Chapter 3 I Walked In on My Husband's Little Family
1334 Words
A few days later, my mother went home because she was worried about my father and younger brother.
Before she left, I slipped a sum of money into her bag and told them not to be too frugal.
As for Julian and Lila, I had not heard from either of them these past few days.
I could not be bothered to call and look for them.
They could do whatever they wanted.
I still had plenty to keep me busy.
I cleared out the clothes I no longer liked and the outdated shoes in the closet, then replaced them with a new batch.
The two live-in housekeepers also moved in.
One was responsible for cleaning, and the other for cooking.
My days instantly became much easier.
But I absolutely refused to drift through life in a daze again.
I decided to pick up my old field and start a new life.
I was going to work.
I had studied hotel management in college, and my parents had spent a fortune training me in dance and violin.
After getting married and having a child, I had set aside every hobby I once had.
Now, I was going to take them all back.
I booked lessons with my instructors again and even planned to learn a new foreign language.
*****
My best friend, Josie, asked me out for dinner.
I changed my usual style. When I arrived at the agreed time, Josie saw me and praised me without holding back.
"Wow. That dress looks like it was made for you. You're gorgeous."
I was wearing a fitted purple dress with an off-the-shoulder neckline and a slightly open back.
The delicate platinum necklace and swan earrings I paired with it were the perfect finishing touch.
Actually, I had always known what kind of woman could be irresistible to men.
As Josie led me inside, she suddenly grabbed my fingers tightly.
"Serena, let's go to another restaurant."
But I had already seen the scene she was afraid I would see.
Julian was sitting by the window with Lila.
Beside them sat a woman in a beige business suit.
It was Clara.
Josie was even more panicked than I was, afraid I would be heartbroken.
She had always known how deeply I loved Julian.
I gently patted the back of her hand.
"It's fine. Where's the table you reserved? Let's sit down."
Josie widened her eyes in disbelief.
My reaction was completely beyond her expectations.
"Serena..." she said, then stopped herself.
I smiled calmly at her.
"I know who that woman is. His assistant. Her name is Clara. It's fine."
Josie quickly glanced over there, sighed, and led me to our table.
My outfit was too eye-catching, so Julian still noticed me.
The men around us also looked up at me.
Maybe the soft, sensual elegance I carried as a married woman was a fatal attraction they could not resist.
Lila called out, "Mom," but she did not run over.
Instead, she turned to look at Clara.
Clara said something in her ear, and Lila hesitated, then stayed where she was.
Julian walked over with our daughter.
"Why are you here?" he asked.
His gaze paused at my neckline for a second.
Josie quickly smoothed things over.
"Mr. Hale, I invited Serena."
He nodded politely.
Lila answered bluntly, "I don't want to sit with Mom. Clara said she'd take me to play the claw machines."
Julian nodded.
"Okay. Serena, we'll go first."
Before leaving, he took off his suit jacket and draped it over the back of my chair.
"The air conditioning is a little cold," he said.
The moment the jacket landed, I smelled cherry blossom perfume.
My stomach began to cramp.
Once again, I thought of the scent beside my hospital bed in my previous life.
Holding back the discomfort, I took the jacket off the chair, folded it neatly, and handed it back to him with a smile.
"Thank you. But I'm not cold."
Julian stood in place, holding that jacket in his hand.
He stared at me for quite a while, as if my answer had caught him off guard.
Because I did not make a scene.
I did not get angry.
I did not question who that woman was or what their relationship was.
I even refused his concern.
Julian took Lila back to their table.
They did not stay much longer before leaving in a hurry.
Josie watched the three of them disappear, then looked at me with sympathy.
"I'm sorry, Serena. I didn't mean for you to see something so upsetting."
I said calmly, "Josie, I'm not upset. Because I no longer care about Julian."
Josie was stunned by my words.
For a long time, she could not even close her mouth.
I drank my tea and mocked myself lightly.
"If a man has no self-awareness, controlling him is just a waste of time. If he wants to play around outside, then let him play."
"Serena, did this hit you too hard?" Josie asked, her heart aching for me.
"No. I just suddenly understood. All these years, I kept revolving around that father and daughter. It was exhausting, thankless, and completely useless."
Josie's eyes reddened.
She felt even worse for me, thinking I was forcing myself to endure the hurt and pretending to be strong.
"What about Lila? She looks so close to that woman. You're not angry about that either?"
I took a sip of wine and shook my head.
"She's 6. She already has her own likes and dislikes. If she's happier with someone else, then let her go.
"You don't need to worry about me."
I picked up my glass of red wine and raised it toward her.
"From now on, all I want is a bright future, a beautiful face, and a healthy body."
Josie was stunned.
After a long moment, she held back tears and clinked her glass against mine.
"Good. Then I wish you everything you want."
A little while later, a server brought over three expensive dishes.
Josie was surprised.
"We didn't order these."
"Mr. Hale sent them over. He also paid the bill."
She looked at me in shock.
I picked up a bite with my fork.
"Tastes good. Eat."
"One of these dishes costs as much as my whole meal budget."
He wanted to compensate me with money.
He was still the same.
Considerate in action, flawless in every detail, but cold at heart.
You could not find fault with him from afar.
Only when you got close did you realize he was full of problems.
After dinner, Josie spread her hands helplessly.
"I said I was treating you, but in the end, your husband paid. I'll treat you next time."
I smiled.
"Okay. Next time."
Both of us had drunk alcohol, so we could not drive.
We stood by the roadside and raised our hands to hail a cab.
A black Range Rover pulled up.
The driver, Walt, leaned out.
"Ma'am, Mr. Hale asked me to drive you both home."
I sneered inwardly.
Since he was already cheating, he should just stop pretending to care about me.
He took his mistress out to dinner, then came to act attentive in front of me.
Did he think he was some kind of romantic saint?
How shameless.
I calmly pulled Josie into the car and said to the driver, "Take my friend home first."
*****
On the way back, I received a message from Julian.
Julian: Is that dress you wore today new?
I stared at the screen.
Julian had never cared about what I wore before.
But today, he had noticed me in the restaurant.
I looked at that message for three seconds, then replied.
Serena: Yes.
Then I placed my phone facedown on my lap.
He was testing me.
He wanted to know how much I had seen and what I had figured out.
But he would never imagine that the private investigator's business card in my bag was already burning hot.
- Writer
