She Got His Love, I Got His Chores

On the week before Valentine's Day, I want to buy my husband, Grayson Strickland, who works as a university professor, an electronic toothbrush as a gift. That's when I see a review with over ten thousand likes on a particular online store.

"I recommend buying from this store! This store's electronic toothbrush is super durable! I've never had to charge this toothbrush for half a year!"

Three days later, an additional response is made to that comment.

"I'm sorry for misleading everyone. It turns out that my husband has been charging this toothbrush this whole time. It's my fault for being such a doofus! I even pestered him for a long time before I finally found out that he has done a lot for me!

"I never have to add toilet rolls to the bathroom. All I thought is that the same toilet roll is extremely thick. The membership that I have on the TV app is often paid for and extended, and yet I thought there was a bug in the app software somehow. Some time ago, the peeling dry skin on my lips miraculously healed. It turns out he was the one who kept applying lip balm onto my lip at night.

"He's a university professor, you see. In the past, I often blamed him for not knowing what being romantic was like. But now, I finally realize that those who love you will have a way of showing you how it's done."

The rest of the comment section is filled with wailing complaints. They all complain that Valentine's Day isn't even here, and yet they are already sick of the lovey-dovey atmosphere.

Amid the Internet users' constant requests, the poster finally uploads the handsome side profile of her husband.

Feeling rather envious, I tap on the photo, only for my smile to freeze on my face. That photo actually features Grayson!

As I stare at my mother-in-law, who has been paralyzed in bed for the past six years, I recall the fact that Grayson lives on the university campus all around the year. That's when uneasiness begins plaguing me.

As expected, when I bring my marriage certificate to the County Clerk’s office and ask about it, the clerk points at the stamp and says, "Your marriage certificate is fake. Mr. Grayson Strickland's spouse is another woman named Callista Whitman."

My fingers go slack subconsciously, causing the fake marriage certificate to fall to the floor.

A chuckle of despair escapes my lips. Everyone knows that Callista is Grayson's student. She's his most prized student as well as the person who knows him the best.

As for me… I'm just a free caretaker whom he has "hired".

Holding the fake marriage certificate in hand, I stumbled home in a daze. The familiar stench of urine and feces hit my nose the moment I stepped inside.

It was time to change the adult diaper for my mother-in-law, Kathy Sinclair, who had been paralyzed and bedridden for the past six years.