After I Regained Sight, I Filed For Divorce

Chapter 4

When we sat down for dinner, Gideon took the seat right next to me.

Most people could barely tell the identical twins apart, but sharp as a tack, Old Man West could pick out who was who at a single glance. Gideon couldn't let Old Man West get a whiff of what was really going on with this ridiculous charade. He had to plaster on a lovesick smile and sit right next to me, pretending we were the perfect happy couple.

Alessia was seated right on his other side.

All through the meal, Gideon kept piling food into my bowl. That little act didn't sit well with two people at the table.

Alessia huffed, her voice thick with petulant coquetry. "Gideon, you're being so distant now! You always used to serve me food before."

Alessia begged and wheedled until Gideon caved. He didn't even spare a thought for the sharp glare Old Man West was shooting his way. He just stood up like it was no big deal to grab some food for Alessia. He even went out of his way to peel the shells off her seafood for her.

Meanwhile, the other scowl came from Gavin. He was staring hard at the heap of seafood in my bowl, his jaw tight with irritation.

Gavin knew full well I was deathly allergic to seafood. The one who loved that stuff was Alessia.

Not caring who was watching, Gavin copied his older brother's move, gently scooping non-seafood dishes into my bowl. Gideon glowered at him, furious, but Gavin just wore a cocky, challenging smirk.

"C'mon, bro, you looked like you had your hands full, so I figured I'd step in and look out for my sister-in-law for you."

When he said the term 'sister-in-law', there was a playful glint in his eyes. His gaze lingered on me like he was trying to send me a secret message. I just let out a cold, flat "hm" and didn't say anything else.

On the drive back, I sat in the passenger seat and didn't even spare Gavin a single glance. Once we got home, Gavin looked up at me with those big, glistening, kicked-puppy eyes, looking all dejected.

"Valerie, why are you being so cold to me?" he asked.

When I didn't say a word in response, he casually draped his large hand over my waist, rubbing slow, light circles against the fabric. His other hand cupped the back of my head, and a sharp, possessive, all-consuming kiss crashed down on me before I could even blink.

The kiss left me wobbly at the knees, but I mustered every last ounce of strength to catch his right hand as it was about to wander lower. "I'm exhausted today. I need to rest."

The abrupt rejection caught Gavin completely off guard. He was about to press for more, to try something else, but one look at how worn out I really was, and he backed off immediately. His shoulders slumped a little as he mumbled. "Okay, baby. It has been a crazy long day, you're right. Let me give you a massage to help you relax, yeah?"

The next day, I went to meet my lawyer. I had all the evidence I needed locked down tight. I knew I had a solid case, both for the property split and child custody.

That's right. I was pregnant. I hadn't told anyone yet, not even him.

That was the real reason I had to call an end to this ridiculous farce of a game once and for all.

After the lawyer left, I sat there staring at the cup of coffee in front of me for what felt like hours. Then, a shadow suddenly fell across the table, blocking out the light.

It was Gavin.

He looked a little tired around the eyes, but he carried himself the same way he always did. He slid into the seat across from me, grabbed my already cold coffee without even asking, and downed the whole thing in one go.

"Valerie, I can tell you've been keeping something from me lately."

I lifted my eyes, my expression completely neutral, and held his gaze steadily. "I'm not."

At that, Gavin let out a soft, helpless sigh. Then, like he was pulling something out of nowhere, he fished out a sleek silk box and set it on the table between us. When he flipped it open with a soft click, a dazzling gemstone necklace lay inside.

Gavin's voice was soft, laced with a clear apology and a plea for favor. "Baby, I know I messed up. Can you please forgive me, huh? You've been acting off since yesterday. Is it because I only paid attention to serving Alessia food at dinner, and even piled seafood in your bowl, right? Are you mad at me for that?"

My mind went blank, and I couldn't get a single word out.

I knew that wasn't him at the dinner table. That was Gideon. I wasn't some clueless i***t being strung along by their little game.

When I stayed quiet, Gavin grew even more anxious. He held up a hand as if swearing an oath. "Baby, I swear I'll never do that again! I was a total asshole, a straight-up dumbass yesterday! Please forgive me, honey?"

Staring at the earnest look in his eyes, I felt a little dazed for a moment.

Gideon never apologized to me. He never cared how I felt, not even for a second. But Gavin? He always picked up on every little shift in my mood before anyone else. That's why we barely ever fought. Even when we did, he'd always smooth things over and cheer me up in no time.

But this time…

It was different.

I hated being lied to. I'd known all about their stupid game from the very start. And if that was the case, I got to be the one who decided when it ended.

A permanent rift stood between Gavin and me, and nothing could fix it.

My train of thought was cut off abruptly. I stared at the two uninvited guests standing in front of me, my face cold and impassive. "What a coincidence. Who would've thought I'd run into you two here?"

It was Alessia and Gideon.