Chun-kwan stood outside the hotel room, her heart heavy with a mixture of disgust and sorrow. She had never imagined herself in this position, standing outside a room that reeked of betrayal and deceit, a room that had been tainted by her husband's infidelity. But here she was, steeling herself for the confrontation that awaited her on the other side of the door.
With trembling hands, Chun-kwan reached for the doorknob, her fingers lingering on the cold metal as she tried to summon the strength to face the truth. She knew that what lay beyond this door would shatter the fragile illusion of her marriage, would force her to confront the painful reality of her husband's betrayal. But she couldn't turn back now—not when she had come this far, not when she needed answers more than ever before.
With a deep breath, Chun-kwan pushed open the door, her eyes bracing for the sight that awaited her. But nothing could have prepared her for the wave of revulsion that washed over her as she stepped into the room. It was as if the very walls were closing in on her, suffocating her with the stench of deceit and lies.
Every corner of the room seemed to taunt Chun-kwan with memories of the life she had once shared with Zhang—the laughter, the love, the dreams they had built together. But now, those memories felt like a cruel joke, a painful reminder of everything she had lost to the woman who had stolen her husband's heart.
With a shaky hand, Chun-kwan reached for her phone, her fingers trembling as she scrolled through the list of missed calls and unanswered messages. She had hoped against hope that Zhang would have some explanation for his behavior, some shred of remorse for the pain he had caused. But as she stared at the empty screen, all she felt was the crushing weight of disappointment and betrayal.
Tears welled up in Chun-kwan's eyes, blurring her vision as she struggled to make sense of the chaos that now consumed her life. She had always prided herself on being a strong and independent woman, but at this moment, she felt more vulnerable than she had ever been before—like a ship adrift in a stormy sea, with no land in sight.
As the reality of her husband's betrayal sank in, Chun-kwan felt a surge of anger rise up within her, burning like a wildfire in her chest. How dare Zhang betray her trust, how dare he throw away everything they had built together for the sake of a fleeting affair? The thought of Mei-ling, the other woman who had stolen her husband's affection, made Chun-kwan's blood boil with rage. She couldn't fathom how Zhang could have fallen for such a shallow and deceitful woman, couldn't understand what had driven him to betray her in such a callous manner.
But amidst the anger and the hurt, a sense of profound sadness settled over Chun-kwan like a heavy fog. She couldn't help but mourn the loss of the life she had once known, the life she had believed was built on a foundation of love and trust. And now, that foundation lay shattered at her feet, broken beyond repair by the man who had promised to cherish and honor her for all eternity.
As Zhang stood in the hotel room, his heart heavy with guilt and regret, he heard the sound of his wife's voice outside the door. His blood ran cold at the realization that Chun-kwan was here, confronting him in the wake of his betrayal. Panic surged through him, mingling with the tangled web of emotions that churned within him—fear, shame, and a deep sense of despair.
With trembling hands, Zhang rushed to the door, his mind racing as he tried to think of a way to explain himself, to beg for Chun-kwan's forgiveness. But as he flung open the door, his words caught in his throat at the sight that greeted him.
There, standing in the hallway with her chauffeur by her side, was Chun-kwan, her face a mask of pain and betrayal. But it was not her expression that sent a jolt of shock through Zhang's veins—it was the young woman who stood beside her, her rounded belly a silent testament to the child she carried, a child who would one day inherit Zhang's legacy.
For a moment, Zhang's mind reeled with disbelief, unable to comprehend the gravity of the situation unfolding before him. How could Chun-kwan know about the child? How could she stand there, witnessing the culmination of his affair with Mei-ling, the woman who now bore his unborn child?
But as the shock began to wear off, a surge of anger rose up within Zhang, burning like a wildfire in his chest. How dare Chun-kwan confront him like this, how dare she bear witness to his shame and humiliation? The thought of her standing there, silently judging him for his indiscretions, fueled the flames of his rage, igniting a tempest of fury within him.
"Chun-kwan, what are you doing here in this condition?" Zhang demanded, his voice laced with accusation as he glared at his wife, his fists clenched at his sides.
" Who is supposed to answer that" Chun-kwan inquired, trying to pull herself together.
As Zhang stood before his wife, Chun-kwan, his heart heavy with guilt and remorse, he knew that he had to make amends for his actions. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the difficult conversation that lay ahead.
"Chun-kwan, I'm so sorry, Zhang began, his voice trembling with emotion as he reached out to grasp her hand. "I know I've hurt you, and I can't even begin to express how deeply I regret my actions. Please, forgive me.
Chun-kwan's expression softened slightly at Zhang's words, a glimmer of hope flickering in her eyes as she searched his face for sincerity. But before she could respond, Zhang's words took a sharp turn, his tone shifting from contrition to accusation in the blink of an eye.
"But you have to admit, Chun-kwan, Zhang continued, his voice growing more forceful with each word. "Our marriage hasn't exactly been perfect, has it? You've been distant, cold especially in the bedroom. It's no wonder I strayed.
Chun-kwan recoiled at Zhang's words, her heart sinking as the weight of his blame settled upon her like a crushing burden. She had hoped against hope that Zhang would take responsibility for his actions, that he would acknowledge the pain he had caused without shifting the blame onto her. But now, as he stood before her, hurling accusations and insults like daggers aimed at her heart, she realized the futility of her hopes.
Zhang, how could you say such things?  Chun-kwan cried, her voice trembling with hurt and disbelief.
I may not be perfect, but I have always been faithful to you, always tried to be the best wife I could be. How dare you blame me for your infidelity?"
But Zhang seemed oblivious to Chun-kwan's pain, his anger and frustration clouding his judgment as he continued to lash out at her.
You think I wanted this, Chun-kwan? Zhang spat, his voice dripping with venom.
You think I enjoyed sneaking around behind your back, lying to your face? No, I did it because I was desperate, because I couldn't stand the thought of spending another moment in a loveless marriage.
Chun-kwan's heart shattered at Zhang's words, the realization dawning upon her with painful clarity. She had always suspected that something was amiss in their marriage, that Zhang's distance and indifference were signs of deeper troubles lurking beneath the surface. But now, as he stood before her, laying bare his grievances and frustrations, she couldn't deny the truth any longer.
Before she could respond, Zhang's words turned to slurred nonsense, his eyes rolling back in his head as he lost his balance and collapsed onto the bed. Chun-kwan rushed to his side, her heart pounding with fear as she checked for signs of consciousness. But Zhang lay limp and unresponsive, his breathing shallow and labored.
With trembling hands, Chun-kwan reached for her phone, her fingers fumbling with the buttons as she dialed for emergency help. She knew that Zhang needed medical attention, that his collapse could be the result of something far more serious than just exhaustion or intoxication.
As she waited for help to arrive, Chun-kwan couldn't help but feel a sense of bitter irony wash over her. Here she was, kneeling beside the man who had betrayed her, who had blamed her for his own shortcomings, and yet she couldn't bring herself to hate him—not completely, at least.
For despite everything, Zhang was still her husband, still the man she had once loved with all her heart. And as she watched him lie there, vulnerable and broken, Chun-kwan couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for the man who had lost his way, who had allowed his demons to consume him.