In the world of these so-called natives, I would always remain an unwelcome outsider.
My hands trembled, my chest tightened, and I fought the urge to smash the phone. Instead, I quickly took screenshots of their chat and saved them.
By the time Kristoff walked in, I had already put the phone back in its place.
He picked it up, hesitated, and finally said, "Wife, these people act like they've never seen the world before. They insisted on tagging along with me, so you just stay home and wait, alright?"
I calmly picked up my bag. "Garrett has been my friend for over a decade. This project—I'm going too."
Kristoff froze, then raised an arm to block me. "You never get along with their kind anyway. Better if you don't come, saves you from feeling left out."
He turned to leave after saying that.
I grabbed his sleeve and looked at him straight in the eyes. "Today is my birthday."
I didn't add anything else.
That was his last chance.
At the doorway, Aileen stomped her foot in irritation.
Kristoff instantly grew impatient. With a sharp shrug, he shook me off.
"Why are you acting like my mom? Always using the same old tricks. What's so special about a birthday anyway?"
The back of my hand hit the doorframe hard, the sting in my skin echoing the pain in my chest.
"Tsk!" Aileen stood on tiptoe and tapped Kristoff's head playfully.
"What did your sister teach you? Be gentle with girls! Honestly, I think Elodie's petty little temper makes her kind of cute. Bro, you should be grateful!"
Kristoff sneered. "That's just how she is—always looking for trouble. She can't survive a day without making a fuss."
He ignored me completely, his hand snaking toward Aileen's waist.
"And who were you just calling ‘bro,' huh? No respect at all!"
Aileen giggled, twirling out of his reach. "Oh no, you almost touched your sister's chest—such a pervert!"
Kristoff's lips curled into a smirk, and this time he reached out deliberately. "Is that so? Hah, it feels just like little steamed buns."
Laughter erupted as the group walked off together, leaving me standing frozen in place, the air sucked out of my lungs.
Watching them disappear behind the elevator doors, I pulled out my phone and dialed Garrett.
"I'll come find you at the campsite later."
He didn't waste words. "Okay."
Growing up alongside Garrett, I knew the difference between friendship and something more. Our bond was pure, with clear boundaries.
Two years of dating. Three years of marriage.
I needed to see with my own eyes just how disgracefully my marriage with Kristoff would end.
The campsite was far from the city, the cool breeze of early autumn rolling gently down the mountains.
Beside rows of white tents, a cluster of young men and women burst out in cheers and laughter.
Garrett led me to a quiet spot at the edge of the camp and handed me a chair.
Across an artificial lake, I could see a group of men surrounding Aileen at the center of their game.
Blindfolded, dressed in a tank top and shorts, she reached out blindly—yet somehow perfectly landed in Kristoff's arms.
The crowd roared. "Kristoff lost! Truth or dare—truth, truth!"
"Tell the truth, Kristoff—do you like Aileen or not?"
Aileen looped her arms around his neck, laughing as she scolded them.
"Oh, shut up already, you're so annoying!"
The teasing grew louder. "Come on, isn't it obvious?"
"How about a dare instead? Didn't Aileen already bite Kristoff's ass once? Let's see her do it again!"
Amid the raucous laughter, Aileen cast Kristoff a sultry sideways glance.
"Sounds good to me."
Before anyone could react, she reached for his belt.
"Hey! Cut it out!" Kristoff laughed as he dodged, but his resistance lacked conviction.
Then Aileen suddenly slipped. Kristoff immediately caught her, and the two of them tumbled together onto the soft grass.
In the chaos, Aileen's skirt rode up to her waist. Kristoff's arm tightened possessively around her waist, while his other hand pressed firmly against her bare thigh—as though claiming her.
