Chapter 2
The thing was handled.
Emily's ex-husband, reeking of blood and booze, smiled and looked me up and down.
He said, "Mrs. Carter, don't trust this shameless woman. Back when we were still married, she'd video chat with your husband every single day in the middle of winter, wearing just a tank top, all to flirt with him.
"There's nothing innocent going on between those two."
As soon as the gossip started, a bunch of people in the police station started sneaking glances our way.
I didn't even flinch. I just smiled lightly.
I said, "Sir, you must be mistaken. Ms. Rivers is my husband's secretary. He only cares for her as his employee, nothing more."
When his attempt to stir up trouble failed, the man got even angrier, muttering curses as he spat at me.
Andrew pulled me away in time, but some of it still landed on my clothes.
The man sneered, "Now I get why the great Mr. Carter is into that phony Emily. It turns out his wife is a fool."
Andrew's grip on my hand tightened around mine, almost painfully.
I was about to leave, but Andrew suddenly pulled me into his arms.
He said, "Cat got your tongue, Natalie? Why aren't you mad?"
I met his gaze. His eyes were smoldering with barely contained anger.
I was taken aback for a moment.
Three years ago, I told him I didn't care if he had a mistress.
But Andrew never believed me.
Emily said, "Andrew, there are so many people here. Why don't you let go of Mrs. Carter? Let's step outside and talk."
With tears in her eyes, she clung to his hand, the one still wearing his wedding ring.
It was pretty awkward.
Even though I'd tried to explain, the way Emily clung to Andrew in front of everyone made a lot of people shoot her looks of disdain.
Back in the day, if Emily was ever upset, Andrew would drop everything at work.
He'd bend over backwards to take her and her daughter to travel.
But now, Andrew didn't even spare her a glance.
His lips were set in a hard line as he pulled his hand free from Emily's grasp.
He wrapped his arm around my waist and held me tight, as if declaring I was his.
I had plans to go shopping with my bestie this afternoon, and I really didn't have time to waste on his drama.
My face grew serious, as serious as I was three years ago when I decided to move on from him.
I said, "Andrew, I've already made peace with it. Even if you don't like Emily, you'll end up with someone else. It makes no difference to me.
"I'm honestly fine with the way things are. Just don't bring them home, and I couldn't care less."
My indifference and nonchalance made Andrew's eyes go bloodshot with rage.
Suddenly, he swept me up in his arms.
Without a hint of mercy, he threw me into the back seat of his car.
A bunch of hard kids' toys jabbed into my back.
It stung like hell.
Emily came running out. Her face was pale, with tears still clinging to her lashes.
She called out, "Andrew, school is almost over for Lily. You promised you'd pick her up tonight."
Standing in the wind, she bit her lip, and her long hair hid those eyes that made one ache for her.
Andrew opened the car door. His voice was much softer now.
He said, "I didn't forget. I'm going now."
Emily flashed a coy smile and slipped into the passenger seat with practiced ease.
The car pulled away.
Emily shot me an apologetic look.
She said, "Mrs. Carter, if those toys are bothering you, shove them aside. Andrew spoils our girl so much that she does whatever she wants. Her favorite thing is turning his car into her own personal playground."
Andrew's shoulders stiffened for a moment, but he didn't say a word.
I couldn't help but ask, "Our girl? Wait. Does that mean..."
Emily gave Andrew a bashful look, and then giggled as she covered her mouth.
She said, "Oh, it's not what you're thinking, Mrs. Carter. Lily is Andrew's goddaughter. He's got a soft spot for kids."
I said, "Why don't you have a kid with him? You've been together for ages. Haven't you ever gotten pregnant?"
I didn't care about Emily anymore, and as for any kids she had. That was none of my business at all.
The Carter family might be an established noble family, but the James family was nothing to sneeze at either.
The only reason I hadn't divorced Andrew was that I didn't see the point.
After surviving a soul-crushing marriage in my previous life, stuck in a house full of wives and mistresses, I was already drained.
And now, in this life, I got stabbed in the back by the person I ever truly trusted.
I'd completely lost faith in marriage. It was hopeless to me now.
Honestly, if I divorced Andrew, my family would ship me off to marry some other guy for their own gain.
So I'd rather keep things as they were.
Having a husband wasn't much different from not having one, but at least I got some satisfaction out of it once a month.
It was not so bad.