Chapter 16
After dinner, I curled up on the sofa. I drafted the text a dozen times but still couldn’t hit send. What was Evan playing? He let Gary tell me his measurements but refused to give me his address? I couldn’t decipher his intentions, and I didn’t want to. Apart from this unresolved suit issue, we wouldn’t talk to each other again.
Footsteps approached. I deleted the text and sat up.
“Where are all your clothes, shoes, bags, and jewelry?” Julian asked with a long face.
My heart skipped a beat. He’d found out? What was wrong with this guy? He came home for dinner without warning and even checked the walk–in closet upstairs?
“I took my clothes and shoes to the dry cleaner, and the bags and jewelry to be serviced.” My mind raced, but I maintained a calm and bewildered façade.
*All of them?*
“Yes. Problem? I was bored, so I started cleaning the house. I couldn’t remember which clothes and shoes in the closet had been worn or not, so I just took them all to the dry cleaners. As for the bags and jewelry, I noticed the diamonds had lost their sparkle and the leather edges were worn out. Since I had time, I decided to get them all repaired and polished.*
My explanation was logical, and I was sure Julian would buy it.
As I expected, Julian found it odd but still believed me. I had been home a lot recently, and he recalled me tidying up every time he came home.
Take it easy. You’re not just staying home for a few days; you can do it later.”
I’m going on a trip soon; I want the house clean before I leave.”
It made sense, but Julian found it unsettling.
He noticed the dark blue bag on the sofa, bending to pick it up.“This is for…”
“No…” I instinctively stopped him, leaning over to prevent him from touching it.
We both froze. Julian’s face darkened. I quickly recovered.“It’s for my father.”
Julian’s disappointment was palpable. “You bought a gift for your father, but not for your husband?”
I countered, “Do you really need a suit?” His suits in Rita’s apartment were probably more numerous than those at home.
Julian was speechless. Ignoring him, I picked up the bag, leaving the living room and heading upstairs. I hid it in my study; after a while, I heard a car drive away. Relief washed over me.
The next day was Sunday; the weather was beautiful. I went to the high school Julian and I had attended. Classes weren’t in session, but I saw some students in uniforms. I wandered around, visiting our old classroom, walking down the tree–lined path, running across the track…
Finally, I arrived at the bamboo grove by the artificial lake, uncovering the box we’d buried together in a hidden corner. It was before the college entrance exams; Julian had brought me here. It was dark, and we used our phones for light, writing messages. He said we’d dig it up and read it together twenty years later.
Smiling serenely, I took out my capsule from the box.
Goodbye, Julian Shaw.
At the same time, Julian was in the project manager’s office. The blinds were drawn, the door closed. The project team members muttered under their breath. Julian frowned, reviewing Rita’s project proposal. Rita, oblivious to his
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irritation, leaned against him, constantly touching him. While not as beautiful as Olivia, she was sexy and wild. For most men, she was charming.
Julian, don’t you want to… do it here…” Her hand moved toward his lower abdomen.
“Stop it!” Julian had no interest of it at all. He pushed her hand away, slamming the proposal onto the desk.“This is the same project proposal you spent eight nights working on?” He knew she wasn’t as good as Olivia, but he hadn’t expected her to be such an idiot. This proposal was nonsensical, absurd!
Julian rubbed his temples, missing the days when Olivia was by his side. Rita pouted, aggrieved.
Julian’s phone rang; he answered. “Julian Shaw’s speaking.”
Ms. Frost went out again today. She went to a high school, staying there for a while, then went to a neighborhood called Ocean Rose. It’s high–end with strict security; only residents can enter.”
Julian grew increasingly uneasy. High school, high–end neighborhood… His eyes narrowed.“Only residents can enter? What if she knows someone inside?”
“That works, too.”
“Send me the address. Keep watching her.”
“Yes, sir.”
Julian hung up, frustrated. His mistress’s project proposal was a disaster, and his wife was acting strangely. He turned; Rita wrapped her arms around him.“Humph, why care about her? You don’t love her anymore.”
Julian suppressed his disgust, gripping her shoulders firmly. His expression was serious. “Redo the project proposal, carefully. If you need help, turn to the team leaders.” He left coldly.
Rita threw things around the office in anger. He wanted her to ask those inferiors for help? What made her even angrier was that those team leaders used to work for Olivia.
She immediately called the three team leaders in, berating them, slapping one across the face. The other two were too afraid to speak up. They all thought Rita was crazy…
I placed the time capsule on a shelf in my new home. I wouldn’t throw it away or burn it. It wasn’t only about Julian; my life wasn’t just about him.
My phone rang. It was Julian. Did he sense that our marriage was dying and feel the urge to do something? I neither answered nor hung up. After a while, the call ended; a message arrived.
Rolling my eyes, I opened it–it wasn’t from Julian; it was Gary.
< Chapter 17
