I Learned To Be A Mistress, Not A Wife

Chapter 4

Gideon glanced at me.

"What's wrong with you now?"

"It only hurt a little at first. Then I heard you were going to see her, and suddenly, it got much worse."

I hooked a finger through the belt of his robe and gazed up at him pitifully.

"Ms. Fletcher has no claim on you, yet you run to her whenever she calls at midnight. I'm your lawful wife, but asking you to stay makes me feel like a thief.

"If I'd known things would be like this, I would've slept outside your door. At least then I wouldn't have to watch the two of you act out a romance drama."

Heidi's assistant sent three more messages in quick succession.

Gideon caught the hand trying to untie his robe and sent a voice message. "If she absolutely has to see me, tell her to wait in the study."

Then he looked at me.

"You're coming too."

I stared at him.

That wasn't in the script.

Mom said a man fought over by two women was supposed to be torn between them.

Why was he putting both of us in the same room?

Only after we reached the study did I realize that Heidi's heart wasn't bothering her at all.

Her cheeks were rosy, and she held an old necktie in her hands.

When she saw me follow him in, she frowned.

"The study is for serious business. Why is Bridget here?"

Gideon sat behind his desk and replied evenly, "I asked her to come."

Heidi faltered. Then her eyes reddened again as she held out the tie.

"Gideon, you gave this to me 3 years ago, and I've kept it all this time. I found it today while sorting through my things. It's a little worn now. Take a look."

So she wasn't sick. She was here to flaunt their history.

I promptly sat beside Gideon and offered him the belt of my robe.

"Honey, mine is loose too."

A muscle jumped at Gideon's temple.

"Tie it yourself."

"I don't know how."

"Who tied it earlier?"

"I knew how then. I forgot."

Heidi couldn't help sneering.

"If you can't even tie a belt, how can you be the lady of the Whitaker family?"

I smiled sweetly at her.

"Why does it matter what I can do as long as my husband is willing to help me?"

Gideon studied me for a moment. He knew perfectly well that I was provoking her, but he still reached out and retied my belt.

Heidi nearly crushed the old necktie in her hands.

"Gideon dislikes clingy women."

I took the opportunity to rest against his shoulder.

"That was before he met me."

Gideon's body stiffened slightly, but he didn't push me away.

Finally, Heidi dropped the act.

"Bridget, is seducing men the only thing you can do?"

I thought seriously about it.

"I also know how to make you angry."

"You..."

She snatched the folder off the desk and hurled it at me.

Gideon's expression turned glacial. In one swift motion, he pulled me into his arms.

The folder grazed his shoulder and fell to the floor.

"Heidi, get out."

Tears in her eyes, Heidi protested, "She insulted me first!"

"I said, get out."

Gideon had never spoken to her that way. Covering her face, she ran out.

Curled in his arms, I timidly looked up.

"Honey, she's terrifying. If that folder had hit me in the face, you wouldn't have such a beautiful wife anymore."

Gideon looked down at me.

"Would she have gotten that angry if you hadn't provoked her?"

"Then I won't say anything next time."

I immediately closed my mouth and became the picture of obedience.

Gideon knew I was pretending, but he merely sighed and kept one arm securely around my waist.

Mom had been right after all.

Once a man knew you were acting but still couldn't bear to push you away...

He wasn't far from taking the bait.