Chapter 2
As a woman, Claire could tell that Elvira was warning her that she had gone too far.
Afterward, Elvira also gave Eden a heads-up.
With Claire's resume, Eden was obviously pulling some strings for her in order for her to become his secretary.
Eden promised Elvira that Claire would start by learning the ropes from the veteran secretaries in the office.
But less than a week later, Elvira got a call from the cops.
When she rushed over, she was caught red-handed by paparazzi who had been lying in wait.
A person asked, "Mrs. Becker, rumor has it Mr. Becker got into a brawl for a female secretary.
"Do you know anything about this? Does this secretary have some kind of special status? Just what did she do to make Mr. Becker go wild for her?"
Another person asked, "Mrs. Becker, you've been with Mr. Becker for years. Doesn't it break your heart that he'd throw punches for another woman?"
Someone else asked, "Mrs. Becker, is your relationship on the rocks? Is Mr. Becker cheating on you? If he dumps you for this woman, what will you do? Care to share?"
Elvira stopped dead in her tracks.
Her face still held that composed, unshakable smile.
"I get that you guys are curious, but I trust Eden," Elvira replied calmly.
The bodyguards cleared a path. Soon, she was face-to-face with Eden, whom she used to trust.
Eden had bruises on his nose and lip, and his fists were streaked with blood, though it didn't seem to be his own.
A fresh stubble had appeared, making his usually captivating face look troubled.
He didn't notice her coming in.
His bloodied hand was still gripping Claire's trembling hand.
When one of the bodyguards called out to him, Eden instinctively let go of Claire's hand.
Fights, flirting, and someone ending up in the ICU. Each word hit Elvira like a bullet.
But through it all, Elvira never lost her cool. She took care of everything, calm and collected.
When she got into the car, she finally let herself break down.
"Take Claire home first. She's really shaken up," Eden said.
His words dropped like a stone into the calm before the storm.
Something inside Elvira finally snapped.
She gave Claire a cold, chilling smile.
"Ms. Wheeler, I'm sure the Becker Group pays you enough to afford a cab, right?" Elvira said.
She didn't care at all about Claire's pale face.
With a loud slam, she shut the car door.
The car cruised smoothly, while Eden kept his eyes fixed on his phone.
Elvira glanced over.
She saw he was booking a ride for Claire.
Rage and humiliation hit her like a tidal wave, making her lose all sense.
She snatched his phone and slammed it down at her feet.
Her eyes burned, tears threatening to spill, but she bit back the urge.
"Eden, don't you think you owe me an explanation?" she demanded.
Eden never once turned to look at her.
But when he heard her words, his body gave a subtle, almost imperceptible shudder.
He slumped back in his seat, looking disheveled, but a glimmer of emotion flashed in his eyes.
He said, "Elvira, I don't want to lie to you. I have feelings for Claire."
It was like a bomb went off in Elvira's head.
Her whole world exploded. She could barely process what was happening.
Elvira was trembling all over, unable to control herself.
Everything she'd been holding together just crumbled to dust in that moment.
She couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh. "Is it your heart or your dick that has feelings for her?"
Eden suddenly looked up, his eyes steady and unreadable as he stared at her.
After a moment, he finally opened his mouth.
"Both," he said.
His word slammed into Elvira's heart, like a blunt knife twisting and grinding. not enough to kill, but enough to make her wish it would.
She looked at the man she'd loved for more than ten years, tears shining in her eyes, her jaw clenched tight with pain and anger.
"So, did you sleep together? Where? When?" she demanded, her voice sharp and cutting.
Her sharp questions made Eden drop his gaze again.
After a moment, he finally confessed, "Yes. We did. I was drunk, but I knew I was doing it with her. Elvira, hurting you is the last thing I ever wanted..."
A sharp slap rang out as Elvira struck Eden across the face.
His face was knocked to the side. His fists were clenched tight.
Elvira pulled back her hand, still shaking uncontrollably, her nails digging deep into her palm.
"Eden, you make me sick!" she spat.
That night, for the first time in all these years, they slept in separate rooms.
Elvira wasn't the one who suggested it.
Looking at the empty side of the bed, Elvira felt like her heart had been hollowed out, eaten away from the inside.
She curled up under the covers, stifling her sobs as she cried herself to sleep, all night long.
Eden could hear everything.