Chapter 2

Mia did not expect that from me.

She took off the necklace and placed it on the coffee table slowly.

“If you want to take it, just do so.”

I did not move.

She added, “What does it matter if you want to take it? The person he wants to see the most is still me.”

I was not hurt by what she said. It was just a pity party that she had thrown for herself.

I stood up.

“I’ll leave them with you for now. Don’t lose them.”

Mia frowned.

“What do you mean?”

I said, “Someone will look into this later.”

I walked toward the entrance, and my phone rang again.

It was a call from Joe.

I answered.

He immediately asked, “Aria, what are you doing at Bayfront Apartment?”

I turned around to look at Mia.

She was looking down at her phone as she typed.

She acted fast.

I asked Joe, “How do you know that?”

He paused.

“Mia said that there’s a strange woman who’s harassing her. I guess it’s you.”

I said, “I'm no stranger. You gifted her jewelry, so she should know about me.”

He was quiet.

Then, he sounded like he was suppressing his anger. “It’s a gift set for a client. Don’t overthink it.”

“Client?”

“She’s helping promote East Shipping Corporation. She’s basically a business partner.”

I laughed.

“She’s a business partner, yet you left specific remarks to not let any family members retrieve the item?”

Joe said coldly, “Aria, don’t make me deal with your emotions when I’m away on the ship.”

I hung up on him.

At night, his mother, Mary Anderson, came over.

She rushed in. She did not even take off her shoes when she entered my house.

“You went to look for Mia?”

I was making dinner in the kitchen.

“Did Joe tell you?”

Mary tossed her bag onto the couch.

“He’s very anxious. Of course, he told me! Aria, why are you acting so immature?”

“My husband gave another woman jewelry, and you think I’m the immature one?”

Mary’s face fell.

“Joe’s a ship captain, and he has many business dealings. It’s normal to have some unavoidable situations when he’s working. You’re at home every day. Of course you wouldn’t know how hard it is out there!”

I took out a copy of the logbook and placed it on the dining table.

“Is it that unavoidable that he has to purchase all these?”

Mary glanced at it without reading it.

“It’s just a jewelry set. Do you even need it? If you like it, I’ll get Joe to buy you one when he’s back.”

I said, “I just need him to be honest.”

Mary slammed the table.

“What did he lie to you about? He gave you all his hard-earned money. You can stay here because he’s working on the ship!”

I looked at her.

The deposit for this house was paid by my late father.

I was the one who furnished and renovated the house.

Joe was away at sea for most of the time. He could not even recall what color our curtains were.

Mary saw that I was not responding, so she thought that I had given in.

“Apologize to Mia tomorrow, and this will be the end of this matter. Don’t affect Joe’s promotion to general captain.”

I plated my dinner.

“I’m not going to apologize.”

Mary’s hands were trembling in rage.

“Who do you think you are? You have such a glamorous status only because of him. Who are you without him?”

I put down my plate.

“I’ll find my own identity again.”