Chapter 3

3.

Miles panicked. He rushed to my side. "Claire! What's wrong?"

I heaved until there was nothing left. I couldn't pull myself together.

I didn't understand.

How could a man who loved me so much cheat on me?

Then I realized. He probably never thought there would be consequences.

He thought he could have both. The dutiful wife at home. The hot mistress on the side.

He thought I would never find out.

Or worse. He thought even if I did, I would swallow it.

The lake wind cleared my head.

Miles asked, "Are you okay, Claire? If you feel sick, I'll take you to Northwestern Memorial right now."

"No. Probably just something bad I ate. The salmon from Whole Foods might've been off."

"Then come meet me at the office tomorrow. We'll have lunch."

I almost laughed in his face.

Come to the office and watch you and Brooklyn going at it in your private suite?

A plan formed in my head.

I wanted to see it. I wanted to watch the performance with my own eyes.

"Sure. I'll come with you tomorrow morning. Keep you company at work. Then we'll have lunch. Then we'll come home together in the evening."

Miles clearly hadn't expected me to say yes. His expression flickered. "But I might be pretty busy. I might not be able to stay with you the whole time."

"You do your work. I'll wait for you in your office."

"...Alright."

Back home, Miles offered to run me a bath. He went into the master bathroom and closed the door behind him. Unusually.

I went back downstairs and got into the car.

The moment I started the engine, the latest messages popped up on the screen.

Miles: Change of plans. Office is off tomorrow.

Kitty B: Aww. Disappointing.

Miles: Don't be disappointed, Kitty. Daddy will take you to the rooftop. More exciting.

Kitty B: Hehehe. Daddy's the best.

I turned off the screen. There was no emotion left in my eyes.

Enjoy your rooftop, darling.

It's your last one.

I was back in the bedroom when Miles came out of the bathroom. "Claire, your bath is ready. Go take a nice soak."

"No. I just want to rest."

"Alright. If you're tired, sleep. Oh, that gift you left on the table. Can I open it now?"

I said, "Wait one week."

"Why a week? I want to see what my Claire got for me."

"Because…"

Because in one week, I would be gone. Forever.

"Because it won't mean anything until a week from now."

Miles kissed me gently on the forehead. "Alright. Whatever you say."

The next morning, his phone started buzzing at six.

He silenced it and rolled over, holding me. "Ignore it. Sleep a little longer."

The phone kept buzzing. Insistent.

Miles frowned in irritation. "It's not even office hours yet. Damn useless middle management. I'm going to fire them all."

He silenced it again.

The third time it rang, he got up, fuming. "Go back to sleep, Claire. I'm going to find out what's so goddamn urgent."

I made a quiet sound of acknowledgment.

I turned over. My back to him.

He took the phone and left the bedroom.

Soon enough, I saw his figure at the front door downstairs.

A DoorDash driver in a purple shirt was handing him a package.

Miles took it. When he came back inside, his hands were empty.

I asked, "Was it serious? The company thing?"

He said, "It's fine. Nothing for you to worry about. Rest. I'll make you breakfast."

Whether it was guilt or genuine concern about my stomach, Miles went all out for breakfast.

Orange juice. Bacon. French toast. Maple syrup. And my favorite Greek yogurt with granola.

"You can't be careless about food anymore. I'll hire a housekeeper. Someone to cook for you every day."

"No."

"Be a good girl and let me handle it, Claire. Otherwise I'll be worried sick at work."

"Miles, can I ask you something?"

"Go ahead."

I set down my fork and asked him calmly. "The seven-year itch. Do you think it's real?"

Miles immediately put on a look of righteous disgust. "That's just an excuse weak men use to justify their infidelity. I'm not like that. I'll only ever love my Claire."

"Only me? Forever?"

"Yes."

"What if you fell in love with someone else?"

"Then the moment I betray her, may God strike me dead with lightning. May I burn in hell."

I looked at him. I said nothing.

"They're true words. Why would I be afraid?"

I picked up my fork again and spread jam on my toast.

Miles said, "Claire. Trust me."

I just said, "Eat your breakfast."

"You still don't believe me? Do I have to cut my heart out and show you?"

"The people at the office are waiting. Don't be late."

Miles finally relaxed. He sat down across from me. "Let them wait. A bunch of useless idiots. I'll fire them soon enough."

"Fire her. Would you be willing to do that?"

I said "her." Not "them."

I don't know if Miles caught it or not. He just said, "Apart from you, there's no one I can't bear to lose."