Chapter 5
But now, Phoebe had locked herself in her room, clearly not planning to come out anytime soon.
Lewis glanced at the kitchen and waved his hand in frustration.
He said, "Leave it there! She can deal with it when she finally comes out tomorrow!"
He thought to himself, 'There's no way she'll stay holed up in her room forever.'
However, the next morning, when Lewis and Angelina got up, they found Phoebe already up and about.
She was wearing an apron and bustling around in the kitchen.
On the dining table, three bowls of mushroom soup were already set out.
Mushroom soup. Next to it was a small plate of pickled vegetables.
Lewis felt a headache coming on.
He took a deep breath, telling himself to stay calm.
"Phoebe, are you done with your drama from yesterday?" Lewis asked.
Phoebe served the mushroom soup and placed it in front of him.
"I wasn't making a fuss," she replied.
Her voice stayed steady. "Today's budget is still ten dollars. I spent three dollars this morning on mashed potatoes and pickled veggies. This is today's breakfast."
She gestured at the plain mushroom soup on the table.
She said, "We've got seven dollars left for lunch and dinner. Is there anything you guys want to eat? As long as it's within the budget, I'll do my best to make it happen."
Her demeanor was like that of a professional housekeeper. She was calm, restrained, and just a touch aloof.
Lewis stared at her, feeling an overwhelming sense of unfamiliarity, as if she were a complete stranger.
He thought to himself, 'Have I ever truly known this woman I've slept beside for five years?'
Angelina let out a snort. "Plain mushroom soup and pickled veggies again? Are you trying to put us on a diet?"
Phoebe didn't respond. She just kept eating her mushroom soup in silence.
Lewis shoved the bowl away, and the mushroom soup spilled out, scalding his hand and making him flinch.
"I'm not eating this!" he snapped.
He stood up, glaring hard at Phoebe.
He said, "Phoebe, this is your last chance. Go iron my clothes and get me the breakfast I like. Or else..."
Phoebe looked up, locking eyes with him, completely unfazed. "Or else what? Lewis, have you forgotten? We're carrying out your instructions.
"30 dollars to last three days. It's the second day. My task is to manage our meals with the remaining money.
"As for ironing your clothes or buying your breakfast, those aren't within my scope of work."
Lewis was completely enraged.
"Scope of work? You're seriously talking to me about your job description?" he snapped.
He grabbed Phoebe's wrist, squeezing so hard it felt like he might crush it.
"I'm the one supporting you! It's only right you do these things for me!" he shouted.
Phoebe winced in pain, her brows knitting together. But she didn't even try to pull away or plead.
She just stared at him, her gaze icy and unyielding.
"Lewis, you're hurting me," Phoebe said, her voice calm.
"Hurting you? Now you know what pain feels like?" Lewis sneered. "Did you think about consequences when you were acting up yesterday?"
Just then, Phoebe's phone started ringing.
With her free hand, she awkwardly managed to pull it out of her pocket.
A name popped up on the screen. Jessie Holt.
Phoebe looked at the name, then suddenly gave Lewis a smile.
Her smile was radiant, almost too bright, but there was something strange and unsettling about it.
She hit the speaker button.
A sharp, confident female voice came through the phone.
Jessie said, "Phoebe, have you thought it over?
"I've got the divorce papers ready for you. And I'm already having someone collect proof of your husband's cheating.
"As soon as you give the go-ahead, we can take this to court."
Divorce papers.
Cheating.
Collecting proof.
Those words hit like bombs going off in the silent dining room.
Lewis's rage vanished, replaced by shock and disbelief.
He abruptly released Phoebe's wrist and glared at the phone, as if trying to drill a hole through it with his eyes.
Angelina was so stunned she shot up from her chair, her mouth hanging open wide enough to fit an egg.
"Div... divorce? Cheating? Lewis cheated? How could that be?" she blurted out.
Jessie could obviously hear the chaos on Phoebe's end, but her tone remained calm and businesslike.
"Phoebe, can you talk right now?" she asked.
Phoebe rubbed her wrist, still red from Lewis's grip. As she glanced at their pale faces, a rush of vindictive pleasure surged through her.
She knew she'd played her hand perfectly.
For a guy as arrogant and obsessed with appearances as Lewis, nothing hit harder than ripping off his fake mask right in front of everyone.
"I'm good, Jessie. Go ahead," Phoebe said. Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to everyone in the room.
Jessie didn't hesitate. "Based on my preliminary investigation, your husband Lewis and the new intern at his company seem to be more than just colleagues.
"They've left the office together during work hours several times, and there are records of them booking hotel rooms together. "The latest incident was just last Friday."
Last Friday. Lewis's eyes widened in shock.