Chapter 2

The next night, I went out drinking with some colleagues and didn't return home until dawn.

Sophia's calls kept coming, but I turned off my phone, finally getting a taste of making her wait for me.

I returned home slightly drunk, and surprisingly, Sophia was sitting in the living room waiting for me.

She tried to come over and support me, but I pushed her away.

"Don't touch me!"

I staggered along the wall back to the bedroom and fell face-first into the bed.

"James! Get up right now!"

Sophia's shrill voice exploded next to my ear.

"You stink of alcohol. You're getting into bed without showering?"

I suddenly opened my eyes, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her close.

"Sophia, since when did you care about me so much? In the past, when I came home drunk, didn't you wish I'd just die outside?"

Sophia was frightened by my gaze and stammered:

"I... I was just worried about you."

"Worried about me?"

I sneered.

You're just worried about dirtying your sheets!

I flung her hand away.

"Sophia, I'm not your servant, nor am I your punching bag! If you dare to boss me around again, get out!"

Sophia was stunned. She probably never thought that I, who had always been so docile, would rebel.

I couldn't be bothered to look at her again and turned over to sleep.

After that day, Sophia's attitude seemed to improve a bit.

She prepared loving breakfasts for me every morning, sent me many messages during work hours, and occasionally bought small gifts.

Her attitude seemed to have changed.

This weekend, Sophia said she wanted to go to the mall and asked me to wait for her there, saying she'd come after work.

I arrived early and sat idly by the fountain in the center of the mall, watching the crowds come and go.

At that moment, I saw Sophia and Lucas walking in side by side, their behavior intimate, laughing and talking, seemingly not noticing me.

Lucas even had his hand on my wife's neck, their faces almost touching.

Sophia didn't resist, allowing him to hold her.

"Have you been waiting long, honey?"

Seeming to have noticed me, Sophia broke away from his arm and walked towards me.

Lucas looked a bit surprised as Sophia pulled away from him, but he still strode over.

He stood in front of me, raising an eyebrow and said:

"Sorry, bro, didn't mean to interrupt your couple time. I just got off work too and ran into Sophia on the way. I know this area well, so I came along with her. You don't mind, right?"

As he spoke, he casually raised his right hand, revealing the new watch on his wrist.

It was the birthday gift from Sophia.

"It's fine, the more the merrier."

My tone was calm, showing no sign of discomfort.

"You're so good, honey!"

Hearing my agreement, Sophia smiled coyly.

"Let's go buy some clothes for Lucas first, he hasn't had any new clothes recently."

She said, pulling Lucas towards the men's clothing section.

Store after store, Sophia enthusiastically picked out clothes - shirts, suits, jackets... Lucas was like a clothes hanger, letting her do as she pleased, a smug smile on his face.

"How about this one? I think it suits you well."

Sophia held up a light gray cashmere sweater, comparing it against Lucas's body.

"Hmm, not bad. Let's get this one."

Lucas nodded, his smile confident.

"And this tie too, let's get it as well."

Sophia picked up a dark blue tie, matching it with the sweater, nodding in satisfaction.

In just an hour, Lucas's shopping cart was full of bags big and small, but Sophia showed no signs of stopping.

"Sophia, why don't you buy something for James too?"

Lucas turned to look at me, raising his eyebrows, speaking with deep meaning.

"Him? He has plenty of clothes at home, no need to buy more, he has enough to wear."

Sophia waved her hand dismissively, her gaze falling on a new leather jacket.

"Lucas, this leather jacket looks so cool, try it on?"

Sophia linked arms with Lucas, the two walking intimately in front, chatting and laughing, while I felt like an outsider.

I looked at the two of them, finding it all ridiculous, a playful smile tugging at my lips.

At that moment, a woman in a red bodycon dress with a charming aura spotted me from afar.

She walked over gracefully in her high heels.