She's Just a Friend

Like many married couples in their social circle, Tatiana and Gilbert maintained a regular dinner schedule despite their busy lives.

They usually ate together three times a week, with additional dinners whenever they had important matters to discuss or guests to entertain. Tonight was one of those scheduled evenings.

Tatiana took a compact out of her purse and glanced at her reflection in the small mirror.

She still hadn't returned to their mansion since her personal assistant had delivered the news. Now, she was on her way to an Italian restaurant Gilbert had chosen for their dinner.

Hailey said they seemed friendly, as if they'd known each other for a long time…

Well, having a mistress isn't exactly frowned upon in their circle, as long as the affair doesn't cause scandalous rumors or result in an unwanted pregnancy.

Most men are smart enough not to bring their mistresses directly into their homes, though.

But Gilbert actually brought her into our house… God, I'm already getting a headache.

Tatiana leaned back against the car seat and closed her eyes, hoping to shake off the unpleasant thoughts that had plagued her since her conversation with her friends.

Instead, the sharp voice of Gilbert's late mother suddenly echoed in her mind.

“Men will always be men. That's what you get for being tied to someone who will never love you, Tiana.”

In her memory, Laura's beautiful face softened into a smile.

“If Gilbert brings home a mistress, don't just suffer in silence by his side. You're not made of stone. Get yourself a lover, too. Even a fleeting, mindless fling is better than falling into depression because your husband has fallen in love with someone else.”

Tatiana turned to look out the car window. The streetlights blurred past, their soft glow bringing her a faint sense of calm.

She had never considered taking a lover. She was content with the life she had. Gilbert was her friend, and he treated her with kindness and respect. Her charity work also gave her a sense of fulfillment.

What else could I possibly want?

Mrs. Fletcher was the perfect wife, too, and she never had an affair… Was that because Mr. Fletcher had remained faithful to her?

Ugh! I'm going in circles again. I should just ask Gilbert and get this over with.

●●●

The Italian restaurant chosen by Gilbert for their scheduled meal was quiet, with dimmed lights and dark tones filling the space with a serene and somewhat romantic atmosphere.

Gilbert liked this restaurant because the chef was one of his friends, and he always had a nice table prepared for them, no matter how last-minute their reservation might be.

Tatiana speared a bunch of salad leaves with her fork and watched as her husband smeared butter over a slice of garlic bread.

A dozen thoughts must have rushed through her head, and for a moment, she even thought she had forgotten what she wanted to talk about.

Thankfully, the waiter placed a bottle of red wine on their table, bringing Mrs. Caldwell back to her senses.

"I heard we have a guest staying at our place."

Gilbert furrowed his eyebrows and, without even looking back at his wife, asked in a cold tone, "Hailey? I thought she was your personal assistant, not a spy."

Tatiana traced the ridges of her wine glass with her finger, her eyes also refusing to meet her husband's gaze.

"We live under the same roof. Our mansion is big but it is not a royal palace. I would have found out eventually. I would appreciate it if you shared something as significant as that with me beforehand."

At last, Gilbert set aside his silverware and fixed his sharp, narrow eyes on Tatiana's expressionless face. For a moment, she thought he was trying to gauge her reaction, but as her face remained calm, his voice grew even colder as he replied, "This hardly concerns you, Tatiana. She's a good friend I reunited with during my business trip. That's all you need to know."

Tatiana felt something sharp lodged in her throat. This was the first time Gilbert had been so cold with her, and it bothered her a lot. It was as if he had become a whole different person after that business trip.

She didn't like it.

Nevertheless, something deep inside made her want to sting him too. With the cold surface of the wine glass against her lips, she allowed herself a light smile and asked, "How long is she going to stay with us? Do I need to have someone arrange the guest room to her liking?"

"That's enough." His sharp tone cut through her like a knife, causing her entire body to wince. In the past, Gilbert had only allowed himself to speak so harshly with other men, but now, it was his wife who was on the receiving end of his annoyance.

"I will take care of it. You do what you always do, Tatiana. This discussion ends now."

This was a warning. She really had to stop.