Chapter 1.3
1249 Words
When Camila woke up, the first thing she did was trace lazy circles on Elijah’s chest with her fingertips. A small, satisfied smile tugged at her lips. She hadn’t even needed to try tonight—Elijah came to her willingly, almost too willingly.
Elijah stirred beside her. The moment his eyes opened and landed on Camila, surprise flashed across his face, as if for a second he didn’t expect to see her there. But when last night slowly pieced itself together in his mind, he shut his eyes briefly and sighed.
He sat up, swung his legs over the bed, and began picking up his clothes scattered on the hotel floor.
“You’re leaving already?” Camila asked, her lips thrusting into a pout. “You’re really going to walk out on me this early?”
Elijah chuckled softly, then flicked her forehead lightly—an affectionate gesture he rarely gave.
“I need to go home, sweety.”
“Home to your wife?” Camila huffed, shifting in the bed as she hugged the blanket around her bare body. “Why won’t you just leave her already? You don’t even like her, right? You only married her because of business. Now that we’re the ones who own her parents’ company, what’s stopping you?”
Elijah paused, then sat down beside her. He gently tucked a stray lock of Camila’s hair behind her ear.
“I’m still her husband, Camila. I’m planning to divorce her soon, but I still have no valid reason to present to the court. I need something solid before I file.”
Camila rolled her eyes and jutted out her lower lip again, sulking like a spoiled child.
Elijah continued getting dressed while Camila watched him with quiet fascination—admiring the way he moved, the subtle confidence in every gesture.
“Do you want me to help?” she asked, still lounging on the bed, wrapped only in the white duvet. “So you can file for divorce right away?”
“I’ll handle it,” Elijah replied firmly. “I don’t want you getting dragged into any mess because of Scarlett. You don’t deserve that.”
Camila smiled faintly at his sweet-sounding words, even if she knew they were coated with half-truths.
When Elijah finished dressing, he leaned in and pressed a soft kiss on Camila’s forehead.
“When will I see you again? I’ll miss you already,” she murmured.
“Wait for my call,” he said simply before stepping out of the hotel room.
---
When Elijah reached home, Scarlett was already seated in the living room, waiting for him. Her face held no expression, as if exhaustion had drained her even of emotion.
“Love… where did you go last night?” Scarlett asked quietly. “You left so suddenly. You just walked out and left me there.”
Elijah removed his suit jacket and placed it in her hands before heading straight to the sofa.
“I slept at my parents’ house. You got home safely, didn’t you? So what exactly are you complaining about? I’m tired, Scarlett. Don’t bother me right now.”
He kicked off his shoes and walked toward the bedroom, leaving Scarlett standing alone, holding the suit that carried his warmth—and something else.
She lifted the lapel to her nose. The scent struck her instantly.
A woman’s perfume.
She had smelled it before… somewhere. Familiar, but she couldn’t place it.
“Why does his suit smell like a woman’s perfume?” she whispered to herself, eyes drifting toward Elijah’s retreating back as he entered their bedroom.
She wanted to ask—but fear twisted in her chest. If she questioned him, he might get angry again. So she swallowed the words and sank onto the sofa, still clutching his suit.
Her mind spiraled.
Had Elijah changed?
Was he beginning to treat her differently?
Why did it feel like he was drifting farther away every day?
Her thoughts snapped back to herself.
Was something wrong with her?
Was she becoming less beautiful?
Less appealing?
Scarlett walked toward the human-size mirror in the living room. Her reflection stared back at her—sad eyes, dull skin, hair that looked as if it hadn’t been cared for in weeks. There were visible bags beneath her eyes, a testament to sleepless nights and unspoken worries.
“Did I really let myself go?” she murmured, fingertips brushing her cheek. “I do everything a wife should do. I take care of the house. It’s not embarrassing to be just a housewife…”
She let out a shaky sigh. Her gaze softened with a blend of fear and longing.
If they had a child, would things change?
Would he finally look at her the way he used to?
Would he finally be happy with her?
Scarlett hung Elijah’s suit properly before walking toward their bedroom.
Elijah had just finished showering when she approached him from behind and wrapped her arms around him.
“Love,” she whispered, “do you want to try having a baby again?”
Elijah immediately removed her arms from around his waist.
“Scarlett, it’s too early in the morning for you to be thinking about things like that.”
He began choosing clothes from the closet. Scarlett noticed something on his neck. A faint mark. Circular. Reddish.
A kiss mark.
“What happened to your neck? Why do you have a mark there?” Scarlett asked, voice trembling.
Elijah’s hand shot up to his neck.
“That’s not a kiss mark. I scratched myself. Can you not, Scarlett? If you have nothing good to say, please leave.”
He dressed quickly and lay down on the bed. Scarlett followed, sitting beside him carefully.
“Love, what if I work in your company?” she asked softly. “Maybe I can work as a designer… I want to have a job. Will you support me?”
Elijah shot her an irritated look.
“You’re going back to designing? Do you really think you can keep up with designers today? It’s been five years since you abandoned that passion. And there are no openings. I don’t need another designer—especially someone with zero recent experience.”
The words stung like a slap, but Scarlett forced herself to swallow the pain.
“I… I can study again,” she insisted. “I can catch up. Designing can be learned again. I don’t want to be stuck in this house forever.”
“Stop dreaming already, Scarlett,” Elijah said coldly. “Time has passed you by. Even if you studied again, how would you compete with people your age? Just stay home.”
Scarlett exhaled shakily, her heart sinking deeper. Elijah looked at her again, his tone now sharp.
“Am I not giving you enough? Why look for work? Your life is much easier here than working in my company and embarrassing me again like you did last night at the charity gala. Don’t humiliate me in front of my employees.”
Scarlett could only nod, her hope dimming.
Elijah closed his eyes. “I’m going to sleep. Don’t wake me.”
From where she sat, Scarlett could clearly see the mark on Elijah’s neck. No matter how much she tried to believe him… it didn’t look like a scratch.
But she had no proof.
No evidence.
And no strength to fight.
So she stayed silent.
Even if her heart was breaking.
- Writer
