Until now, he still believed I was merely throwing a tantrum. I couldn't help but wonder how deeply the old Elise had loved him. Even though I'd expressed my disgust and determination to divorce countless times, Jonathan still thought I was just making a scene.

I didn't want to say anything, so I closed my eyes. Since he'd already decided I was sulking, I saw no point in wasting more words. He sighed and pulled me into his arms. There was no conversation between us. We lay in the same bed every night, yet remained miles apart in our hearts.

The next morning, I ignored him as usual. He passed by, but I treated him as if he were invisible. After a few repetitions of this, Jonathan stopped appearing before me.

Just when I thought I'd found some peace, he brought Gabrielle over. When I first saw Gabrielle, I didn't react immediately. It wasn't until she approached and grabbed my arm that I was surprised. "What are you doing here?" I asked.

Gabrielle winked at me, then glanced at Jonathan. She lowered her voice and said, "Let's talk in your room." I nodded and followed her inside. Just as I was about to enter, Jonathan grabbed my arm and pulled me away. Gabrielle had been holding me too, but Jonathan's grip made her involuntarily release me.

I stared at my empty arm and felt a strange emptiness in my chest, a feeling I couldn't quite define. It was unsettling. Jonathan dragged me to the opposite side of the hall, pinning me against the wall with his intense gaze. "You seem a lot happier now that she's here," he said.

I was puzzled. "Wasn't it you who brought her here?"

It was his idea to bring Gabrielle, but seeing my apparent pleasure at her arrival seemed to trouble him. Jonathan clenched his teeth and looked at me coldly. "She'll only be here for a while," he said. He seemed to object to Gabrielle's presence, yet still reminded me, "Don't act up with me again."

"Did you bring her here just to shut me up?" I asked, frowning. Since waking with no memory, my feelings about Jonathan had become increasingly complicated. He had once been unattainable, yet now he was suddenly my husband. The once-perfect, admired figure had transformed into a manipulative, emotionally abusive spouse. This was a devastating blow, only deepening my insecurity in this unfamiliar world. The same handsome face I remembered no longer stirred any emotion within me. I felt detached. In my memories, he'd been my unreachable idol; now, my only thought was escaping him.

He lifted a strand of my hair and gave me a heavy, oppressive look. "You seemed so happy to see her earlier. Why the cold shoulder now that it's just the two of us?" His tone was dangerous, and I felt confused. Were it not for the Alicia situation, I would have thought he was jealous of Gabrielle's presence. However, that seemed ridiculous. Our relationship was clearly disintegrating; how could he possibly be jealous? Gabrielle was a close friend; there was no reason for him to feel threatened.

I pushed him away. "You're right. I really am happy when I'm with her." Jonathan's expression darkened, his gaze trailing from my cheek to my neck. I could feel the pressure of his hand, and it gave me the unsettling impression he could snap my neck at any moment. "Talise, you used to say that just seeing me made you happy!"