Chapter 5
In that moment, I felt as though I possessed the most precious happiness in the entire world.
Regret?
I only regretted not being decisive enough back then-if I had left the moment I noticed the signs of Daniel Hughes’s affair, I wouldn’t have wasted my entire youth on someone unworthy.
Suddenly, a figure in a suit appeared on the video screen.
He carefully lifted our daughter into his arms, pressing his forehead gently to hers.
At the sight of his sharp, defined profile, the corners of my lips lifted unconsciously.
“Honey? Didn’t you say you wouldn’t be back until next week?”
The man turned his face toward the camera-cold, restrained, composed.
But when he saw me, his expression instantly softened into a warm smile, his eyes lit with starlight, even his voice gentler.
‘Baby, I missed you.”
After hanging up, I immediately stood.
‘Sorry, everyone, I’ll have to go. Linda, count me in for my share of the bill.”
t had been half a year since I last saw my husband.
All I wanted now was to hurry home and be with him and our daughter.
But Linda tugged at my sleeve.
‘Don’t rush off yet! Tell us about your husband. If you chose him, he must be even better thar Daniel, right?”
Just his looks and demeanor-he’s already way ahead.”
At the mention of him, my voice softened naturally.
‘Mm, he’s wonderful.”
‘Come on, details!” Linda pressed, eyes sparkling with gossip. “What does he do? How did you neet?”
never wanted to say another word about Daniel.
But when it came to Michael Bennett, my current husband, I could go on endlessly.
Still, I kept it brief.
“He’s a doctor. For the past six months, he’s been volunteering with Doctors Without Borders.” “He may look aloof, but he’s actually incredibly compassionate.”
“With him, I always feel at ease-no need to force conversations. Even silence is comfortable.”
“He looks especially handsome in his white coat. And when he rolls up his sleeves, the lines of his wrists… well, they’re very attractive.”
“When we cross the street, he instinctively shields me on the inside.”
I suddenly realized how much I had said and pressed my lips together with an embarrassed
smile.
“Sorry, I got carried away.”
Linda laughed knowingly and shooed me away.
“Alright, alright. You’ve gushed about him plenty without even telling us his name. You’re just feeding us dog food!”
Outside the restaurant, a black Cayenne was parked quietly by the curb.
A man leaned against it, lips biting a cigarette, smoke clouding his face. His features were
blurred.
t was Daniel Hughes.
Three years later, he still carried that arrogant, reckless air in his bones.
slipped on my sunglasses, intending to walk past him.
But he suddenly crushed the cigarette underfoot and strode toward me, gritting his teeth as he
poke, each word forced out like a threat.
Three years, Sophia. Isn’t it time to end this cold war?”
slowly lifted my gaze, my eyes as distant as if I were looking at a stranger.
Sir, please step aside.”
le froze, his fingers trembling as he pulled off my sunglasses.
The moment he saw my face clearly, his eyes reddened, and he dragged me into his arms, his oice breaking.
Sophia, how can you be so cruel? I’ve been searching for you for three whole years-how can ou pretend you don’t know me?”
His grip tightened until I couldn’t breathe. I shoved him away with all my strength.
It’s been three years since the divorce. Isn’t it better to act like strangers?”
His arms stiffened in the air, his eyes wide in disbelief.
Strangers? We went to school together for seven years, dated for ten. Even without marriage, How can you say the word ‘strangers”?”
