Chapter 4

I returned to my bedroom and locked it.

I could hear Willow’s coquettish voice and Caleb’s deliberately exaggerated laughter.

A pity that he was about to be disappointed.

I pulled out my phone and dialed the number to the director of the nursing home.

“Mr. Lane, are the transfer procedures for my mom done?”

“Don’t worry, Ms. Shaw. Mr. Parker has personally made the arrangements. The leading medical team will be receiving your mom at a private hospital this afternoon.”

I heaved a sigh of relief.

At three in the afternoon, Caleb knocked hard on my door.

“Rebecca, come out and get dressed! The stylist has arrived.”

I opened the door and saw a row of people holding a gown and multiple makeup boxes in the living room.

Willow was seated on the couch.

“Caleb, this gown is so beautiful. It’s the same style as what Jonas’ girl wore yesterday.”

Caleb didn’t even look at the gown. Instead, he pointed at a long, conservative black gown and said to the stylist, “Let her change into this black one.”

Willow stood stunned and she bit her lip indignantly.

Caleb turned to look at me.

“Jonas said that when taking the wife to a formal event, we should dress up properly. Those revealing dresses should only be worn by the other woman.”

He reached out and tried to caress my hair.

“They’re just a passing distraction that won’t threaten your position in any way. Be good and don’t embarrass me before other people.”

I avoided his touch and allowed the stylist to take me away to have my makeup done.

Caleb’s brows furrowed tight when he saw my cold indifference.

At eight in the evening, the yacht cruised slowly down the river. The deck was brightly lit, and many elegantly dressed guests were mingling on it.

The moment Caleb stepped onboard, he made a beeline for Jonas and his friends with me in tow.

Jonas had his arm around another new woman while enjoying a drink. When he saw us, he immediately approached us warmly.

“Whoa, Caleb. You really brought your wife here!”

Jonas scanned me from head to toe.

“Mrs. Miller is dressed so conservatively. Just look at this new woman I found. Youth is invincible, indeed.”

The look on Caleb’s face stiffened.

He had thought that Jonas would bring his wife here. Yet, Jonas ended up bringing another affair partner.

He was always blindly following others in his circle and always one step behind.

“Jonas, didn’t you say that you wanted to return to the family?” Caleb asked, attempting to rescue his pride.

Jonas laughed out loud and patted Caleb’s shoulder. “Caleb, are you really that dull? Having your cake and eating it too, now that’s a man’s true skill.”

A few other buddies chimed in.

“Exactly, Caleb! Now that you’ve chased away Willow, you don’t even have a girl pouring your drinks. How boring.”

Caleb’s pride took a massive hit.

“Who said I don’t?”

Caleb pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

“Willow, come to the port immediately. I’ll have someone pick you up on a speedboat.”

He hung up and looked smugly at Jonas.

“Not only do I have my wife to keep up appearances, but I also have a girl who can pour me drinks. Jonas, I can have my cake and eat it too.”

I stood by the side, watching him dance around like a clown, feeling rather sad for him.

Half an hour later, Willow wore a deep purple backless dress, looking like a fluttering butterfly.

The moment she arrived, she stuck by Caleb’s side and called his name in the most cloyingly sweet voice.

His buddies wolf-whistled at the scene before them.

Caleb felt his ego boosted and dragged Willow over to a couch to sit down.

He pointed at the bottle of liquor on the table, and then at me.

“Rebecca, go. Pour Willow a glass of alcohol.”

Silence ensued around us.

Everyone looked at me, eager to see what I would do.

Willow covered her mouth and said pretentiously, “Oh, that doesn’t sound like a good idea. Mrs. Miller is your wife, how could she pour me a drink?”

Caleb scoffed.

“Jonas’ wife poured his girlfriend a drink before, didn’t she? That’s her being gracious.”

He gave me a look of warning.

“Rebecca, don’t make me repeat myself. Not pouring this drink is akin to not showing me respect.”

The river breeze blew across the deck, bringing with it the chill of early autumn.

I stood where I was, looking at that dumb face of his.

“I’m not pouring her a drink.”

Caleb’s face turned pale. Getting rejected in front of all his buddies made him feel worse than being murdered.

“Rebecca, are you insane?”

He stood up in a rush.

“Even Jonas’ wife knows how to consider the big picture.

“I only called Willow to join in the fun. As my wife, don't you have the grace to tolerate other people?

“Believe it or not, I can have my lawyer execute the divorce agreement right now! I’ll make sure you leave without a single cent!”

I thought I didn’t know that he had already torn the divorce papers into two and was threatening me with the document from three months ago.

The flustered fury on his face suddenly made me laugh.

“Caleb, you’re always talking about Jonas.”

I looked him in the eye.

“Jonas had an affair, so you had one, too. Jonas bought his affair partner a bag, so you did, too.

“Jonas threatened his wife with divorce and you picked that up from him, too.

“Even when you're being a scumbag, you don’t have a mind of your own.”

The looks on his buddies’ faces changed, and even Jonas coughed out of awkwardness.

My words had hit the nail on the head, and Caleb’s eyes turned bloodshot. He raised his hand to hit me.

“You’re asking for it!”

Right before his palm landed on my cheek, a hand grabbed his wrist.

“Mr. Miller, did you also learn to hit a woman in public from your friend, Jonas?”