Chapter 4
“I’ll be heading out now, Ellie.”
The last colleague from my team waved goodbye, leaving me alone in the office.
It was late, and I wasn’t staying to work extra hours–I was avoiding someone.
Earlier that afternoon, Jarvis had called, saying he’d made a dinner reservation at a restaurant for us.
The events of yesterday still lingered in my mind, and I had no intention of going, but he insisted he would pick me up after work.
By the time I had to leave the office, it was already past nine.
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Chapter 4
+ 5 Points
I figured he wouldn’t still be waiting, but when I stepped outside, I spotted his car right away.
Reluctantly, I got in. I ignored his eager conversation, tuning him out completely.
After fastening my seatbelt, I ran my hand over the seat, only to feel several strands of hair. They weren’t mine–there was no mistaking it. Clearly, they belonged to a
woman.
I had short hair, and this length was definitely not mine. But still, I said nothing.
I opened the glove compartment, reaching for a tissue to wrap up the hair, when my hand instead landed on a lipstick. A pale shade–nothing like my own. I didn’t wear colors that light.
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Chapter 4
Then my gaze shifted to the pendant hanging from the rearview mirror. It hit me like a jolt of electricity. It was the same one that Gianna had on her bag, the only difference being the color
Jarvis noticed something was off with me. His eyes darted between the open drawer the hair in my hand, and the pendant, his body stiffening with tension.
He stammered, “Th–That… That’s the lipstick and pendant Gianna asked me to bring her the other day. I was just keeping them for her. I’ll return them when I see her?
At that moment, the car hit a red light. He quickly grabbed a plastic bag from the glove compartment and put the lipstick and pendant inside, casually tossing the hair out of the window.
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Chapter 4
* 5 Points
I didn’t respond to his explanation. I didn’t believe him, but I was too tired to argue any longer.
Since we started dating and even after we got married, the number of times I’d ridden in his car could be counted on one hand.
He never once drove me to work. I understood how busy he was and never asked, nor did he ever offer.
It turned out, he had been always picking up and dropping off Gianna all along instead.
Jarvis had chosen a cozy couples‘
restaurant, and in the center of the table sat a vibrant, dewy rose.
He handed me the menu, urging me to order, but I declined.
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Chapter 4
Toes too big
+ 6 Points
The food arrived quickly, and within moments, everything was on the table.
The first dish placed before me was the Fish Stews.
“Here, this is your favorite. Eat more,” he said, his voice soft.
I preferred my food spicy. Though my stomach had forced me to tone it down over time, I still couldn’t bring myself to enjoy something so bland.
It felt more suited to someone like Gianna, with her frail health.
I remembered when we first shared a meal with Gianna. Jarvis had hovered over her like a doting mother.
Back then, he’d explained that Gianna was
5/6
Chapter 4
+ 5 Points
the daughter of a heart patient and struggled with her own health, so I hadn’t thought much of it.
Since Gianna couldn’t tolerate spice, he had ordered a mild spread of dishes.
