Chapter 3
I'd been out of the workforce for years as a housewife.
I'd even left school without a proper degree.
Yet, I still had my parents, who always stood by me no matter what.
When my parents found out I wanted to start working again, they couldn't have been happier. They jumped into action, throwing dinner parties and reaching out to everyone they knew to help me out.
Before I knew it, I landed a job at an internet company.
Finally, my life didn't just revolve around my son and husband. I actually started having a life of my own.
Michael Grant was my boss. He was the kind of mentor who always showed up just when I needed him most.
Last month, one of my proposals was selected as an exemplary project by the company.
At the party, Michael came over to me.
"This proposal was outstanding. The details and execution were flawless," he said.
With a smile in his eyes, he added, "Christina, I knew I could count on you."
Hearing that, I grinned and lifted my glass.
The next second, I spotted a familiar figure.
Francisco showed up early and was waiting by the door for me.
His face was completely darkened.
Honestly, everyone could see he was about to blow his top.
When we got home, I put Lucas to bed like I always did.
But as soon as I stepped out of Lucas's room, Francisco grabbed my wrist.
Without a word, he pulled me straight into the master bedroom.
He pressed closer, his warm breath lingering between us.
"So that's the gentle boss you keep praising?" he muttered.
His voice was low, each word squeezed out through gritted teeth.
I looked up at him and couldn't help but smirk.
"Honey, are you jealous?" I teased.
As soon as I finished speaking, I closed my eyes.
I was all set for our usual end-of-month routine.
But tonight, Francisco was off.
Instead of his usual calm and restraint, there was a new urgency in his touch.
It was as if he needed to confirm something for himself.
Just as exhaustion started to wash over me, my phone lit up in the darkness.
It was Michael messaging me.
I forced myself awake, grabbed my phone, and shot back a brief reply about work.
Francisco snorted from behind me. "He's texting you about work this late?"
I put my phone away.
"Yeah, the new project's about to go live, so everyone's been burning the midnight oil," I mumbled.
Francisco didn't let up.
He said, suspicion clear in his voice, "What kind of project is so insanely urgent that it can't wait till morning?
"I swear he's got some ulterior motive with you."
I didn't respond.
Sleep hit me so hard that I could barely keep my eyes open.
In the quiet, Francisco probably thought I was feeling guilty. He turned sharply, looking ready to say more.
But then he realized I was already asleep, breathing softly.
Whatever Francisco was about to say got stuck in his throat, and he just swallowed his words in silence.
Dazed, I slipped into one of my old dreams.
In that dream, I anxiously told Francisco I was pregnant.
His smile froze on his face.
A flicker of stunned hesitation flashed in his eyes.
But in the very next instant, he pulled me into a hug and asked me to marry him.
Still, that single moment of hesitation was like a tiny thorn, buried deep in the roots of our marriage.
Francisco changed. It was like he suddenly switched into perfect husband mode.
He took a real interest in my job, making sure to pick me up from work on the dot every single day.
And he'd always have my favorite chestnut cake waiting for me in the car.
That evening, I stood outside the office waiting for Francisco as usual.
But after a long time, all I got was a phone call.
"Something came up at the last minute. I can't pick you up tonight," he said, sounding a bit apologetic.
"Okay," I replied, completely unfazed.
It didn't bother me at all.
Lucas had caught a cold lately, so I just stopped at the pharmacy on my way home to pick up some medicine for him.
Just as I rounded the corner near the hospital, I suddenly stopped in my tracks.
Chloe was walking out of the hospital, arm in arm with a man, looking all cozy and close.
The man turned his head to listen to her, his expression soft and warm.
The more I looked, the more familiar he seemed.
And then it hit me that it was Francisco, who had just told me he had an "urgent matter" over the phone.
Chloe said something that made her throw her head back and laugh.
Francisco reached out and gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
The moment I caught Francisco glancing over, I immediately turned away.
I opened the car door and started the engine. Every move was smooth and without a trace of hesitation.
My mind buzzed with a stream of live comments.
[A year later, he'll be right back with Chloe.]
[Her divorce works out perfectly. Francisco is always head-over-heels for his childhood sweetheart anyway.]