Chapter 3
Edward wrapped his arms around me from behind, his voice gentle.
"Go ahead, open it. Lucas spent all night drawing it. He felt so bad about biting you that he woke up in tears in the middle of the night, calling out for you," Edward said.
Really? But the live chat was saying something different. They said he was crying for Emily.
I unfolded the paper.
It was a simple stick figure, and next to it, in pencil, were the words "Happy Birthday".
He really spent all night on this?
I had to stifle a laugh.
I guessed I'd been way too nice to them these past couple of years.
No wonder they saw me as an easy mark, someone they could mess with.
Lucas grinned, showing off his little fangs.
"Do you like it, Mommy? I spent so long drawing it. My hand even hurts now," he said.
I folded the drawing and set it on the table, then turned to Edward.
"Where is your gift for me?" I asked.
Edward paused, looking surprised.
He said, "Wasn't the pink diamond necklace last night your present?"
"Yesterday was our anniversary," I said.
Edward took off his apron, looking frustrated.
"Charlotte, do you know how much that necklace costs?" he said. "Why are you so materialistic? Didn't we always count the anniversary gift as your birthday present as well? You know the company isn't doing well right now—"
I cut him off and shoved the so-called necklace back toward him.
"Fine. If the company is doing so badly, sell the necklace," I said.
Before he could react, I pulled out my phone and called my assistant.
"Enough!" Edward snapped. "Are you done making a scene yet?"
He snatched the phone from my hand and hung up.
"You've been picking fights since yesterday. What do you want from me?" he yelled. "Can't you think about me for once? I'm working my ass off every day, and now I have to deal with you, too. I'm exhausted."
Lucas hopped off and threw his arms around Edward.
"Don't be mad, Daddy. Mommy doesn't understand how hard you work. She doesn't care about you, but I do," Lucas said.
"Mommy, you're so mean. You're bullying Daddy. I hate you," Lucas wailed.
Edward held his head in his hands, looking pained and frustrated.
"Stay home and think things over. I've got a meeting at work today, so I'll be home late," he said.
Lucas clutched his plush toy and tagged along behind Edward.
"I'm going to the office with Daddy. If you don't apologize, I'm not calling you Mommy anymore," Lucas shouted.
I picked up a fork and took a bite of the birthday cake.
The cake was surprisingly bland, almost tasteless.
It was still undercooked in the middle, and I couldn't bring myself to take another bite.
A few bits of frosting lay on top, and I thought I even saw a speck of dirt.
It had always tasted like this. Why was I only noticing how awful it tasted now?
I sat there at the table, lost in thought.
When I thought back, I realized Edward had only spent my birthday with me that first year.
Every year after that, he always came up with some excuse.
And since our anniversary was always the day before, I never thought much of it.
I took a deep breath. It was my birthday, so this time, I was going to enjoy it for myself.
I glammed myself up, hit up my bestie, and headed out for a shopping spree.
My bestie, Anna Smith, linked arms with me.
She teased me, saying it was about time I remembered her after playing the perfect housewife for so long.
Then she said we were going to clean the mall out.
We didn't leave until our car was stuffed to the brim with shopping bags.
[OMG, Charlotte is such a shopaholic. Did she not hear Edward say the company is tanking? And she's still out here buying up the whole mall.]
[For real. Emily saved every penny for Edward, yet still turned into a crying mess over that pink diamond necklace.]
[Charlotte didn't even shed a single tear yesterday.]
[But honestly, who cries over that? The necklace was fake anyway.]
[This is disgusting. Lead or not, Charlotte is still a homewrecker. You people really love that kind, don't you?]
Anna asked me where we should grab food.
I curled my lips into a sly smile and picked a spot.
It was the same restaurant where Edward, Lucas, and Emily were having their meal.
I wondered what would happen if their entire romance fell apart.
What would happen to them then?
As soon as we parked, Anna started shaking my arm like crazy.
"Wait, isn't that Edward? What is he doing eating out with another woman?" she blurted out.
"Hey, isn't that Lucas over there?" she added.
There was Emily, Edward's assistant, all soft and sweet.
She looked like she'd break if you touched her, and those dreamy eyes were so full of love, it was like she could cry at any second.
Lucas curled up in Emily's lap, laughing at something she said.
Edward was sitting across from them, looking at Emily like she hung the moon, his smile all soft and indulgent.
Look at them, pretending to be the perfect little family, Edward, Emily, and Lucas. It was such a joke.
My tears fell before I could stop them. Some were real. Some were just for show.
I said, "This can't be happening. She's only his coworker, right? He wouldn't do that to me."
She was ready to shake some sense into me.
"Just look at the way they're staring at each other. Does that look innocent to you? If Lucas weren't there, they'd probably be making out right now," she snapped.
"And Lucas, seriously? Is he about to start calling the homewrecker Mom? When has he ever been that clingy with you at dinner?" she huffed. "If you don't go over there now, they're seriously going to end up as one big happy family."
Before I knew it, Anna had yanked me out of the car, dragging me along.
The live chat was blowing up, saying my affection score was plummeting fast.
It was already down to 80.
Maybe it was because of the system notification. Edward and Lucas, who had been all smiles and laughter just seconds ago, suddenly froze, their faces falling.
They started looking around.
And then their eyes landed right on Anna, who looked ready to explode, and me, tears running down my cheeks.
"Edward, have you no shame?" Anna shouted.
Before anyone could react, she slapped him hard across the face.
Edward clutched his cheek, stammering as he tried to explain.
"Charlotte, it's not what you think. We just came out for a meal after the meeting," he said.
I wiped away my tears, my gaze zeroing in on the pink diamond necklace around Emily's neck.
"Edward, what's up with that necklace? Why does she have the same one as mine?" I demanded.