Chapter 3

When I woke up the next morning, Naomi was already making breakfast in the kitchen.

Peyton sat obediently at the dining table. When she saw me get up, she gave me a sweet smile. "Good morning, Daddy!"

Naomi poked her head out as well. "Honey, breakfast will be ready in just a minute. Sit down and wait."

The scene was so warm it almost made me think last night had been nothing but a dream. However, the very next moment, Naomi walked out carrying a plate, and my sharp eyes caught a faint red mark on her neck.

My heart sank to the pit of my stomach.

It was not a dream. She really had snuck out while I was sleeping to meet Avery again.

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and spoke. "I'm not very hungry. I'm heading out."

Without waiting another second, I left as quickly as if I were fleeing. I calmed myself down and drove to the funeral home to schedule a cremation for a week from now.

The staff member asked hesitantly, "Sir, are you making this appointment for a family member?"

I shook my head. "For myself."

A flash of sympathy crossed the staff member's face. They probably thought I had some terminal illness.

I continued, "I don't have any family, so I had to come myself. After the cremation, could you scatter my ashes in the ocean?"

I did not want any connection with Naomi and Peyton anymore, and I did not want them putting on a fake show of mourning at my grave. I wanted to disappear from their world completely.

After finishing the appointment, I headed to a nearby mall to get something to eat.

The moment I entered, I ran straight into Avery with his arm around Naomi's shoulders. They were looking at watches at a counter, and Peyton sat to the side clutching a giant stuffed animal.

The three of them looked like a happy family.

Peyton was restless by nature. As she looked around, she spotted me first, and panic flashed across her face instantly.

"Daddy..." she called out.

"What's wrong?" Avery responded instinctively, then looked at her. When he raised his head, he saw me too.

The atmosphere froze in an instant. Only then did Naomi belatedly look up and meet my cold gaze.

Naomi immediately shook Avery's hand off her shoulder and jogged over to me with a guilty smile. "Harry, don't misunderstand. I wanted to pick out a gift for you, but I didn't know what to get, so I asked my assistant to come help me choose."

I nodded noncommittally and glanced at Avery, whose face had gone pale.

He forced out a smile and quickly added his own explanation. "Yeah, Naomi asked me to come out and help pick a gift for you. Please don't get the wrong idea."

Peyton jumped down from her chair and clung to my leg, putting on her sweetest act.

"Daddy, it's really a misunderstanding! Believe me. Mommy brought me out to buy you a gift."

I almost laughed out loud. What a wonderful daughter Naomi had raised.

I raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? Did you find something?"

Naomi immediately yanked the watch off Avery's wrist and held it up to me. "We picked this one. Do you like it?"

I gave a light laugh but did not take it. "I'm particular about cleanliness. I don't like things other people have used."

My words had a double meaning. Naomi's face went pale. She awkwardly returned the watch to the counter. "Then... should I help you pick something else?"

I shook my head faintly. "No need. You all keep browsing. I'm hungry. I'm going to grab something to eat."

Seeing that I was about to leave, Naomi grabbed my wrist. "Harry, let's eat together then."

In public, I did not want to make a scene. After a moment of silence, I nodded.

Right now, I really wanted to interview Naomi and ask what it felt like to have a meal with both her husband and her lover.

At the table, Naomi overcompensated. She kept piling food onto my plate and asking if everything tasted alright, leaving Avery sitting off to the side, visibly upset.