3. Meeting Again

The night grew late as Daren had just entered the bedroom. For a moment, he looked at Liora, then touched his wife’s shoulder.

“Are you asleep?”

“Wake up. I know you’re not asleep!” he added, this time forcing Liora to get up.

“Don’t disturb me, Daren! I’m tired. I want to sleep!” Liora snapped. She brushed Daren’s hand away roughly and then truly turned her back on him.

Usually, whenever Liora had problems with Daren, she would look for excuses just so she could sleep in his arms.

But this time, she didn’t want to do that anymore. Especially after she had seen with her own eyes that Daren had betrayed her love.

“It feels uncomfortable sharing the same bed with Daren like this. I feel disgusted when he touches me,” she thought.

Daren glared sharply, but he tried to restrain himself. At the same time, he received a call from Camelia.

Not wanting Liora to hear his conversation with Camelia, Daren immediately left the bedroom and headed to the balcony.

“Hello, what is it?”

“Darling, when are you going to divorce Liora? I’m tired of waiting. If you won’t divorce her, then let’s just break up. After that, I’ll find another man,” Camelia threatened seriously.

Of course, Daren panicked. He didn’t want to lose his woman for the second time after Camelia had once left him to go abroad.

“Don’t … wait a little longer, okay? Maybe within this week. After I take control of all the inheritance left by Liora’s parents, I will definitely divorce her,” Daren pleaded.

“So this is the reason you keep delaying the divorce?” Camelia finally understood.

“Yes, darling. I still need Liora’s signature so all her assets will be transferred under my name,” Daren explained.

Camelia sounded pleased. “If that’s the case, fine. I’ll give you more time. I’ll hang up now.”

“Hm.”

“I love you, darling. I love you so, so much, Daren.”

Daren didn’t answer, feeling as if he was being watched from inside the room.

“I just hope Liora didn’t hear my conversation with Camelia earlier,” he muttered softly, hoping.

On the other side, the door of a luxurious house had just opened.

Ethan stepped inside with a flat expression. His suit was still neat, but his eyes were empty—tired with something he couldn’t name. Just as he put the keys down, footsteps followed from the living room.

“Where have you been?” asked Stevani, his wife.

The woman closed her eyes briefly, then stood in the living room, her gaze full of questions, as if she truly cared.

Ethan took off his suit without looking back.

“Where I go is none of your business,” Ethan replied coldly.

Stevani approached him. “Honey … why are you like this?” She linked her arm with Ethan’s. “I’m really worried about you,” she continued. “Your number couldn’t be reached.”

Ethan pulled his arm away from Stevani, then slowly turned, his gaze cold and piercing.

“Don’t pretend to be a good wife,” he said lowly. “You’re not that good.”

Stevani fell silent. Her lips trembled slightly.

“I just—”

“Enough.”

Silence followed, with only the sound of their breathing filling the space. Soon after, small footsteps were heard from behind.

“Daddy!” a shout rang out, instantly drawing Ethan’s attention.

A five-year-old boy ran toward him. Ethan immediately picked him up briefly, patting the small back with a short movement.

“Have you eaten?”

“Yes … Daddy, why are you home so late?”

“Daddy was working overtime,” Ethan lied. “Go play,” he said flatly.

Kenzie nodded enthusiastically and ran toward the family room.

Once the small footsteps disappeared, Ethan’s face returned to its usual blank expression. Without turning back, he warned Stevani.

“Don’t disturb me.”

Stevani smiled faintly, bitterly. She stepped closer, her voice softening, ignoring Ethan’s warning.

“I miss you,” she said softly.

“Can’t we be like we used to be?”

Stevani hugged Ethan from behind. Her arms wrapped around his waist, hoping there was still some warmth left.

Ethan’s body stiffened—not from desire, but from disgust. Slowly yet firmly, he removed her arms.

“Don’t touch me,” he said coldly.

“Don’t use the word ‘miss’ as if it still means something.”

Stevani froze, her eyes moist. “I’m sorry.”

“This relationship survives not because of feelings,” Ethan continued, finally turning around.

“So stop hoping.”

He walked away toward his study.

The door closed. Silence followed.

But his mind did not.

Images of that night slipped in uninvited—the gentle touch that turned bold, warm breaths against his skin, honesty without masks.

Ethan clenched his fist.

“Damn it .…” Ethan cursed as he remembered that woman.

His phone vibrated. Daren’s name appeared on the screen.

“Hello!”

“Hello, Brother. Are you coming today?” his younger brother’s voice sounded from the other end.

“Yes, of course.”

“Okay, I’ll wait. Mom is already waiting for you.”

“I’ll be there in thirty minutes.”

Click. The call ended.

A few minutes later, Ethan’s car entered the courtyard of Daren’s house.

The house looked the same—neat, large, and full of memories.

Martina was already standing at the front.

“You finally came,” she said emotionally. “You look thinner.”

“I’m fine, Mom,” Ethan replied briefly.

Stevani followed with Kenzie. The child immediately ran inside.

“Hello, Stevani,” Martina hugged her daughter-in-law warmly.

“Hello, Mom. How are you?” Stevani said politely, then took out a jewelry box for her mother-in-law.

“What is this, dear?”

“Jewelry. I hope you like it,” Stevani knew exactly how to win her mother-in-law’s heart.

“Oh, thank you,” Martina hugged Stevani happily.

“You’re welcome, Mom,” Stevani smiled meaningfully.

They walked inside, followed by Ethan and Daren. Kenzie was already there.

“Come in,” Martina said. “The food is almost ready.”

Ethan sat in the living room facing Daren. The two engaged in light conversation, formal small talk.

Not long after, footsteps were heard from the stairs.

Ethan turned his head.

His chest suddenly felt heavy.

When he saw the woman descending the stairs.

A pale face. A restrained gaze. Yet Ethan’s expression remained controlled.

“Isn’t that woman—?” Ethan’s monologue trailed off.

Then he heard Daren’s voice as his brother approached and wrapped an arm around Liora’s side.

“Brother, let me introduce her,” Daren said. “This is my wife, Liora.”

Thump!

“What?! Wife!” Ethan’s thoughts froze for a split second.

What Ethan felt was exactly what Liora felt. The woman looked shocked when she saw the man introduced as Daren’s brother. That man was the same man from her one-night encounter.

“Li—Liora .…” Liora extended her hand toward Ethan, trembling.

“Ethan!” Ethan replied, gripping her hand firmly.

They stared at each other, full of unspoken meaning. Daren, standing beside Liora, sensed something strange between them.

“Do you two know each other?” Daren asked, breaking their gaze.

“No!” Ethan and Liora answered simultaneously, both looking at Daren.

Daren seemed unconvinced, as they were still holding hands.

“But you’re still holding hands.”

Liora pulled her hand away, while Ethan tried to act normally.

Stevani watched intently, while Martina noticed the tense situation and immediately tried to ease it—by belittling Liora.

“Liora, where have you been? You just came down now. Were you sleeping? Lazy woman! You knew they were coming, yet you were still lazing around!”

“Mom … I wasn’t sleeping. I just finished cooking and then took a shower. Is that wrong?”

Seeing his wife start to talk back to his mother, Daren finally tried to calm things down by changing the subject.

“Enough, dear. You’d better introduce yourself to Sister Stevani. She’s Brother Ethan’s wife!”

Liora’s gaze shifted to Stevani.

“What?! So that man is already married?” Liora glanced briefly at Ethan—and Ethan did the same.

Stevani began to sense something from the interaction between Liora and Ethan. She immediately sat closer to Ethan.

With no other choice, Liora walked toward the sofa where Ethan and Stevani were sitting.

“Nice to meet you, Sister Stevani.”

“Hm,” Stevani replied coldly.

After the small talk, they sat on the sofa. The conversation flowed naturally, but only Liora and Ethan remained silent, as if sharing something they couldn’t explain.

Martina stared at Liora, deliberately cornering her daughter-in-law after noticing Stevani’s displeased attitude.

“Three years of marriage. Three years without a child,” Martina said. “You’re very lucky to have given this family an heir, dear,” she added, holding Stevani’s hand.

“Thank you, Mom,” Stevani said, feeling superior.

Martina smiled in satisfaction at Stevani.

“Look at Stevani. Her child is already grown. Her family is complete.”

Then her gaze shifted to Liora.

“And you?”

“Three years of marriage, yet still like this,” Martina repeated accusingly.

“Mom, enough. Why bring this up again in front of Brother Ethan and Sister Stevani?” Daren snapped.

“Let it be! Let them know you chose the wrong wife!”

Liora lowered her head. Her hands clenched tightly against her thighs.

Ethan saw it—and for some reason, his chest felt uncomfortable.

“Excuse me,” Liora said softly. “I need to go to the kitchen for a moment.”

She stood up quickly, as if she couldn’t endure it any longer.

Ethan also stood.

Ethan stared coldly at his mother.

“How can that woman get pregnant when Daren has never even touched her?” Ethan thought.

He clenched both fists, feeling unwilling to see Liora being humiliated.

“I need to use the restroom,” Ethan said flatly.

But instead of heading to the restroom, Ethan followed Liora’s footsteps.