Chapter 2
His expression instantly changed. And he demanded loudly, "Did the news capture this? Sirena, are you investigating me? We have no privacy or trust left between us. How can we be a couple then!"
He then attempted to justify, "I gave her the ring because she has been with me for years, staying by my side from my obscure days until I achieved success and fame. Shouldn't I thank her?"
I looked at him, a bitter feeling spreading through my heart, the discomfort akin to being choked and slapped hard. I couldn't help but say, "Neville, she's only been your secretary for three years, but I've been your wife for twelve! How could you use our money to buy her a ridiculously expensive ring as a thank-you gift?"
We'd been married for twelve years, yet he didn't understand that what I cared about wasn't the dog or the ring, but his attitude towards me.
Neville's face turned red with anger, and he snapped, "Why have you become so petty? You get a little money, and you lose touch with reality. You're just a housewife; who would you show a ring to?"
Then he waved his hand impatiently. "Enough. If you keep being unreasonable, there's no point in continuing this marriage!"
Just then, his phone rang. Instantly, all anger vanished from his face. He answered the call, his voice tender, "Tasha, what's wrong? Don't worry. I'm at the office. I'll come find you after I'm done."
With that, he hung up the phone, turned to look at me, his eyes filled with annoyance. "Go back first. I still got things to do."
I watched him walk away, and it finally hit me: twelve years together meant nothing to him.
"Tasha, what's wrong?" he asked.
Tasha's intermittent crying came from the other end of the phone. "Neville, Neville, I was in a car accident, and my stomach hurts so much. I'm so scared..."
"Okay, wait for me. I'm coming!" Neville's face was tense; he didn't even offer an explanation and rushed out the door in a panic.
The next second, I received an unknown text message on my phone.
It was Tasha's three-month pregnancy test report, with a thoughtful note appended.
[This is our first child. To reward me, Neville bought me a top-tier sapphire ring and a detached villa.
[Sirena, Neville is mine tonight. You can celebrate your birthday alone with that dog.]
My eyes instantly widened as I stared at the pregnancy test report, my heart feeling pierced by a sharp blade. I collapsed weakly onto the floor.
Soon after, I received a message from Neville. [Something came up at the company, and I need to meet a partner. I won't be home tonight. Consider it my fault for missing your birthday; I'll make it up to you with a gift at tomorrow's business event.] The message concluded with: [Don't be angry. Get some sleep.]
I looked at the two text messages in my hand and smiled bitterly.
Neville and I were college classmates. I fell in love with him at first sight, but he disregarded me. He and his mother depended on each other since he was young.
Later, his mother developed a severe brain tumor, requiring long-term hospitalization and urgently needing money for treatment.
Feeling for him, I paid all the expenses and contacted a top domestic neurosurgeon for his mother's treatment.
The surgery was successful.
To protect his self-esteem, I only said it was raised funds.
He was down and out then, yet he stubbornly questioned me, "Sirena, why are you doing this?"
I eagerly offered my heart. "I like you."
He was silent for a moment, his brows furrowed. "I want to be your boyfriend, but my career has just started, so we can only date in secret. Won't you be sad? Sirena, you're a good girl, but I truly can't give you anything..."
A young girl's love was pure and blazing. She knew no fear of hardship. "As long as I can be with you," I said, "I'd do everything."