Chapter 1
Chapter 1
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The rain fell in sheets, drumming against the windows of a black car as it crawled along the road. Inside, Yvonne Stark’s calm face was visible through the window. Next to her, Steven Chapin, her husband, was on the phone with his lover.
“I didn’t mean to miss picking you up from school today, baby. Something came up,” he said, his tone dripping with apology.
“No. Who told you that? I didn’t pick her up,” Steven added, glancing at Yvonne. In the dim light, he could only see the outline of her profile.
He quickly looked away and focused again on the phone. “Okay, get whatever you want. Do you have enough money? If not, I’ll have my assistant transfer another 300 thousand to your account.”
“What? You want to buy a house? Sure, we can check it out another day,” he continued, trying to sound caring.
After a few more minutes of sweet–talking, he reluctantly hung up. Yvonne kept staring out the window, her heart as still as a calm pond. The heated arguments of the past felt like distant memories now.
She and Steven had known each other for fifteen years, going through the hardest times together. They had lived in run- down apartments and eaten cold noodles, dreaming of growing old together. But now, it felt like they’d lost almost all affection for each other.
Yvonne’s lips curled into a self–mocking smile as she thought to herself, ‘What was once beautiful is now just a thing of the
past.‘
“Honey, are you upset? Those other women don’t mean anything. It’s just a game. Don’t take it seriously,” Steven said.
Yvonne glanced back at him, a faint trace of sarcasm on her face. “Just a game?”
Steven chuckled and reached out to hug her. “Of course. Don’t worry. They can never be a threat to your position.”
Yvonne avoided his hand, her eyes full of disgust. “You’ve been keeping that mistress at Riverside Estates for over a year. Your little ‘game‘ has gone on long enough.”
Steven smiled, with an unexpected touch of warmth in his eyes. “She’s not like the others. She sort of reminds me of how you used to be.”
Yvonne didn’t say anything else. She turned her head, leaned back against the seat, and closed her eyes.
They’d been living apart for over a year. This time, she’d been on a business trip for more than two weeks, working late into the night for days. She didn’t remember having a husband until he suddenly arrived at the airport to pick her up.
“Honey, did you miss me?” Steven leaned closer, his voice soft and coaxing. His breath brushed Yvonne’s ear, but it only made her feel a wave of disgust.
Yvonne turned her head, too weary to talk. Steven was taken aback for a moment.
Outside the car, the rain was getting heavier, forming a continuous sheet, while thunder roared as if it wanted to swallow the whole world.
Steven’s phone rang again and he picked it up with a sigh. “What’s wrong this time?”
“Scared?” he asked, his tone changing.
Yvonne could faintly hear someone sobbing on the other end. She twisted her lips into a mocking smile.
“Alright, alright, I’ll come and stay with you. I’ll be there soon. Wait for me,” Steven said, hanging up.
Chapter 1
He turned to Yvonne and said with a troubled look on his face, “I really need to go. She’s still young and gets scared easily
Yvonne slowly opened her eyes which were filled with tiredness and indifference. “Okay, Stop the car ahead. I’ll go back on my own.”
Steven hesitated, looking at the heavy rain. “It’s pouring outside. Are you sure you’ll be okay?”
Yvonne responded with a sneer. Deep down, she muttered, ‘My husband is about to leave me halfway to see his mistress, yet he acts like he cares about my safety
She said, “Steven, isn’t it boring? She’s the ‘young girl, and I’m the ‘older woman. I’m too old to be scared of thunderstorms anymore.”
She added in her mind, ‘He probably doesn’t even remember it. After that rainy night back then, I’d been so scared of thunder for a long time that I needed him by my side to sleep every night.
‘He forgot about my fear and his old promises. Ile’s been my savior, and now he is going to save another girl. How ironic
Steven replied, “Honey, don’t make a fuss, okay? I’ll try to find some time in the next couple of days-”
“Stop,” Yvonne cut him off while raising her hand, her voice getting louder. “Stop pretending. I’m tired and want to rest.”
Steven’s face darkened. He felt Yvonne was becoming more and more unreasonable. “Pull over,” he shouted to the driver.
The car slowly stopped by the roadside. Yvonne grabbed her handbag and, without hesitation, opened the door and stepped into the cold, rainy night with her umbrella in hand. The rain quickly soaked her dress, but she didn’t seem to notice.
Steven watched her disappear into the darkness, feeling annoyed. ‘Her temper is getting out of control; she needs a strong reminder,‘ he thought. Then he said, “Drive.”
The car sped away, splashing water behind it. Yvonne stood in the rain, looking back at the taillights fading into the darkness. She let out a cold laugh. ‘Steven,’ she muttered inwardly, ‘I hope you’ll still have this confidence when you have nothing left.‘
Just then, the sound of a car horn cut through the air. A Rolls–Royce Cullinan slowly approached Yvonne from the end of the road and pulled over.
The window rolled down to reveal Reid Simmons’s handsome face. He looked at Yvonne and said in a flat tone, “Get in. I’ll give you a ride.”
With that, he closed the window. The car stayed quietly by the roadside as if he was certain Yvonne would get in.
Yvonne hesitated for a moment. She looked down the road, considered whether she could get another ride, and finally opened the back door, and got into the car.
“Serenity Villas,” Reid said in a calm voice.
“Yes, Mr. Simmons,” replied the driver.
Yvonne’s dress was damp and stuck to her legs from the rain earlier. Reid glanced sideways at her and handed her a new blanket from the car without saying anything.
Yvonne took it and draped it over her legs, feeling the warmth spread slowly. Neither of them spoke, and the car was quiet.
Reid looked down at the file in his hands, occasionally flipping through the pages. The small space was filled only with the soft sound of turning pages.
A while later, the driver said, “Mr. Simmons, we’ve arrived.”
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16:47 Fri, 28 Mar
Chapter 1
“Okay.” Reid replied, turning to look at the rain outside, which didn’t seem to be letting up.
Yvonne folded the blanket and set it aside. After thinking for a moment, she turned back and said, “Thanks”
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Reid didn’t respond. He just put away the file he was holding, his eyes closely following her as she got our of the car with an umbrella.
Her umbrella was a bit too small for the heavy rain. After she took only a few steps, her shoulders and back were soaked. Her black dress clung to her, highlighting her graceful figure.
Reid tugged at his tie in frustration, his eyes deep. Suddenly, he opened the car door and quickly strode after her.
As Yvonne opened her front door, she heard hurried footsteps coming up fast from behind. Surprised, she quickly pushed the door open and slipped inside. Just as she was about to close it, Reid’s large hand stopped the door. He pushed his way in firmly.
The door slammed shut behind him and meanwhile, he pulled Yvonne with his arm around her waist.
Yvonne bumped into his chest, the chill on her disappearing with his warmth. “Let go,” she said coldly.
Reid chuckled softly and replied, “Yvonne, are you planning to keep him on a leash? He’s like this, and you still won’t divorce him?”
“It’s none of your business,” she replied.
“Divorce him.” Reid said. “Be with me.”
Yvonne scoffed, pulling him a bit closer by his tie. “Reid, Steven’s a jerk, and what makes you think you’re any better? He’s your best friend, yet you’re after his wife.”
Reid lowered his head, his deep eyes gleaming with a strange light. He leaned closer to Yvonne’s ear and muttered, his voice low and captivating, “Best friend? Yvonne, the only difference is that I never mess around.”
“You two are alike,” Yvonne snorted.
Reid raised an eyebrow and was about to say something when Yvonne’s phone suddenly rang. She took out her phone and saw it was Steven calling. Irritated, she didn’t want to answer.
Reid glanced sideways at her and suddenly grabbed her phone. “How about I answer it for you?” he said with a sly grin, and there was a provocative look in his eyes.
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