Chapter 2
I didn’t shake Caleb awake or bombarded him with questions like I used
- to.
I had just finished frying an omelet and sat down to eat when Caleb, who had just gotten up, spoke. “Don’t wait for me for dinner. I’ve got a
company event tonight.”
He opened the fridge, drank a few big gulps of iced water, and seemed surprised that I neither scolded him about hurting his stomach for drinking iced water nor asked who he would be meeting.
Through the kitchen glass, Caleb frowned at me.
“Whitney, did you hear me?“”
I swallowed my food and answered with a hum before continuing to eat.
Seeing that, he tossed a black coat at me.
“A birthday gift for you.”
The coat, carrying the faint scent of perfume, landed neatly over my flat belly.
Under Caleb’s stare, I reached into the coat pocket and pulled out a small
box.
Inside was a sparkling diamond ring.
Before I could react, Caleb quickly snatched it away, looking annoyed.
0.00%
“Wrong one,” he muttered. “Yours is in the other pocket.”
I dug into the other side and found an emerald brooch.
After one glance, I handed it back to him.
I said calmly, “It’s beautiful, but I don’t have clothes that go with it.
“Besides, my birthday was three months ago. You can give it to Lucille as well.”
Caleb went quiet for a moment before speaking again reluctantly, “There’s a jewelry auction soon. Come with me.”
It was the first time he had ever invited me to be his date.
ever invited me to be his date.
Over the past six months, Lucille had always taken that spot at every
party.
Even on yacht trips with friends, she and Caleb always appeared together, holding hands in photos.
Thinking back, I just felt completely bored.
“No, I don’t want anything.”
“Are you sure?”
I nodded and replied, “Let Lucille go with you instead.”
My sincere words made his face turn cold right away.
“Whitney, go look in the mirror,” he said sharply. “See for yourself how ridiculous your jealous face is.”
If it were before, I would have exploded and argued back.
But now, I didn’t even feel like wasting my breath.
Just as I was about to leave for my room, Caleb’s phone rang.
It was the special ringtone he set for Lucille.
She was crying on the other end, saying she forgot her keys after taking out the trash.
“What should I do, Caleb?” she whined.
“Silly girl, stay right there,” he said gently. “Don’t wander off. I’ll bring the key to you.”
After ending the call, he was ready to head out, but I stopped him.
“The scarf you asked me to knit is done,” I said calmly. “It’s on the hanger. Don’t forget to take it to her.”
For a second, Caleb looked like he wanted to say something.
But then, Lucille sent another voice message, meowing like a kitten and asking him to bring her a milkshake.
He emptied the shopping bag on the hanger, tucked the scarf inside, and left with a small smile.
I glanced at the baby clothes tossed on the floor and walked into the study.
Ignoring the photo of Caleb and Lucille smiling together on the desk, I went straight to the safe.
I tried his or my birthday as the password. It was wrong.
I tried our love anniversary again, but it still didn’t work.
Then, I entered Lucille’s birthday, and the safe finally clicked open.
As I pulled out my ID, two old movie tickets slipped out with it.
They were the ticket stubs from the first movie Caleb and I saw together.
I ripped them into pieces and tossed them in the trash.
After that. I went back to my room and began to pack my things.
Later that evening, Caleb called and asked me to bring him a document.
The weather was freezing and snowy, so I bundled up in a mink coat before heading out.
When I opened the restaurant door, I caught sight of Caleb and Lucille, drinking with their arms entwined.
