Chapter 4 The Surprise Gift

Maybe he had loved me once, but love always changed. Over time, it became tainted, allowing all sorts of uncertainties to creep in.

And that was how we ended up here today.

"Honey?" James didn't even have time to pay attention to the girl who had been acting spoiled with him.

He walked out of the hotel and anxiously looked around. "Why aren't you answering me? Do you want me to come pick you up in Sangland?"

I watched James pace around like an ant on a hot pan. Only after I had seen enough did I calmly tell him, "No need."

Unlike before, I did not tell him when I would be going home, nor did I ask whether he had gone back.

Then, I heard him ask, "Are you coming home today?" He could not suppress the anxiety in his voice. "Or are you staying in Sangland?"

Looking at the man not far away, I merely smiled and replied, "We'll see."

After that, I hung up.

I watched as James, restless and uneasy, pulled the girl into the car and headed home.

I was in the car right behind them.

…

Inside James' car, the girl was still throwing a tantrum.

"You're still scared of her, aren't you? So what if she came to Sangland? What could she possibly do to us? Eat us alive?"

What James did not know was that even the conveniently placed cab following behind them had been arranged by me. That was how I clearly saw James silence the girl with a kiss.

After getting off the plane, I followed James as he took the girl back to an apartment. Only then did I realize it was the apartment he and I had bought when we first got married. It had supposedly remained vacant all these years. I never knew that he had long since been using it to keep his mistress.

I watched as he returned home and sat in the living room, staring blankly at the condoms I had deliberately left behind.

Then, as if suddenly realizing something, he panicked and called the girl.

Through the security camera, I watched as James questioned her.

I listened to the girl sob and watched as James softened and began coaxing her.

"Even if she knows, it doesn't matter. We were going to have to face this sooner or later anyway."

He was right. Sooner or later, we would have to face it.

…

When James called me, I was at the hotel.

"Honey, aren't you coming home yet?" James asked. "I miss you. You've been gone for so long. I feel like I haven't seen you in forever."

Looking around at the hotel after I had all the decorations replaced, I told him, "Soon. We're going to see each other very soon."

James apparently did not notice anything unusual in my tone. Still, he did not dare ask too many questions. He merely laughed and said, "I'll come pick you up when you get back."

I smiled and replied, "Okay."

After I hung up, Cleo said, "That bitch is using your marital assets to throw herself such an extravagant birthday party. She really has no shame."

I looked around at the hotel's completely transformed decor and nodded in satisfaction. "That's exactly why I'm giving her such a big gift."

On the day of the girl's birthday, she arrived at the hotel with James by her side, looking every bit like a princess. Accompanying her was an entire entourage of classmates and friends.

The atmosphere was lively. Everyone showered her with praise, telling her what great taste she had to have found such a perfect, wealthy boyfriend.

Then, the waiter pushed open the doors to the private banquet room.

The instant the girl saw what was inside, her face went completely pale.

I was sitting in the seat of honor. I watched as the couple froze like living statues.

Her classmates and friends, however, impatiently demanded, "Who are you?"

"Who permitted you to come in here? Don't you have any manners?"

Someone even shouted, "Waiter! What the hell is this? You just let anyone in here? Is this how you treat your VIP guests?"

I watched as the person angrily berated the waiter before I slowly rose to my feet and walked over to James.

Then, I smiled gently at him and asked, "What's wrong, dear? Aren't you going to introduce me to your mistress?"