Chapter 3

Rose froze, then a flash of awkwardness crossed her face.

"We're not married yet."

Perhaps catching the shock that flickered across my face, she quickly added:

"Don't rush to look down on me, but he and his wife have no feelings for each other!"

My fingers gripping the water cup suddenly tightened, knuckles turning white.

"He said his family pressured him back then, and that woman saw his status and forced herself on his family."

Rose pursed her lips, her eyes showing contempt.

"He said that woman is incredibly boring. Every day with her is torture, painful as hell. If he hadn't met me, he wouldn't know how to endure it."

As she spoke, her face showed deep sympathy for Jett, as if he were the biggest victim in this twisted relationship.

Listening to her words, a storm raged inside me.

Forced herself on him? Jett, you dare say I forced myself on you?!

I still remember the first time I brought him home—he wore a faded white shirt and stood awkwardly in my family's living room.

His family was poor, his parents ordinary workers.

He worked desperately hard to get into aviation college.

After graduation, he spent years grinding away at airport ground services before finally mixing his way into a low-level flight engineer assistant position.

If he hadn't used his halfway decent face to persistently chase me, could he have the success he has today?

Seeing his wasted talent, I begged my father to use his connections to pave the way for him, all the way to the captain's position.

Feeling sorry for his humble background, I never let him want for anything materially, giving him a life he'd never dared dream of before.

When his father fell seriously ill, I used every medical resource available, hired the best specialists, and paid all the medical bills.

My parents were dead set against me marrying him, saying our family backgrounds were too different, incompatible.

I was the one blinded by so-called "love," threatening to die if I couldn't marry him, until my parents reluctantly agreed.

After that, they constantly helped his career for my happiness.

And I'd always thought he was hardworking and ambitious, felt sorry for how hard he worked.

Turns out in his mouth, all my efforts became forcing myself on him and pressuring him.

A huge sense of absurdity and nausea welled up inside me. I really was lovesick back then, completely blind!

Rose hadn't noticed my churning emotions at all and continued her defense:

"It's true—the one who isn't loved is the real mistress. So what if his wife has the title? She doesn't understand him at all, doesn't deserve him. Jett said once he finds the right opportunity, he'll confront her about divorce."

My heart felt like an invisible hand was squeezing it tight, the pain almost suffocating.

I took a deep breath, using all my strength to maintain surface calm:

"How long have you been together?"

Rose's face immediately bloomed with a sweet smile: "Next month on the fifth, it'll be exactly four years!"

Next month, the fifth...

My brain buzzed, going completely blank.

Four years ago on that day was when I gave birth to Ruby!

That day my labor started early. I was rushed to the hospital and endured seven or eight hours of agony before giving birth to our daughter.

Throughout the entire process, Jett wasn't by my side.

When I emerged from the delivery room, exhausted, I only saw my anxious parents.

He didn't show up until much later, running in drenched in sweat.

Said he went to buy the pastries I'd been craving, but the line was too long and he got delayed.

Though I felt hurt, seeing his guilty, distressed face as he held me, my heart softened immediately. I even comforted him instead.

I even stopped my parents from scolding him.

Turns out while I struggled at death's door, he was sweetly confirming his relationship with another woman.

Makes sense—what pastries take that long to buy?

Looking at Rose's smug face, my voice turned ice cold:

"Does his wife know you exist?"

Rose raised her eyebrows proudly, her tone contemptuous:

"That stupid woman? How could she know? Jett keeps her completely in the dark. She probably still thinks her marriage is happy."

She sneered, as if telling a huge joke.

"Though it'd be better if she knew. If she has any sense, she'll get lost on her own, save Jett the trouble."

"Stupid woman." "Get lost on her own." These words were like poisoned daggers, stabbing viciously into my heart.

I couldn't take it anymore.

I suddenly stood up and threw the remaining warm water in my hand right in her face.