helplessly, and went back into the master bedroom. Looking at the message on my phone that someone had booked a viewing for the house, I let out a breath of relief, closed my eyes, and fell asleep. I was not entering this cage called Mrs. Graham anymore.
In the middle of the night, when I woke with a start, my stomach was still cramping. The living room light was still on, and half a glass of cold water sat on the table. Julian Graham had forgotten to buy my stomach medicine again. I braced myself against the couch and sat up, the back of my hand covered in cold sweat. Light seeped through the crack under the master bedroom door, and a woman’s muffled moans came from inside. I let out a cold laugh and walked over while holding on to the wall. When I pushed the door open, the woman sleeping in my bed had stripped down to only her bra and underwear. My husband was beside her, bare from the waist up, holding a bottle of something that looked like lube. There was a suspicious little wad of tissue beside them. When he saw me, he calmly put away the little bottle and pulled the blanket over Leah Shaw, covering her bruised body. Julian Graham frowned at me. “I was just putting medicine on her.” “As you can see, Leah was beaten black and blue by her ex-boyfriend.” “She was in too much pain to sleep, and I really was only helping her put ointment on, so don’t overthink it.” Leah clutched the blanket around herself, looking soft and fragile, and her eyes started to redden. “Julian, maybe I should leave after all. Am I affecting your marriage?” “I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean to.” She made a show of getting up. Julian Graham pressed her back onto the bed with a heartbroken look and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. When he turned back to face me, only deep disgust remained in his eyes. “Do you have to be so petty? She’s only staying here for a few nights.” I sneered. “Does staying here mean the two of you have to take your clothes off for her medicine?” Julian Graham said, “Stop being unreasonable!” He got off the bed, rushed toward me, grabbed my hand, and dragged me out of the bedroom. He shut the door and pointed at the little sign on it. [Sleeping. Please Do Not Disturb.] The sign was new. I had never bought it. He said, “You’re not allowed to disturb Leah’s rest. From now on, you’re forbidden from coming into the master bedroom!” I said, “This is the house I bought! I can’t come in?” Julian Graham frowned. “She’s only staying in the master bedroom!” I walked toward the guest bedroom. As soon as the door opened, I saw our wedding favors piled inside in a total mess. On the floor, one of my three-thousand-dollar shirts had been used as a rag and was covered in dust. Against the wall was Leah Shaw’s cello, and her yoga mat lay on the floor. I turned to look at him. “She’s staying in the guest room too?” Julian Graham avoided my gaze. “Playing the cello helps stabilize her emotions.” My phone showed a new message notification. I opened my phone. The estimate pushed by the real estate platform popped up, and it was much lower than the purchase price. I ignored him, sat back down on the couch, and opened my banking app. The remaining loan, early repayment rules, and penalty fees were all listed clearly, item by item. Julian Graham stood beside me. “What are you making a fuss about now?” I did not look up. “Checking the accounts.” He sighed. “Elaine, be mature. Leah is sick, and you’re healthy, so don’t fight her over a bed.” My fingers froze. Fight her over a bed. I had spent half a year looking at furniture and beds, and I had looked at hundreds of beds. The bed in the master bedroom was the one I chose only after trying ten different stores.
Now he used the word fight. I opened the purchase contract. Property owner: Elaine Bennett. Borrower: Elaine Bennett. The down payment transfer record was saved in the cloud. The renovation contract was there too. When Julian Graham saw the screen, his expression changed. “Why are you checking those?” I locked the screen. “None of your damn business.” He lowered his voice. “Don’t wake Leah up.” I glanced at the master bedroom door. Someone else’s sign hung on that door. Someone else’s blanket lay on that bed. Another woman lived in that room. I picked up my phone and messaged the agent, Ms. Walker. “Can this place be sold as soon as possible?” Ms. Walker replied quickly. “You can bear to let it go?” I replied: “I can.” A dull thud came from the master bedroom. Julian Graham immediately turned and went inside. “Leah? Are you okay?” “You need to go to the bathroom? I’ll carry you there.” When he came out of the bedroom, he was carrying Leah in his arms and walking toward the bathroom. From an angle he could not see. Leah gave me a victor’s smile. In the past, I would have made a scene, but now, I felt nothing. I placed my phone facedown on the table. Since the master bedroom of this house did not belong to me. There was no need for this house to belong to us either. The next morning, I opened the fridge. My cold brew coffee was gone. The chocolate milk was gone too. Where the ketchup used to be, there was now a row of low-fat milk. A sticky note was pasted on the fridge door. Leah cannot have caffeine, cold drinks, or high sugar. The handwriting was Julian Graham’s. He came out of the kitchen holding a bowl of oatmeal. “Eat light for now. Leah can’t handle strong smells.” I looked at that bowl of oatmeal. Last night, when my stomach hurt, he did not ask if I could eat. Now he remembered that Leah could not handle smells. I picked up my bag. “I’m not eating.” Julian Graham frowned. “Throwing a fit again? You have to make that face over breakfast too?” I changed my shoes. “Save it to coax her.” His voice darkened. “Elaine Bennett, don’t talk so harshly.” I went to the walk-in closet. In the main cabinet hung Leah Shaw’s beige coats, nightgowns, and shawls. My garment bag had been moved to the balcony, and the bottom of the bag was covered in dust. I picked up the gown. Julian Graham followed me in. “She gets anxious if her things are placed outside, so don’t overthink it.” “Then my gown won’t get anxious sitting on the balcony?” He pressed his lips together. “Do you have to compare yourself to a poor woman who was abused?” My phone buzzed. A message popped up in the Graham family group chat. Julian’s mother sent a voice message. “Julian, how did Leah sleep last night? Don’t let Elaine go to the master bedroom and bother her. She can’t handle being disturbed.” Julian Graham replied: “Don’t worry. I arranged everything.” Julian’s mother sent another message: “Elaine is capable, so being wronged for a few days won’t hurt. After marriage, we’re all family.” No one asked where I had slept last night. No one asked if my stomachache had gotten better. I took a screenshot of the group messages. When Julian Graham saw it, his face turned ugly. “Why are you taking screenshots?” “To keep as a memory.” He reached out to take my phone. I stepped half a step back. “Don’t touch it.” His hand stopped in midair. “Elaine, why are you so prickly now?” I put the gown back into the bag. “Your whole family speaks even more sharply. I’m just a slow learner.” That morning, I took half a day off. I exported the down payment records. I exported the monthly mortgage deductions. I exported the renovation invoices. I exported the property fees, appliance orders, and soft furnishing lists. In the spreadsheet, Julian Graham had only made a few scattered transfers for the mortgage. Among the furniture, only the TV and dining table had been paid with his card. I messaged Chloe Martin. “Help me look at the pre-marriage property settlement.” She replied: “You finally woke up?” I replied: “Cut the crap. Do the math.”
Chloe Martin sent one sentence. “The house is under your name, and you have all the evidence. Don’t go soft.” Julian Graham came back at noon. He handed me a cup of warm water. “I was too worked up last night. I’ll take you to look at wedding rings this weekend.” I looked at that cup of water. A water temperature label for Leah Shaw was still stuck to the bottom of the cup. Forty-five degrees. I did not take it. His phone rang. Leah Shaw sent a voice message. “Julian, that blanket is a little damp. I can’t sleep.” Julian Graham picked up his car keys. “I’ll go ask the dry cleaner. I’ll be back soon.” I asked: “What about the wedding rings?” He stood at the door. “That’s not urgent.” I lowered my head and submitted the early repayment appointment. A confirmation popped up on the page. I tapped confirm. He was busy protecting a blanket. I was busy dismantling a marital home. Julian Graham had promised to go with me to the wedding hotel for the menu tasting. I booked the time two weeks in advance. His parents had dietary restrictions, and I noted them three times. Before we left, he received a call from Leah Shaw. She said she did not dare go out alone and was afraid of running into her ex-boyfriend seeking revenge. Julian Graham glanced at me. “You go first. I’ll take her to buy clothes and then head over.” I picked up the car keys. “Okay.” He breathed a sigh of relief. “Elaine, you really are sensible.” I did not respond to that. The hotel manager took out the wedding seating chart. There was an extra name next to the head table. Leah Shaw. The notes were very detailed. Keep away from the speakers. Keep away from the lights. Close to the lounge. Convenient for Mr. Graham to look after her. I held the pen. “Who changed this?” The manager glanced at the computer. “Mr. Graham called last night to confirm it.” I put down the pen. “The head table is where the bride and groom’s parents sit.” The manager smiled awkwardly. “Mr. Graham said Ms. Shaw’s situation is special.” Half an hour later, Julian Graham arrived. Leah Shaw followed behind him. She had that cashmere blanket draped over her shoulders and was clutching a garment bag. “Elaine, I’m sorry. Should I not have come?” I looked at Julian Graham. He stood in front of her. “She’s getting used to the wedding venue in advance, so nothing happens on the day.” I asked: “My wedding. Who approved her getting used to it?” Leah Shaw’s eyes reddened. Julian Graham’s face darkened. “Don’t take it out on her. She can’t even handle one harsh word.” I opened the menu. “Then don’t come.” The tasting began. The first dish, salmon, was served. Leah Shaw covered her mouth. “It smells fishy.” Julian Graham immediately called the manager. “Change this dish.” The second dish, onion soup, was brought over. She frowned. “The flavor is too strong.” Julian Graham said: “Change that too.” The manager looked at me. I pushed the menu over. “Listen to Mr. Graham.” The music trial played. It was the warm-up song I had chosen. Leah Shaw lowered her head and clutched the blanket. “This sound is making it hard for me to breathe.” Julian Graham turned his head. “Change it to white-noise piano music.” I looked at him. “Are the guests coming to a wedding or to sleep?” He lowered his voice. “Elaine, the wedding is just a formality, and Leah can’t be triggered.” I asked: “What about me?” He paused. “You’ve always been stronger than her.” That sentence landed on the table. I closed the folder. Leah Shaw spoke softly. “Maybe I shouldn’t attend, so you two won’t fight.” Julian Graham immediately grabbed her wrist. “No one is asking you to leave.” I saw his hand clearly. Only then did he realize it and let go.
Leah Shaw’s breathing grew rapid. Julian Graham helped her up. “I’ll take her out first. You handle the remaining payment.” The manager handed me the bill. I did not sign it. “Put the wedding date on hold.” The manager froze. “Ms. Bennett, the deposit may not be refundable.” “Follow the contract.” When Julian Graham was helping Leah Shaw into the car, Ms. Walker the agent called me. “Ms. Bennett, if you’re serious about selling that house, I have a full-cash buyer.” I watched Julian Graham close the car door for Leah Shaw. “I’m serious.” Ms. Walker asked: “What about the price?” “Below market price is negotiable.” After I got home, I canceled the hotel booking. I also sent a termination request for the bridal shop contract. Julian Graham sent me a message. “Leah has stabilized. Don’t blow today’s matter out of proportion.” I replied with two words. “Too late.” He did not reply again. I downloaded a house sale contract template. The wedding could go on without me. The marital home could go on without him too. At nine the next morning, I went to the bank. The staff member wrote the early repayment penalty on a piece of paper. “Ms. Bennett, this is not a small amount. Are you sure you want to proceed?” I signed. “I’m sure.” She reminded me again. “After the lien is released, the property can be traded.” I handed over my ID. “I know.” When I walked out of the bank, Julian Graham sent me a message. “What do you want for lunch?” I replied: “Come back early tonight. We’ll talk about the house.” He replied: “Okay. This time, I’ll listen to you seriously.” I put my phone into my pocket. In the afternoon, Ms. Walker brought the buyers to view the house. I had packed Leah Shaw’s medicine boxes, sleep machine, essential oil diffuser, and slippers into a clear bag in advance. The bag sat by the entryway. The buyer’s wife saw the silk bedding in the master bedroom. “It’s been kept in pretty good condition. Can it stay?” I said: “The bedding won’t stay.” The buyer’s husband glanced at the balcony. “Why are you selling so urgently?” I handed him a copy of the property certificate. “I’m preparing to move to another city.” Ms. Walker pulled me aside. “You’ve cut the price too hard. They’ll still try to bargain.” “Full cash is fast, so the price is negotiable.” She said: “You’ve really made up your mind.” “Yes.” At dusk, Julian Graham came back. He saw the storage boxes in the living room. “Organizing wedding supplies?” I placed the settlement sheet on the coffee table. “Sit.” When he saw the spreadsheet, his expression changed. “Elaine, are you serious?” “It was also serious when I slept on the couch last night.” He sat down. “Go ahead.” I opened the first page. “The down payment was three million. I paid two million, and you paid one million.” He nodded. “I admit that.” “The renovation cost seven hundred eighty-six thousand, and I paid it.” “The main part of the mortgage came out of my account.” “I paid the property fees, appliances, and soft furnishings.” He rubbed his brow. “What’s the point of calculating this now?” “There is a point.” His phone started vibrating. Leah Shaw’s name jumped on the screen. He declined it. It rang again a second time. The third time, she sent a voice message. “Julian, I’m alone in the master bedroom. I had another nightmare just now. I dreamed that my ex hit me. I’m so scared…” Julian Graham stood up. I blocked his way. “If you leave tonight, we don’t need to talk anymore.” He grabbed his car keys. “She’s too pitiful, Elaine. Don’t force me to be cold-blooded.” I looked at him. “You were pretty cold-blooded the night my stomach hurt.” His face stiffened.
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