The Wrong Husband

Enjoy my calm presence

By 4:30PM, Tam was sitting in the sixth luxury boutique with aching feet and almost worn-out patience while Catie moved through racks of designer pieces. Stone sat nearby, busy with work, but his mind kept going back to his threat to Tam and how she had accepted to come along after what he said.

His gaze drifted towards her.

Something about her was off and, for some reason, he could not concentrate on the data he was analyzing, so he texted his assistant.

“Finish up and send it out.” He paused, glanced at Tam again, then added, “Get me the footage from the restaurant my wife went to last night.” He hit send and sighed. He didn’t know why, but he needed to know if she met with someone else since he couldn’t make it.

Tam’s phone held her attention. She had taken it out to text Alexia about arriving later for lunch when she noticed the missed calls and message. Alexia explained that an impromptu meeting had come up and she had to be out of town. She apologized and promised to be back by tomorrow evening, so they could meet for dinner instead.

At that same moment, Catie stepped out of the dressing room. The instant she noticed Stone in a daze with his eyes fixed on Tam, her expression tightened with anger.

‘Why the hell is he looking at her?’

The sales assistant noticed the change, followed Catie's burning gaze and immediately understood the situation.

Catie turned and walked back into the dressing room. Moments later, she stepped out in her actual dress, then picked a dress from another rack and walked toward Tam.

As she approached, Stone snapped out of his daze and Tam looked up from her phone.

“I’m really exhausted, and this particular dress looks too perfect for me to ignore.” Her voice was loud as she held the dress out to Tam with a smile. “Try this on for me, would you? We are about the same size and I just cannot tell how it is on the body.”

Tam glanced at the sales assistant who stood not far away, then at Catie. “The attendant can help you with that.”

Catie’s eyes flicked briefly toward Stone, whose face had darkened slightly after Tam’s response. Then her expression softened into something gentle and apologetic.

“I know, but I cannot have her do that, and I am honestly exhausted trying things on. I also need a second opinion on the size and I can tell you have a good eye.”

“The attendant has a better eye. It is literally her job,” Tam said plainly.

“Tam!” Stone’s expression hardened.

Tam turned to look at him.

“She is tired. Besides, it is just a piece of clothing.”

“Stop being unreasonable and help her.”

Tam’s brows knitted slightly. “Can we just stop for today?” she asked, already fuming with the anger she was trying to suppress. “She already has enough bags.”

‘What is wrong with Tam?’

Stone was fighting the urge to lay his hands on the usually submissive woman who had suddenly gone wild and crazy enough to refuse him. “You are unbelievable.”

“Stone, please,” Catie stepped forward, wearing a genuinely hurt face. “Do not be upset with Tam because of me. I did not mean to cause any trouble.”

Stone turned to her, his eyes softening, and Catie, knowing she had him where she wanted him, turned to Tam. “I am so sorry, Tam. I guess you misunderstood my intentions. Honestly, I did not intend the dress for myself. I thought it would look beautiful on you, and I wanted to buy it for you if it fits you after trying it out. Maybe I should have said that from the beginning instead of asking the way I did.”

The sales assistant pressed her open mouth together. She was baffled by how Catie could lie with so much ease. She knew more than anyone what had happened with the dress.

Stone, on the other hand, stared at Tam with soul-piercing daggers in his eyes.

“You know what,” Catie said gently as she returned the dress to the rack. “Maybe I really should stop for today. I do not want to keep dragging anyone around.” She turned and began walking towards Stone, then suddenly she stopped and bent down to hold her ankle as she winced.

“Argh… these heels have been pinching all afternoon.”

Stone was already on his feet. “Let me see. Does it hurt to walk?”

“A little, but it is nothing serious.”

“We are going to the hospital.” He was already walking toward her. “Right now. You might have strained something.”

“Stone, it is just blisters from walking too long in heels…”

“I am not taking any chances.” He lifted her carefully, then glanced at Tam. She looked very unbothered by what he did.

‘Why does she look so unbothered?’ ‘Wasn't she always sad whenever I get close to women?’

Stone’s heart tightened, and even Catie noticed the shift in his expression. She stirred slightly, and her warm breath touched his neck. He glanced down at her and instantly his mind went wild with memories from last night. His chest stirred with emotion. For a moment, all he wanted was to kiss her, but she was hurt, so he had to have her checked first.

Before leaving, he glanced at Tam one last time. “We will talk about your behaviour when I get back.” His voice was cold and his face emotionless. “Drive everything she bought back in the other car. The driver will take me and Catie.”

Catie’s lips curved slightly. She knew she had him in the palm of her hand. All she had to do was act weak and fragile, and he would come running just like in the past. How could she have doubted herself, even for a second?

Tam watched them leave, then picked up her bag.

“For every paid item, load it into my car,” she said to the sales assistant. “And please, I would like the CCTV footage of our time here. Speaking to your manager should make that possible, right?”

The assistant hesitated for a moment, then nodded. Her eyes were filled with pity and quiet respect for Tam's composure as she reached for the intercom phone.

One hour later, Tam arrived at the manor. She instructed the servants to sort the bags, and went straight to her room.

Not long after, she ate dinner, had a warm bath, then took out her phone to check on Alexia when Stone's text came in.

“I have asked the kitchen to make something for Catie and I. Bring it over. You can also apologize for what you did today.”

Tam's face turned sour instantly.

“The nerve, Stone,” she muttered under her breath. “Enjoy my calm presence while it lasts.”

She deleted the message without a second thought and lay down.

Moments later, her breaths evened out as sleep took over her exhausted body.

Meanwhile, in a private room at one of the top-tier hospitals in the city, Catie pressed her body against Stone, seizing his lips in a rough and heated kiss.

Stone responded eagerly, but even as his hand held her close, his mind kept drifting to Tam.

‘What was she doing?’ ‘Why has she not come?’