Chapter 2
As soon as Kyla stepped out of the car, I sat up straight, moving away from Reed.
He frowned. “What’s wrong?”
I handed him a mirror so he could see for himself. He quickly spotted the lipstick mark and furrowed his brow, but quickly explained, “Kyla lost her balance getting off the plane, and I steadied her. That must be when it happened.”
I took a deep breath and turned to look at him, my expression a mixture of hurt and something harder to define. “Reed, we’ve been married for seven years. Before now, there was never an incident where your secretary ‘lost her balance‘ and somehow got lipstick on you. When exactly did female assistants start ‘accidentally‘ getting their perfume and makeup all over you?”
He was silent for a moment before responding apologetically, “I’ll be more careful in the future.”
Suddenly, I felt the pressure building in my chest.
Though ours had started as a business marriage, we’d dated for two years before tying the knot. It wasn’t loveless. But after seven years, it felt like we were reaching the end.
Before we got out to meet his family, he grabbed my arm, his expression serious. “Are you angry? Why? Because I didn’t spend time with you and went on a business trip with my assistant instead?”
“When did you become so unreasonable? Acting like a childish girl.”
“You know Forrester Industries is at a critical turning point. I honestly don’t have the energy to guess what you’re thinking. I’ve been working non–stop overseas for ten days. I’m exhausted.”
“You need to be a proper Mrs. Forrester, not someone who wears her emotions all over her face.”
Suddenly, I was tired of playing this charade. I yanked my arm away.
“A luxury ten–day European vacation? Business trip? Reed, am I the only idiot in the world who didn’t see through
this?”
“Was that kiss under the Bridge of Sighs sweet? Do you like her heart that came with it?”
With that, I forcibly pushed the car door open and walked away without looking back. “After we play the perfect couple tonight, let’s take some time apart to cool down.”
By the end of the family gathering, I was nearly collapsing from exhaustion. Pretending to be the perfect wife was draining my body and breaking my heart.
Back home, when I took a bath and came out in my pajamas to apply body lotion, Reed wrapped his arms around me from behind, coaxing softly, “Babe, I’m sorry. I won’t talk to her anymore. If you don’t like her, I can transfer her to a branch office, okay?”
15:17 O
Oh! Your ‘Gift Was Betrayal? Here’s My Return: Eternal Remorse!
1.0%
Chapter 2
I just pulled away from his embrace, “Reed, don’t touch me when you smell like another woman’s perfume and have her lipstick on you.”
Yet he pulled me back into his arms. “I was wrong. Let me shower again with you. You can tear my skin off if you want.” He leaned in to kiss me.
I was about to slap him when his phone rang. I glanced at the caller ID: “Cutie Pie.”
Kyla’s coquettish, tearful voice came through the speaker: “Mr. Forrester, what should I do? There’s an error in the data I brought back. I don’t know how to fix it! The contract signing is tomorrow. What are we going to do?”
Her voice was filled with fear and the unmistakable dependency of a young girl on her superior.
Reed frowned as he responded, “What’s wrong with you? How could you be so careless? Wait at home, I’ll be right there.”
Hanging up, he turned to put on his jacket and explained, “This contract is crucial. I need to supervise it personally. Don’t wait up for me.” Then he rushed out the door into the cold night, not even remembering to take his scarf.
After he left, I sat quietly on the sofa until my phone’s notification sound brought me back to reality. I opened it to find Kyla’s new social media post: “A serious man is sexiest, whether he’s working or doing… other things.”
The photo showed Reed carefully applying nail polish to Kyla’s fingernails under a lamp.
Finally, my last shred of hope died.
So, I locked the door from the inside, put on my eye mask and earplugs, and lay down on the bed.
There was no way he would be coming back tonight.
The next morning, as I ate breakfast, our housekeeper asked, “Isn’t Mr. Forrester having breakfast?”
I set down my utensils and thought for a moment. “You probably won’t need to prepare breakfast for him anymore. I don’t think he’ll be eating at home much.”
I checked my phone and, sure enough, Kyla had posted another photo. Reed sat at the dining table, which held milk, bread, and a jar of peanut butter. A piece of bread already spread with peanut butter sat on the plate in front of
him.
The caption read: [The joy of everyday life is simply being together.]
Hah! The public displays of affection were endless now, right?
But what’s most amusing is that she had no idea how picky Reed was about food. He was allergic to dairy and peanuts, and would immediately get gastritis from anything less than pristine. Our chef had higher standards than five–star restaurants. Yet there he was, ignoring his gourmet breakfast at home to eat some peanut butter bread? Love had clearly blinded him and rotted his brain.
I couldn’t resist the temptation to like the post.
15:17 O
Oh‘ Your ‘Gift‘ Was Betrayal? Here’s My Return. Eternal Remorsel
Chapter 2
Within minutes, the post was deleted.
15:17
