Chapter 2
In the second month, James's mother, Natalie Carter, came to visit.
Natalie walked in, her expression less than pleased, looked around the living room, and asked, "Where's James?"
"He's on a business trip," Claire said, bringing the coffee over.
"A business trip? Do you know what day it is today?" Natalie's voice went cold. "It's his birthday. Is he all by himself in a hotel?"
Claire was caught off guard. She had no idea. James had never mentioned it to her.
Natalie set her cup down, disappointment clear in her voice. "You've been married for two months. Is this what being a wife means to you?
"I know you two got together through an arranged date, barely knowing each other. But since you're married, you should at least try to make it work. You don't know his birthday? Does that make any sense?"
Claire lowered her head and stayed silent.
Natalie sighed, "Sophie came back yesterday. Did you know?"
Claire felt her heart clench.
"James went to pick her up at the airport. He spent the whole day with her." Natalie's gaze was layered and complex as she looked at Claire. "I'm not here to scold you.
"I'm here to remind you. Now that you're part of the Carter family, you need to keep your rightful place. Sophie is history now. You're his wife, the one he married before everyone. If something belongs to you, you need to fight for it."
After Natalie left, Claire sat on the couch for a long time.
By nine that night, she heard the lock turn in the door.
James was home.
He walked in, spotted her sitting in the living room, paused for a second, then asked, "Why are you still up?"
Claire said quietly, "Today is your birthday."
James paused for a few seconds, then nodded. "Yes."
"I cooked some pasta." Claire stood up. "Would you like some?"
James looked at her, and finally, there was a hint of warmth in his eyes. It was brief, almost gone before it appeared, but Claire noticed it.
"Sure," he said.
When the pasta was served, James took a bite and asked, "How did you know it was my birthday?"
"Your mom came by today," Claire replied honestly. "She told me you went to pick up Ms. Lane yesterday."
James's fork paused mid-air.
"I'm not accusing you," Claire said quickly. "I wanted you to know your mom stopped by. I won't pry about anything else."
James lifted his gaze to meet hers.
There was scrutiny in his eyes, curiosity, and something else, something she couldn't make sense of.
"Not going to ask?" James said. "You're my wife. Shouldn't you care where I was yesterday?"
Claire pressed her lips together. "If I did ask, would you tell me?"
James fell silent.
He set his fork down and stood up. "The pasta was good. Get some rest."
He headed upstairs.
Claire sat alone at the dining table, looking at the half-finished pasta of pasta, and let out a quiet, bitter laugh to herself.
As she laughed, her eyes grew hot.
She told herself it was the bright lights.
Things took a turn in the fourth month.
Claire was in a meeting at the office when her phone suddenly rang. It was her brother, Lucas. "Claire, Dad collapsed. He's in the hospital."
By the time she got there, her father was already in the ER.
The doctor came out, his face grim. "It's not looking good. He needs surgery as soon as possible. The cost will be around 150 thousand. And that's for the operation. There'll be follow-up treatment after that."
Claire's mind went totally blank.
There was no way she could come up with that much cash. The company barely had enough to pay the staff, and her dad's savings were long gone from earlier treatments.
She'd already hit up everyone she knew for help, but she was still short by 100 thousand.