[5]

It had been almost five days since Javier left the country. He said the matters at Calloway Holdings were taking up quite a lot of his attention. Nora no longer asked many questions, only the occasional one.

That afternoon, Nora sat in the sitting room with several fabric samples spread across the table. Her fingers slowly touched the surface of each fabric, feeling its texture and thickness while occasionally asking Clara about the colors written on the labels.

The work was supposed to distract her, but since that morning, her mind had never truly been at ease.

The phone in her hand was still connected to Elena.

“So?” Nora finally asked.

On the other end of the call, Elena let out a long sigh. “I've looked into everything.”

Nora stopped moving her hand. “And?”

“You were right, Nora.” Elena's voice sounded heavy. “Keith's suspicion was right. Javier really is having an affair with Kate.”

Nora's fingers slowly curled into a fist over the fabric sample she was touching. There was still a great deal of denial in her heart, but if Elena, the friend she trusted most, had said this, what else could she do to deny it?

“I don't know what else to say,” Elena continued, her voice filled with emotion. “It turns out they've been together quite often all this time. And I'm becoming more convinced that their relationship isn't merely business-related.”

Nora lowered her head. Her hand gripped the piece of fabric tightly. All this time, she had still hoped there was another explanation. Something that could make everything Keith had said sound like a misunderstanding.

But now Elena was saying the same thing.

“Nora, you have to do something.”

“What?” Nora asked softly.

“At least ask Javier directly.”

Nora smiled faintly. “What am I supposed to ask? Whether I know my husband is having an affair when I can't even see what they're doing behind my back?”

Elena fell silent.

Nora ran her fingers over the surface of the fabric in front of her. “I'm blind, Elena. They know that, so let them think that for now.”

“What do you mean?”

“I want to know how far they're willing to go.”

Nora's voice remained calm, but there was something different in it. It was no longer the resignation she had shown before. This time, there was a caution that was slowly turning into determination.

“I want to see who they really are when they're convinced, I don't know anything.”

Elena let out a long breath. “You don't have to face this alone.”

“I know.”

“If something happens—”

“We'll talk again later.” Nora felt for her phone. “For now, don't do anything without telling me.”

“All right, if that's what you want.”

The call ended. Nora had not yet put down her phone when she heard the front door opening in the distance. A few footsteps followed, drawing closer.

Nora recognized one of them immediately, Javier's footsteps. But there was another sound that made her body tense instantly.

A woman's footsteps.

“Nora?” Javier's voice sounded casual.

Nora lifted her face. “You're home?”

“Yes. I just got back.” Javier approached. “What are you doing?”

“Looking over some samples for the new collection.”

Javier picked up one of the fabric samples on the table. “Still working?”

“There isn't much else I can do besides this.”

Javier smiled faintly. “You should be resting.”

Before Nora could answer, Kate's voice came from behind her. “Nora, how are you?”

Nora's hand reflexively clenched tightly. She tried to remain calm and smiled. “I'm fine. How about you?”

Kate sat beside Nora without being invited. A sweet and rather strong scent wafted from her. It was the same perfume that reminded Nora of the scent that had once lingered on Javier.

“Busy enough to say I'm doing just fine,” the woman said cheerfully. “Avellise has needed my attention these past few months. You know, we're also starting to prepare some new designs for the Royal Fashion event.”

Nora forced a smile. “That's right. We can't miss that once-a-year event.”

“A prestigious event for designers in South City.” Kate smiled broadly as she brushed her hair aside. “It's such a shame you can't participate. Last year, your design caught the judges' attention.”

“Yes,” Nora sighed deeply. “It's such a shame.”

“Oh, but you don't mind me stopping by your house, do you?” Kate took Nora's hand and squeezed it slightly forcefully. “Javier invited me to come home with him when we met at the airport earlier.”

Nora held her breath for a moment. Really? For some reason, Nora could no longer trust so easily.

“I'll only stay for a little while,” Kate continued. “As a thank-you, if you don't mind, I'd like to prepare lunch for both of you.”

Nora smiled faintly. “There's no need to trouble yourself.”

“It's no trouble at all,” Kate said, still smiling broadly. “You don't mind my cooking, do you, Javier?”

“No,” Javier replied briefly. He then reached for Nora's hand. “Come on, let's go to the dining room.”

“I can walk by myself,” Nora refused softly.

“I know.” But the man continued to guide her.

Nora said nothing more. She let Javier hold her hand as they walked together toward the dining room. Behind them, Kate followed with light footsteps.

A few moments later, the food began to be served.

Nora could smell the food Kate had prepared. At first, Nora was quite happy whenever Kate came over and occasionally prepared dishes like this. Nora admitted that Kate was a good cook. But after learning everything, the aroma and taste of Kate's cooking now made her stomach feel uncomfortable.

They ate in what appeared to be a normal atmosphere. Especially Nora. She made every effort to remain calm and act as though everything was fine, as though she had no problem with anything Kate did.

Until Kate started a conversation. “By the way, Javier, have you heard about Wind Group's gala premiere next week?”

“Yes.”

“I heard the event is going to be quite big,” Kate said enthusiastically. “A lot of major businesspeople have confirmed their attendance.”

“Seems like it.”

“Including you, Javier,” Kate teased. “Who in South City doesn't know you?” Kate chuckled. “Nora usually goes with you, doesn't she?”

Nora set down her spoon. “Usually.”

“In that case,” Kate paused for a moment, as though she were joking. “How about I accompany Javier to the party?”

Javier immediately responded, “Kate.”

“I was only joking.” Kate laughed. “Besides, that could never happen. You'll definitely be with Nora.”

Nora remained silent. And perhaps because of Nora's silence, Javier then turned toward her.

“How was your examination?”

Nora understood what he meant. “The doctor said I need to get plenty of rest. I thought he had already given you his report?”

Javier cleared his throat briefly. “That's true. But hearing it directly from you is much more reassuring. You really do need plenty of rest, Darling.”

Nora smiled and nodded. “Yes, that's what the doctor said.”

Javier seemed to nod at Nora's words. “Are you all right with the gala next week?” the man asked as he smoothed a strand of Nora's hair away from her cheek.

“I don't know,” Nora replied softly.

“With a crowd like that at the gala ... I don't know whether attending would be good for you or not right now.”

Kate gently interjected, “That's what I meant. Nora can rest at home while I accompany Javier. I also know quite a few people there.”

“Kate,” Javier interrupted. “I'm talking to my wife, and I need her opinion.”

Kate laughed lightly. “Oh, I'm sorry. I was only trying to find a solution.”

A solution, she called it? Nora wanted nothing more than to laugh and mock Kate for speaking so casually. But Nora chose to lift her teacup, take a calm sip, and say, “Then go.”

Javier fell silent and looked stunned by Nora's words. “Go?”

“Yes.” Nora's tone was so simple that Javier seemed unsure whether he had heard her correctly. “You can attend the gala with Kate, Darling.”

“You don't mind?”

“Why should I mind?” Nora asked in confusion.

“You usually always want to come.” Javier looked at his wife in disbelief.

Nora lowered her face. “Weren't you the one who said I needed to rest?”

Javier did not answer.

Nora continued, “Then I should use that time to rest.” She then rose from her chair. “I'm done. Thank you for dinner, Kate. As always, your cooking was wonderful.”

Kate clapped softly. “I didn't expect you to like it. I'll cook for you often, Nora. For Javier, too. Because it seems you both like my cooking, don't you?”

Javier paid little attention to Kate's words. Instead, he immediately focused his attention on Nora. “But you haven't eaten much.”

“I'm full, Javier.”

“How about a snack?” Javier offered.

“No need.” Nora felt around the table for her cane. But before her hand could find it, Javier had already stood up.

“I'll take you.”

“I can do it myself, Darling. You'd better finish your dinner.”

Javier sighed. Then, without giving Nora a chance to refuse, he bent down and lifted her into his arms.

Nora was startled. “Javier!”

“I already told you I would take you.”

“I can walk by myself.”

“I know.”

“Then why do you always do this?”

Javier chuckled softly.

Nora pursed her lips. “You're annoying.”

“Why?”

“I'm only blind, not unable to walk.”

Javier kissed her forehead. “I just want to take care of you.”

Nora did not answer. Javier carried her to the bedroom and gently placed her on the bed. The man sat beside her, then smoothed Nora's slightly disheveled hair.

“You're really not angry that I'm going with Kate?”

“No,” Nora replied calmly.

“Why?”

Nora lifted her face. “Because I trust you.”

The words made Javier fall silent for a moment.

Nora herself almost laughed bitterly. How easily that lie slipped from her lips. When, in reality, the trust she had given her husband all this time had begun to erode over the past few days.

The man kissed her lips. Nora let him. Even when Javier pulled her into his arms, she responded as she always did, letting her body rest against his chest as though nothing between them had changed.

But this time, every touch from Javier only made Nora's heart feel heavier.

Once, that embrace had been the safest place for her. When the world turned dark after the accident, Javier was the one who was always by her side. The man who helped her walk, guided her so she could feel confident when leaving the house, read things aloud when Nora had difficulty, and even made sure of the little things Nora could no longer do herself.

She trusted that man completely. And perhaps because of that trust, she had let her guard down.

There were so many things she wanted to ask Javier. Nora even wanted nothing more than to hit Javier's chest and make him admit the things he had been hiding behind her back. But ... she held herself back.

She simply closed her eyes and let Javier believe that his wife was still the same.

Unaware of anything.

The night grew late. Nora did not know how long they had been asleep when Javier slowly opened his eyes. He glanced at the watch on his wrist. It was already eleven at night. Carefully, Javier loosened his embrace so as not to wake Nora. The man got out of bed and then walked out of the room.

Nora, who had not truly fallen asleep all this time, heard and knew everything.

She remained silent, with no intention of stopping whatever Javier was doing.

Only after the sound of Javier’s footsteps disappeared did Nora open her eyes. Her hand groped along the table beside the bed until she found her phone. She turned on the screen reader and opened her conversation with Keith.

Her finger moved slowly across the screen. A few seconds later, a message was sent.

Schedule my surgery. No delays.