Chapter 2
Grace pushed the door of the cafe open and stepped inside. It was quiet in the cafe with only a few customers softly chatting in the corner.
"Good evening," a gentle male voice said.
Grace lifted her head and saw a face she would never forget.
The stranger looked to be in his mid-twenties. He wore a simple white shirt, and his smile was as warm as the spring breeze.
"What can I get for you?" he asked.
"A cappuccino, please." Grace chose a spot by the window and sat down.
Soon, the man reemerged with a cup of coffee. "You look a little worn out. Want some sugar to perk you up?"
Grace blinked in surprise. "How do you know?"
The man smiled. "I'm Brian Coles, the owner of this cafe. Late at night, I have many clients, and most of them have something on their minds."
"What do you think is troubling me?" Grace's interest was aroused.
Brian studied Grace thoughtfully. "Matters of the heart."
Grace gave a bitter smile. "So obvious?"
"No, but I am experienced." Brian took the seat across from Grace. "Do you need a listener? Opening up to a stranger can help."
The sincerity in Brian's eyes urged Grace to pour out what was in her heart. "I got married three years ago, and I just found that my husband's been cheating on me."
Brian's expression grew stern. "You must be in grief."
"I thought we loved each other, but that turned out to be my illusion." Grace took a sip of her coffee, which was as bitter as her mood.
"What will you do?" Brian asked.
"I don't know." Grace shook her head. "I gave up my career for his sake, and I have nothing now."
Brian thought for a moment. "Is there something you're really good at?"
"I was a fashion designer." Grace then chuckled with bitterness. "Three years ago."
"But your skills didn't leave you three years ago," Brian sincerely said. "It is never too late to start a new life."
Grace gazed at Brian who had impressed her with the warmth never felt before. "Thank you for listening to me."
"Don't mention it." Brian rose to his feet. "It's getting late. Let me drive you home."
"No, thanks, I drove here," Grace replied.
"Drive safe." Brian passed Grace a business card. "You are welcome here if you need a listener."
Grace took the business card which contained only the name of the cafe and a phone number.
On the way home, Grace felt surprisingly peaceful.
Brian's consolation might be the reason, or perhaps because she had finally found a listener.
When she got home, Ben was still away.
After a shower, she lay down on her bed and waited for him.
She was determined to confront him.
At 2 am, the lock clicked open.
Ben slipped into the bedroom with a faint smell of perfume that didn't belong to Grace.
"Awake?" Ben found Grace gazing at him.
"Yeah, I was waiting for you." Grace sat up. "Was the business dinner just over?"
"Yeah, you know those men." Ben kept looking away from Grace. "I need a shower first."
She watched him retreat into the bathroom, and she once again made up her mind.
She picked up his suit jacket, and the smell of perfume belonging to another woman attacked her nostrils.
Her attention was soon attracted by the glaring lipstick on the collar.
Grace pulled out her phone and snapped a photo of that lipstick.
Then, she quietly waited for Ben to finish his shower.
"Ben, we need to talk," Grace said.
Toweling his hair dry, Ben paused. "About what?"
"About your affair."
The towel slipped from Ben's hand and hit the floor.
Ben stared at Grace, and his expression changed from shock to indignation. "What are you talking about? I have no affairs."
Grace pulled out her phone and showed the photo she'd just taken. "What is your explanation for this lipstick?"
Ben glanced at the picture and then sneered. "Are you trying to convict me with it? It was an accident."
"What about this?" Grace showed the photo she had taken earlier.
At the sight of Daisy's selfie, Ben turned pale. "You looked at my phone without my permission."
"Your permission?" Grace rose to her feet. "I'm your wife. Can't I check your phone?"
"Grace, you're getting more and more unreasonable." Ben began to slander Grace. "I work my ass off every day, but you make a fuss over nothing here."
"Tell me why you gave Daisy a gift worth thirty thousand dollars."
Ben was astounded because he didn't expect Grace to find that out. "Well... It was just part of our company's marketing strategy. We're trying to collaborate with famous streamers."
"She called you honey," Grace suddenly raised her voice.
Ben panicked, but he quickly pulled himself together.
"Enough!" he yelled. "You have those wild ideas because you are idle at home. She is just a business partner to me. Don't overreact."
Grace thought hopelessly, 'Even now, he still lies to my face.'
"Ben, this is your last chance. Tell me the truth," she said.
"What truth? I have never cheated on you!" Ben refused to admit his blunder.
Grace pulled out her phone and played the recording. "Then listen to this."
"Babe, come on! My wife will be back at any second..."
"When will you leave her? I've been waiting for a whole year..."
The voices in the recording were familiar and clear.