Sure enough, before I could say a word, she had already stepped out of the car.
With a worried look on her face, she said, “Solene, where have you been these days? Lucian and I were so worried about you–especially him. He’s been so stressed he can barely eat. Look how much weight he’s lost… it’s heartbreaking!”
She sounded concerned, but I could hear the subtle provocation underneath her words.
“He’s your husband. If you want to fuss over him, that’s your business–not mine.”
I spoke lightly, but Lucian’s face turned pale.
His fingers trembled slightly, as if weighed down by unbearable pain. “Solene, you’re the only
one I’ve ever wanted to marry.”
The moment I heard that, I felt utterly disgusted.
Even the way I looked at him was tinged with irritation. “Lucian, do you really think I’m a fool just because I haven’t spelled things out for you?”
“You’re already married to her, yet you still want a wedding with me? What do you take me
for?”
He was already married, and that meant our relationship had no legal standing. I would’ve been the mistress–the woman everyone despised.
And the one thing I hated most was being the third party who wrecked someone else’s relationship.
“No, Solene–it’s just a marriage on paper. There’s nothing between us.”
Lucian tried to explain in a panic, completely unaware that Elise’s expression had already changed.
Suddenly, Elise clutched her stomach with a pained look on her face and cried out, “Lucian, my stomach really hurts. Can you take me to the hospital?”
Lucian froze, a flash of hesitation flickering in his
eyes.
I gave a mocking laugh. “You’d better hurry and take your wife to the hospital. What if your
Chapter 7
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precious son getting hurt!”
With that, I didn’t wait for his response. I turned and walked to the side of the road, hailed a
random cab, and left.
I thought that since I’d made everything clear, I wouldn’t have to see anyone from the Vale
family again.
But to my surprise, the very next day after work, as I stepped out of the elevator, I saw Juana waiting right outside my door.
The moment she saw me, she dropped to her knees and cried out before I could even speak, “I’m begging you, please let my son go! He has a wife and a child now. They can’t live without
him!”
It was rush hour, and neighbors were coming home around this time too.
After just two cries, people started filing out of the elevator behind her.
When they saw the scene unfolding, many stopped to watch.
“Judging by what the old lady’s saying, this woman must be the homewrecker who ruined her son’s marriage.”
“Look at her–always dressing flashy like that. You can tell she’s not a decent woman. Turns
out she really is a mistress.”
“What a disgrace! How could someone like her live in our building?”
Hearing their harsh whispers, I felt a surge of fury rise in my heart. I couldn’t help but say, “Funny, I was about to say the same thing. I’m begging you tell your son to leave me alone. I don’t ever want to see him again.”
–
I had told Lucian before that he was not indispensable for me.
If the day ever came when he disappointed me, I would turn my back on him without
hesitation.
Just like now—I had made up my mind to end it, and there was no turning back.
Chapter 7
