Lower the Seat, Lose the Status: My Wife Became a Beggar

After I get off work from the hospital, I decide to exercise by taking my mountain bike out on a ride. However, that's when I find out that the seat of my mountain bike has been lowered. There's even a blue sticky note with a scribbled heart pasted on the bike handle.

I call my wife, Sabrina Yellin.

"Who took my bike on a ride?"

After a few seconds of silence, Sabrina replies nonchalantly, "Kelly's boyfriend wanted to learn how to ride a mountain bike yesterday, so he practiced a few laps with your bike. What's wrong, though? Is the bike damaged in any way?"

Kelly's boyfriend? But he had boasted about going on an overseas vacation for one whole month last week on his social media account.

My gut feeling tells me that something's fishy about this whole thing. So, I just curl my lips into a smirk.

"Nah. He can keep using it."

After that, I push the mountain bike back to its original parking slot. Then, I find myself two needles so that I can insert them into the seat.

Three days later, when I'm working the night shift at the hospital, a nurse rushes in hurriedly.

"Dr. Hart, there's a male patient in the ER right now. He claims that his crotch was stabbed by needles when he was riding his bike earlier."

"Ms. Yellin, it hurts so much. What should I do? Am I going to die?"

In the emergency room, my wife, Sabrina Yellin's face was etched with concern as she comforted the man in her arms, "It's okay, Zane. I'll get a doctor here right away. You'll be fine. It's so strange, though. Why were there needles on the seat?"

She patted his back gently and leaned down to kiss his forehead.

Her intimate gesture froze me in my tracks.

I knew this man. He was Zane Corbin, a graduate student who'd just joined Sabrina's research team this year, the one she had taken from another professor.

She had once praised him in front of me. "Zane has real potential, and he really listens to me. He's a real find."

So this was what she meant by "a find".

Sabrina's tone was a mix of reproach and heartache as she said, "Seriously, why do you always have to ride my husband's bike when I've already offered to buy you one?"

Zane grinned. "I just wanted to annoy him. Why does he get to have someone as incredible as you? Why can't I be the one to have you?"

At that, Sabrina's usual cold expression softened into a fond smile. "You're just so mischievous."

As I watched that play out, a shiver ran down my spine, and I felt a chill settle deep in my chest.

Sabrina and I had been married for eight years. I thought our relationship was solid.

She was busy with work, but she'd always make time for us to go out, surprise me with gifts, and even hold my hand when we went out.

We had made it past the seven-year itch, but now, could we really keep going?

I pinched my palm and walked over slowly.

"Where's the doc… Adrian?"

When Sabrina saw it was me, her face flickered with a hint of panic, but she quickly masked it.

"Honey? What a coincidence. How did you end up here? The nurse just told me about a male patient with an injury to his lower body." I feigned confusion as I watched her nervously avoid my gaze.

She stammered, "M-My student was injured, so I brought him in."

I glanced at Zane, whose expression was stiff, and smiled faintly. "Zane Corbin, right? Sabrina has mentioned you. Sounds like you're a great student."

The way I emphasized "great student" caused both of their expressions to change.

I looked down at Zane's injury. His lower body was a bloody mess. It was much worse than just a needle prick.

"Why were there needles on the seat? Didn't you check your bike before riding?" I asked.

Zane lowered his head, hiding his expression as he clenched his fist. "Oh, I just didn't expect it."

I casually asked, "Mr. Corbin, do you like to ride bikes? Sabrina isn't really the sporty type, so what are the odds of her bringing you here?"

The air suddenly turned tense.

"Enough, Adrian Hart! Just treat him already. Don't ask so many questions." Sabrina interrupted me coldly. Her eyes betrayed a flash of guilt.

I didn't stop what I was doing, and my smile never faded. "Gosh. We've been together forever. Why the attitude?"