Chapter 1
573words
Vanessa Hughes, wrapped in Adrian's jacket, sauntered out of the tent dangling a pair of men's underwear between her fingers.
Adrian followed behind her, bare-chested, his torso littered with telltale red marks.
Vanessa swung the underwear smugly:
"Mira, Adrian says his got wet, so he's borrowing mine to wear for now. You don't mind, do you?"
I glanced at the obvious bulge beneath Adrian's waistband, my stomach churning as I forced words through clenched teeth.
"I have germaphobia. Wearing other people's things disgusts me."
Vanessa's mouth fell open in mock surprise.
"Mira! How could you say that? I'm only doing this for your sake!"
"Look at you, suffering in silence while our Adrian doesn't appreciate it. I couldn't bear to watch, so I'm helping you train him properly."
Seeing my face turn white as a sheet, she bent down to snatch up the leopard print thong I'd just removed and flippantly tossed it onto Adrian's face.
"Adrian, hurry up and put it on your wife! Comfort her properly! Use that energy you didn't finish using just now and love her twice as hard!"
"I guarantee she'll be smiling from ear to ear in no time."
After saying this, she actually stepped aside, crossed her arms and watched appreciatively, like she was settling in for a good show.
"Don't mind me, Mira. Just pretend I'm not even here."
I looked toward Adrian, but he disgustedly flicked the leopard print underwear into the snow.
He pulled a disinfectant wipe from his pocket and meticulously cleaned each finger.
"Vanessa, stop fooling around! You know I can't stand these disgusting things!"
Vanessa giggled as she clung to his arm, draping her entire body against him, her eyes challenging me.
"Really? You find your own wife's clothes disgusting? Mira, how can you possibly tolerate this?"
I stared at the hickey on his neck, my heart shattering into pieces.
In the end, I could only force a dead smile.
"It's fine. Now I see he's completely filthy, inside and out."
I grabbed my backpack and turned to walk into the howling snow.
"Mira!"
Adrian shook off Vanessa and quickly stepped in front of me, blocking my path.
"It's late and the snow is getting worse. Where do you think you're going? Don't be childish! Didn't you want to see the aurora? I'll take you right now."
He paused, adding stiffly:
"She and I are just friends interacting normally. Don't overthink it."
"Heh..."
I raised my eyes, piercing him with an icy gaze, my voice rising despite my best efforts.
"Adrian, am I the one being childish? You said this ice fishing trip was to make up for our anniversary! You said it would be just the two of us! So what about her?"
I jabbed a finger at Vanessa:
"Did she burrow out of the snow like some damn snow monster?!"
"And we've been married for two years, and you've always told me you were impotent. Yet the moment you crawl into her tent, you're miraculously cured?"
My mocking gaze dropped to his waist, bitter irony flooding my veins.
His lips moved, but what finally came out was that same damned phrase.
"If that's how you want to see it, what can I do?"
My last shred of hope vanished, buried forever beneath the ice and snow.
