Hold My Tear, I’m Getting My Wife Back!

Chapter 3

Curtis emerged from the bathroom with the soft sound of his footsteps padding across the carpet toward the other side of the bed. The mattress dipped as he slipped beneath the covers, a corner of the duvet lifting.

Leanne caught a whiff of a subtly cold fragrance, a crisp, penetrating scent that seemed to seep into her bones, the woody notes mixed with his body heat, with a hint of tobacco lingering in the background.-

It was Curtis’ signature scent.

The dim glow from the nightlight barely reached the bed, and the night was so still that their even breaths were the only sounds breaking the silence.

Each occupied half of the bed, setting a cold, invisible barrier between them.

After lying quietly for a while, Leanne gazed in Curtis’ direction. Maybe it was the darkness, but his features seemed more chiseled and distant.

“Aren’t you asleep yet?” she ventured.

Curtis’ weary, slightly irritable voice broke the silence of the dark, “Keep it down.”

Leanne touched the pendant around her neck and then turned her back to him.

When Leanne woke up the next day, Curtis was already up.

She got up, freshened up, and when she walked into the living room, she saw Curtis neatly dressed, sitting at the dining table, browsing the real-time stock quotes on his tablet.

He looked up briefly when he heard her. “Where’s Laura?”

Leanne opened the fridge. “I let her go.”

didn’t comment

eggs, thought better of it, and added slices of ham, lettuce, and cheese to make two sandwiches she brought to

this

to work in the mornings, she often settled for just a few slices of

retorted, “Take it or

behind the sofa, and Leanne turned

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11:13

Chapter 3

a litter of strays huddled by the hospital during a downpour weeks ago. The newborn kittens were trembling, soaked to the bone, and the mother cat was a

bones.

they were old enough to be adopted. She hadn’t expected Curtis to return from his year-long stay in

a stray and wanted to bring it home. When she asked for his opinion over the phone, he replied with just two words,

room, but somehow, it had been clever enough to escape.

did this stray come

Leanne uncomfortable. She went to pick up

“Then you should

cat back in the room, Leanne returned to find

was adjusting his tie in the mirror and sentenced the cat to exile

Leanne didn’t engage.

capable of housing a few kittens. Why must Curtis b so ruthless to creatures

his heart seemed so callous.

the mirror. “What are you silently accusing

confined and won’t escape again. I’ll disinfect the house daily, and once I get someone to adopt them, they’ll be gone.”