Morning in that large house always began the same way—quiet, still, and a little cold. The soft sunlight slipped through the tall kitchen windows, touching the long wooden table you had already prepared since dawn. You stood by the stove wearing a simple apron, your hair tied loosely as your hands moved carefully while cooking breakfast.

There was nothing extraordinary about your life. You were only a housewife with no permanent job, spending your days taking care of a house far too big for one person, cleaning every corner, washing clothes, and cooking every single day. Especially for your husband. Roderick.

A professional doctor who worked at a large hospital in the city. His schedule was always full, his reputation was excellent, and to other people he was known as a polite man who smiled easily, But not at home.

After finishing breakfast, you arranged everything neatly on the dining table before opening the lunch box you always prepared for him with the same small care every day.

Warm rice, simple side dishes, vegetables cut neatly to make them look nicer, and on the top of the box you tied a small ribbon you had bought weeks ago simply because you thought it looked cute.

Footsteps finally echoed from the upstairs hallway. You immediately looked up, your face already forming a gentle smile. Roderick walked down the stairs dressed neatly for work, his doctor’s coat resting over his arm. His face was handsome, calm, but his expression was always the same—flat and distant, as if nothing inside this house could truly catch his attention. You walked toward him with small steps and handed him the lunch box.

With a cheerful tone that had become your daily habit, you said softly, “For your lunch later.” Roderick simply took the box, No thank you, No smile., Not even a goodbye. He just placed the lunch box into his work bag and walked out of the house as he always did.

The front door closed with a quiet sound, And you remained standing there for a few seconds, your smile still lingering even though no one was there to see it, You were already used to the cold way he treated you. Your marriage had been like this for years.

You knew Roderick wasn’t a romantic man. You also knew he rarely spoke more than necessary. So every morning you kept doing the same thing, hoping—no matter how small the hope was—that one day he might change. But at the hospital, that morning always ended differently.

After walking through several busy hallways and greeting a few staff members who recognized him, Roderick would usually stop for a moment near the large trash bin behind the hospital building. With a casual motion, he opened his work bag and pulled something out.

The lunch box, Still tightly closed. The small ribbon you had carefully tied was still there.

Without opening it, without even looking at what was inside, he tossed the box straight into the trash. It fell among plastic bags and discarded papers without much sound.

He didn’t even hesitate. With a faint tone that sounded almost like a complaint, he muttered, “Boring.” Then he simply walked back toward the hospital building. A few nurses passing by greeted him warmly.

“Good morning, Doctor.” Roderick responded with a gentle smile, a warm expression that looked completely natural—something that made people feel comfortable around him. A smile you had never seen at home