Chapter 2

I calmly started washing up after Austin left.

There was no need for me to cry aloud or make a huge fuss about my broken heart like the last time anymore. One could only get used to the pain, and then, it wouldn't have any significance to them anymore.

In fact, I found it a waste of energy to even shed a single tear for a jerk like him. I fell asleep right after that.

Sometime past midnight, I heard someone knocking on the door in my haze. The raps on the door were loud and urgent.

It turned out to be Ryan Collins, Austin's best friend from college. He then entered the house with a very blacked-out, drunk Austin in his arms.

Since Ryan was there, I made myself busy, helping him carry Austin to bed and feeding Austin some honey mixed with water.

Watching me bustling around, Ryan suddenly said, "Serena, Austin got really deeply hurt by Leticia in the past. That's the main reason why he was so excited when he saw her earlier today."

Ryan had suddenly brought up Leticia out of nowhere, indirectly exposing the lies Austin had told me that day.

"When Austin was still setting up his company, Leticia dumped him and married that billionaire, and it's always been something he could never come to terms with.

"Fortunately, he met you afterward, and you were the one who helped him get back on his feet. You're the reason he became the person he is today."

I tried my best to squeeze out a smile for him.

After seeing Ryan off, I flung the face towel I'd been wringing out into the basin, splashing water everywhere and wetting Austin's shirt.

The water only made the bright red lipstick stains on his snug white shirt stand out even more.

He had taken a shower and changed into clean clothes before leaving just now. It was obvious where he got the red lipstick stains.

I felt nauseated, so I turned, wanting to leave.

Suddenly, Austin grabbed my hand and mumbled, "Lettie… Lettie, don't leave me, Lettie… Give it to me… Just one more time…"

When I heard what he said, I felt my stomach churning. I was so disgusted that I needed to throw up. I angrily flung his hands off me and rushed into the toilet as I dry heaved into the toilet bowl.

After I had run out of energy, I finally forced myself to claw against the wall and make it back onto my feet.

I caught sight of my tired, exhausted face in the mirror and suddenly felt sorry for myself. How could I have put up with such a disgusting person for such a long time?

I made up my mind that I would contact my lawyer early in the morning and get him to draft a divorce agreement.

The next morning, I only found out at the company that Austin had just hired a personal secretary.

My colleagues crowded around me and spoke in a low voice. "That lady looks weak and helpless. I bet she doesn't even know what Microsoft Excel is."

"But Mr. Lockhart specifically picked her. That's just so weird."

"Do you think Mr. Lockhart is in love with her?"

I couldn't help thinking about Leticia's face as they continued gossiping about the new hire. I just smiled and shook my head, saying, "I don't know. That's the boss' business, so we shouldn't simply speculate."

As soon as I was done speaking, I suddenly heard Austin's voice calling me from the back. "Serena Jacobson, come here for a bit."

Nobody at the company knew that Austin was my husband. He said that it was to discourage other people from dating at the office, so he wouldn't give me any special treatment either.

That was why he treated me the same way as he treated everyone else at the office.

I followed him into his office. Austin closed the door behind us before stepping up and hugging me. He gently said, "Rena, I've got something to discuss with you."

"What is it?"

"One of my former college mates, Leticia Gomez, is looking for a job. So I told her to try it out at the company. Do you think that's alright?"

I carefully shook myself free from his arms and said indifferently, "Sure."

He continued, "Since I'm coincidentally looking for a personal secretary, I'm asking her to fill in the position temporarily. It would be faster for me to teach her myself. Would you be mad at that?"

I said calmly, "You're just looking out for your college mate. Why would I be mad?"

Austin then held on to my shoulder, his gaze flickering slightly. "By the way, I kind of got drunk with Ryan last night. Did I cause you any trouble when I came home? Don't get mad at me, okay?"

He was testing the waters with me.

His actions were making me look down on him. What, so he decided to cheat on me, yet he was still seeking my permission to do so?

I replied calmly again, "I'm not mad."

"You're lying. You slept in the living room all night. You can't tell me that you weren't mad."

I smiled and decided to expose him. "You were dead drunk and kept calling out another person's name. How were you expecting me to sleep next to that?"