Chapter 2

2

Janelle stood up from the couch, her tone completely dismissive.

"Let's just go to sleep. I'm exhausted."

I stood frozen in place, watching her walk into the bedroom without a second glance.

Throughout our seven years together, she had always been like this.

She never cared about my feelings, and I was always the one walking on eggshells for her.

When she was in a good mood, she would offer a few sweet words, but the second her mood soured, she turned icy.

She believed she had me wrapped around her finger because I had catered to her every whim for seven long years.

After all, who truly cares about the feelings of someone they take for granted?

Two sharp knocks broke the silence at the front door.

Janelle dashed out of the bedroom in her nightgown and pulled the door open.

"Ms. Evans, you left your designer handbag in my car," Clayton Hayes said smoothly.

His gaze drifted past her shoulder and landed straight on me.

"So this is your husband? I guess your taste in men back then wasn't that great."

"A pretty boy who only knows how to do laundry and cook isn't worthy of a woman like you."

The rage boiled in my veins.

I slammed the bowl onto the counter and lunged forward to smash his smug face in.

Janelle panicked, throwing her entire weight to hold me back.

"Caleb, stop! Calm down right now―"

Seeing that she couldn't restrain me, she gathered all her strength and slapped me hard across the face.

A crisp, deafening crack echoed through the hallway.

I froze on the spot, my eyes bloodshot with disbelief.

Clayton smirked with utter contempt as he handed her the bag, along with a takeout container.

"You mentioned in the car that you were craving lotus seed porridge, so I bought you some from the most exclusive restaurant in town."

Janelle's face lit up with immediate delight.

She cast a quick, guilty glance at me before stammering, "Mr. Hayes... thank you so much. Next time, dinner is on me. Please honor me with your presence."

Clayton waved his hand casually and turned to leave.

"By the way, Janelle, you look stunning in red."

Janelle looked down at her revealing red silk nightgown, her cheeks blushing crimson.

Before I could step forward again, she slammed the door shut.

She turned on me, screaming furiously, "Caleb, have you lost your mind?!"

"He is the CEO of Hayes Enterprises! If you had laid a finger on him tonight, my company would have gone bankrupt by tomorrow morning!"