Chapter 3
Half–asleep and half–awake, I faintly heard Gary’s voice coming from the bathroom, sharp with irritation.
“I told you, don’t call me on this phone. If my wife finds out, you know the consequences,” he said, his tone low but
stern.
The stillness of the night made it easy to catch the girl’s trembling response. “But no one answered your phone… there’s a power outage here. It’s so dark. I’m scared…”
Gary’s initial anger softened immediately.
“Just this once,” he relented, “but
don’t let it happen again.”
Moments later, he returned to the
bedroom, squatting beside me and
speaking gently. “Mary, something urgent came up at work. I need to head out.”
Groggy, I murmured a soft “hmm.”
90% 14:46
1/5
C
N
Chapter 3
He gazed at me for a long moment before quietly leaving.
As the door clicked shut, I sat up, wide awake. Without hesitation, I grabbed a coat and took a taxi to follow him.
Fifteen minutes later, his car stopped in front of a high–end residential complex.
At the entrance, a young woman sat curled up, trembling in the cold.
My chest tightened as recognition hit me.
It was Selena Green–the woman who drunkenly confessed to Gary years ago and was sent abroad by him.
Back then, she even tried to befriend me.
I received a private message from her, asking me to give Gary to her. At first, I thought it was just another desperate plea from someone who didn’t understand the
situation. I told her to move on—she was young, with a whole life ahead of her, and shouldn’t waste time on a married man.
90% 14:46
2/5
Chapter 3
But over time, her behavior changed. As I grew pregnant, her presence seemed to intensify. Her subtle signs of affection grew more frequently, and I convinced myself she had finally moved on, that she had let go of her feelings for Gary.
But that night, I realized how wrong I was.
Under the dim streetlight, I watched her eyes light up when she saw Gary. Without warning, she threw herself into his arms, locking him in a tight hug and kissing his cheek passionately. “I knew you wouldn’t ignore me,” she said, her voice almost playful.
Gary looked around in panic, trying to free himself, but she clung to him, refusing to let go. Finally, he surrendered, lifting her into his car.
I stood in the shadows, watching them
walk into the nearest hotel.
Soon after, my phone buzzed with a text
from Gary: [Honey, my wife is being a little
10
90% 14:46
3/5
Chapter 3
troublesome, so I won’t be coming home tonight.]
I stared at the message, my mind numb. Then a tissue blocked my view as I wiped away the tears.
The driver’s sister sighed sympathetically. “Just wipe your tears, men are like that.”
It was only then that I realized tears had already started streaming down my face.
“Thank you,” I muttered, accepting the kindness of a stranger with a polite nod.
On the way home, I leaned my head gently against the car window, the cool glass offering some comfort as my thoughts spiraled.
Selena‘ s posts felt like a thousand barbs, digging into my flesh. Gary had fallen in love with her–and then still held me in his
arms, whispering how much he loved me. What was he thinking?
How could he act so convincingly?
90% 14.46
4/5
Chapter 3
I clutched my chest as the tears came uncontrollably, crashing down like waves. The pain was unbearable–more painful than the knife I took for him when I saved
him.
By the time I got home, I opened Selena’s scarf.
Of course, there was a new update:
Wooooooohoo000000000! [Aaaaaah, stinky uncle was way too aggressive—he tore my new shirt, humph!]
Her scarf had countless fans. Soon, comments flooded her post. I stared at the familiar hand and, in silent resignation, gave her a thumbs up using my alternate
account.
The deregistration process would take
time.
I began to notice every little detail around me, my mind consumed by it all.
