Clara insisted on sitting in the backseat.I get carsick and I need some breeze.”
Ethan didn’t refute “Okay, 111 drive carefully.”
When then arrived, Ethan rushed to open her door. She was greeted by his employees.
Some of the executives rushed over. “Mrs. Payne! Mr. Payne told me you loved milk tea, right? I’ll get
some.”
Another guy said, And pastries! That’s your favorite.”
Ethan chuckled ‘Don’t overfeed her. She’s gained weight. She even took off her ring”
“But Mrs. Payne looks very thin. The ring must’ve shrunk!”
“You’re sucking up Silver doesn’t shrink!”
“You don’t get it. Happy wife, happy life. I’m trying to make Mrs. Payne happy!”
Ethan laughed. “You’ve got me there.”
Clara was practically escorted to Ethan’s office. Fruit, snacks, milk tea. Ethan put on a TV show for her. “I gotta go, Clara. If you need anything, call
Kevin
Clara asked pointedly, “Where’s Lily, your assistant!”
Ethan said, “I don’t know. I have someone call her.”
He patted her head. Let’s have lunch together later.”
He left, and so did the executives. Clara found he didn’t take his phone, so she went out to chase him. Then, she overheard the executives talking
Rooftop? Mr. Payne and Lily are getting bolder.”
“They had to. Mrs. Payne cime and they can’t do it in the office.”
Do we need to send them condoms?”
“Nope. Payne already had a bunch.”
“Wow. How did he get so many condoms under Mrs. Payne’s nose?”
“Don’t you use delivery apps? They make life so convenient.”
“..I wonder if he has enough. Last time, they did it all day and night in the car. Lily walked funny for days.”
“We got his back! Why else would he hire us?”
“Aren’t you the one who said happy wife happy life?”
“Shh, she’s clueless. The biggest lie in the world is that men don’t cheat, especially rich men. The difference is whether they get caught or not.”
“That’s true. Mrs. Payne seems naive and easy to fool.”
Ethan appeared. Don’t say anything that you shouldn’t in front of Clara!”
The executives nodded
Ethan warned them again. “My wife has a fragile stomach, so don’t give her anything cold. Nobody talks about Lily, or you’re fired!”
Clara returned to the office, placing his phone amidst the snacks.
Erhan murned “SweetCheeks, do you enjoy the food?
The nickname made Clara shiver.
Tthought you were at a meeting.”
“I lost my phone here. Did you see it?”
Clara shook her head, but he still found it.“Oh, it’s in the snacks. Take your time. I’ll go.”
Clara’s phone rang
“Ms. Anderson?”
<( far away! Chapter4
Your flight to Norway next week is confirmed. Bring your passport.”
Just passport?”
Yo.”
“Okay.”
Ethan asked, Passport? What happened?”
(Go far away) -Chapter5
Clara said, “A friend lost her passport and asked me how to get a new one.”
Ethan hugged her tightly. Thank God. I thought you were leaving without me”
Clara turned and vomited. He smelled of sex and Lily’s perfume
Ethan patted her back “What did they give you? I told them you had a fragile stomach Shit, I’m gonna fire them!”
Clara pushed him away. Stop using me as an excuse!”
Ethan was flustered “Clara, are you mad at me? Why? Because I was too busy? Tomorrow I’ll cancel everything and stay with you.” Clara ‘laughed.“Really?”
Clara sighed. Hope you mean it.”
That night, it rained heavily. Clara vomited constantly Ethan tried to get closer to her, but she refused “Don’t come near me. I’ll puke more when I smell you.”
Ethan sniffed his sleeve. Maybe you don’t like this cologne, I’ll change it.”
“Ethan, it’s not the cologne!”
Okay, no more perfume. Are we good?”
Clara splashed cold water on her face. She saw herself in the mirror, and Ethan outside the bathroom. He was anxiously waiting for her with hot water.
Why was he covered in the smell of sex and Lily’s perfume, yet still acting like a perfect husband?
Did they
they really think that if something was kept secret, it never happened?
He underestimated her. She wasn’t that naive, and she wouldn’t forgive a cheating man.
The next morning, Ethan took Clara to the hospital. The doctor said she had emotional gastritis.
Ethan asked, “What’s that?”
“She must have had a recent bout of emotional distress that led to gastrointestinal abnormalities.”
Ethan asked Clara, Something’s upsetting you? Tell me, maybe I can help.”
Clara looked away. “You can’t”
“Trust me. There’s litle I can’t solve.”
That was true. Only he could solve this. For a moment she wanted him to make a choice between Lily and her. But she wouldn’t let him be her boss. She should rely on herself.
“Clara, let me take you to the cinema in the afternoon. The new comedy will surely cheer you up.
“Afternoon? What about your company?
1 promised all day with you. I’m not gonna break it.”
His phone rang. Then, he looked hesitant. Clara saw his face shift from annoyance to awkwardness,
She smiled. “Answer it. It must be urgent.”
Ethan said, Five minutes”
“Okay. Just an
answer it here. Even if i trade secret, I won’t give it away.”
He hesitated for a while and then anwend. There was anger in his voice.“I told you not to call me! What happened?”
Clara heard a woman crying.
Ethan spoke cautiously “Okay, I understand Wait for me”
He hung up ‘Clara, I have an important document to sign. The manager’s downstairs. Give me half an hour.”
Clara nodded.
Ethan immediately ran downnain. She saw him heading to the maternity ward.
