Chapter 2

Mrs. Thorne chatted cheerfully with Jocelyn Lane about everyday matters, grinning ear to ear at the jewelry she'd brought.

"Oh my, our Jocelyn is so thoughtful. I had my eye on this ruby necklace set just last month."

Xander sat nearby, bringing a peeled shrimp to Jocelyn's lips.

The woman took his finger into her mouth with a lingering gaze, then slowly swallowed the shrimp.

Xander treated it as routine, his movements practiced, as if he'd done it a thousand times.

Only when I sat beside him did he belatedly react.

"Nora, let me introduce you. This is Jocelyn Lane, my childhood friend."

"Taking care of her has become a habit. Don't mind it."

As he spoke, he peeled a shrimp apologetically and placed it in my plate.

I forced a smile.

He seemed to have forgotten that I'm allergic to shrimp.

Mrs. Thorne saw this and began her passive-aggressive commentary.

"Married a hen that won't lay eggs. No real ability, but quite the temper. Should've married Jocelyn instead."

Xander remained silent, seemingly accepting her words.

"Now, Mrs. Thorne, don't say that. Xander and Nora are so in love. Having a baby is just a matter of time."

Jocelyn fanned the flames from the side, deliberately emphasizing "in love," as if challenging me.

My hand trembled, accidentally knocking my fork to the floor.

As I bent down to pick them up, I glanced up and saw Jocelyn's feet intimately resting between Xander's legs in a suggestive position.

Even though I already knew the truth, seeing this scene still felt like a knife twisting in my heart.

I looked at Xander. The man's earlobes were already flushed red...

After dinner, Xander settled me in the room and volunteered to wash the dishes.

I picked up my phone and, like a masochist, opened the post I'd been viewing earlier.

Jocelyn had posted an update.

"Came to Xander's house for dinner, washing dishes together."

"These are the hands that made me feel absolutely incredible in bed."

Jocelyn had posted a picture of Xander washing dishes. Those hands were long and strong, with our diamond ring still on his ring finger.

The hand fetishists in the comments went wild.

"Beautiful fingers, I want to lick them."

"Using the ring, does that feel amazing?"

Jocelyn quickly replied to that comment.

"Good taste. Not just the ring, but lots of other toys too..."

I suddenly felt dizzy, wanting to throw up.

Once, I'd deliberately bought sexy lingerie and even used various props, hoping he'd show some interest.

But that night, he'd looked at me coldly and thrown the blanket over me.

"Sorry, Nora, I'm a rather traditional person."

"This... you're being too slutty. I can't accept it."

Those cold words still echoed in my ears.

I'd thought I was too improper, consumed only by lust.

Now I knew that Xander wasn't without desire.

He just directed all his desire toward another woman.

Tears filled my eyes. Xander pushed the door open and, seeing me cry, held me with apparent concern.

"Nora, I'm sorry. I let you down."

"The baby situation, that's on me. I promise, just let me prepare a bit more."

"Next year, we'll definitely have a child."

Seeing my silence, he handed me a glass of warm milk as usual.

Whenever we fought before, he'd give me warm milk as a peace offering.

He was confident I'd forgive him, so he turned and left.

In fact, I'd always chosen to forgive him before.

But today, I poured that entire glass of milk down the drain.

Just like my past feelings, this time I was cutting everything off completely.