Chapter 2

Since Serge wanted to go back to Idelgunda, I had no reason to stop him.

Three days later, I was discharged from the hospital and returned home.

When I got back to the villa, I tried to unlock the door downstairs, but the fingerprint verification kept failing.

I tried the security code, but that was wrong too.

With a frown, I pressed the doorbell.

Serge opened the door. As soon as he saw me, a look of anger immediately flashed across his face.

"You finally decided to show up? You haven't been home for days! Where have you been?"

He still had the nerve to question me.

"What do you think?" I retorted with sarcasm.

Serge paused for a moment, as if recalling the sudden snowstorm that had struck the night we were camping.

He then started bombarding me with questions.

"You came down the mountain in time after the snowfall that day, didn't you?

"You should have contacted me right away after you came down. Why didn't you let me know you were safe for so many days? Didn't you know I was worried about you?

"Also, where did you go during those days you disappeared?

"There are rumors online that the camping scene is pretty wild... Have you been... with other people these past few days..."

His words left me so furious that my limbs went numb and my head spun.

I glared at the man I had been married to for five years.

I raised my hand and slapped him viciously across the face. "You beast! Get out of here!"

That slap took everything out of me. After hitting him, I felt completely drained.

I shoved Serge aside and staggered into the house.

But when I opened the door, the scene before me stopped me cold.

Idelgunda was lounging on the sofa, wearing my new loungewear, and eating fruit with a fork.

To think that Serge actually brought her home…

My head started spinning.

Idelgunda called out while her eyes were glued to the TV, "Serge, I want some hot cocoa. Could you make me a cup?"

When he didn't answer, she turned to look towards the doorway.

Our eyes met. Idelgunda paused mid-bite, then quickly recovered herself and stood up.

Her face was full of embarrassment. "Oh, it's you, Riana. Come on in. It's cold out there, isn't it?"

I didn't respond. I only tried to steady myself and stop trembling.

Idelgunda didn't seem to notice my unusual demeanor and went on talking as if nothing were wrong. "Riana, you're so inconsiderate! You and Serge got married without even letting me know, so I could come to your wedding. I was really taken aback when Serge mentioned it the other day. I never would have thought you two would end up together. After all, there were so many women swarming around Serge back then."

I found her words ludicrous.

Back in college, we were merely clubmates and just passing acquaintances at best.

There was no way I would invite her to my wedding.

Serge tried to explain, "Riana and I had a simple wedding. We didn't invite anyone except our closest family and friends. Besides, you were still abroad at the time. It wouldn't have been right to ask you to travel tens of thousands of kilometers just to attend our wedding."

Idelgunda just shrugged nonchalantly, but then suddenly let out a gasp.

"Serge, what happened to your face? Don't tell me Riana slapped you?"

Then she scolded me, "Riana, you're too tyrannical! You've been out partying these past few days and haven't been home, while Serge has been worrying about you the whole time. Yet the moment you get back, you hit him?"

At this point, Serge became more sullen.

I asked Idelgunda with a smile, "So, Idelgunda, are you planning to get back together with Serge?"

Idelgunda faltered for a moment. Then, as if her lie had been exposed, she shook her head frantically.

"No, you're both married. Why would I want to ruin your marriage?"

However, her answer didn't sound convincing at all.

I pressed on, "Since you don't want to ruin our marriage, why are you putting on this hypocritical act now? Who are you trying to impress?"

"Who's being hypocritical?" Idelgunda's face reddened instantly. "It was Serge who said I wasn't in good health and insisted I stay at your place. Do you really think I wanted to come here?"

I gave a scornful laugh. "Is that so? You guys seem to be enjoying yourselves. Are you portraying a cheating couple in some over-the-top drama? Are you reenacting the episode where the woman secretly wears the wife's clothes?"

"You…" Idelgunda's eyes blazed with anger, and she angrily flung the fruit fork she was holding onto the ground.

Serge frowned and interjected in a deep voice, "There's nothing going on between Idel and me. You don't need to say such distasteful things."

I raised an eyebrow. "What? You two can do it, but I'm not allowed to talk about it? You think my words are distasteful? I haven't even called what you two are doing disgusting yet!"

Idelgunda looked indignant. "Riana, don't go too far!"