Chapter 4
"Wallace, sometimes I really don't get you. Do you still love her, or do you enjoy the thrill of sneaking around?" Celeste asked.
Estelle froze. She wanted to know the answer as well.
After a long pause, Wallace's voice, rough and low, finally broke the silence.
"Estelle is the woman who's stood by me through thick and thin. Shouldn't I love her?" Wallace said, pushing Celeste off him with clear annoyance.
Estelle thought she'd feel pain hearing that, but instead, she was oddly calm. She was so calm that not a single tear fell.
But her fingertips tingled with numbness. She stood there, almost punishing herself, refusing to leave, just listening to the conversation inside.
"If you love her, then why did you cheat?" Celeste was relentless, refusing to let it drop.
Wallace stayed silent, but Estelle already knew the answer.
It was because he was lonely.
During the four years Estelle was overseas, Wallace used to call her every single day. Then it became once a week, and sometimes, a whole month would go by without a call.
Their conversations changed too. He used to tell her that he missed her. Later, he would only tell her that he was busy.
When Wallace stopped telling her he missed her, it was because he had another woman with him. Estelle had always known that. She just never wanted to believe Wallace was that kind of man.
On Celeste's birthday, she invited plenty of people over.
Surrounded by the crowd, Celeste started unwrapping her gifts one by one.
Most of them were just bags and perfumes, but when she got to the second-to-last package, everyone held their breath.
Someone gasped, "Is that a Harry Winston colored diamond ring?
"I heard those are impossible to get, even if you have money. It's supposed to mean the most loyal love. Celeste, who gave you this?"
Cries of surprise filled the air. Estelle instinctively glanced at Wallace.
Estelle nearly burst out laughing when she heard those words.
She felt that Wallace was the least loyal man in the world.
"It's from my boyfriend. He's overseas," Celeste replied, looking away and carefully sliding the ring onto her finger.
"Is it Mr. Beasley? Aren't you two getting married soon? Who knew he was such a romantic!" one girl squealed, her excitement growing.
At the mention of Toby's name, Celeste looked a little uncomfortable, but she quickly focused on the ring again, ignoring the question.
The colored diamond ring glittered under the harsh white lights, so dazzling that everyone was mesmerized, their eyes filled with amazement and envy. But all Estelle felt was a bitter heaviness in her heart.
Before she went abroad, Wallace had promised her, his eyes shining with emotion, "When you come back, I'll propose to you with the most gorgeous diamond ring in the world!"
Four years flashed by, and now that ring was on her best friend's hand.
Celeste's gaze swept over the crowd and landed on Wallace. "Since you're the only man here, what do you think? Do you like it?"
"It looks good," Wallace replied.
He paused, then added, "It really suits you."
Estelle tried to choke down the bitterness, but her eyes stung and everything went fuzzy. She got up and said, "Sorry, I'm not feeling well. I think I'll head home."
Before she came, she'd told herself a thousand times not to get upset and get herself worked up.
However, her best friend and her husband were having an affair, after all. There was no way she would remain calm in the face of that reality.
"Estelle," Celeste and Wallace called out at the same time.
Estelle saw the concern in Wallace's eyes, but before he could say a word, Celeste grabbed the last package.
"Wait, I haven't opened the gift you gave me. Don't go yet," she said while opening the box. But her smile faltered in an instant.
Inside the box was a brand-new pair of stockings.
"What's wrong? Don't you like it?" Estelle shot back, her tone full of sarcasm.
Celeste forced a dry laugh. "I like it."
Estelle looked over at Wallace, but his eyes were shadowed, impossible to read.