Chapter 2
After dinner, Denise went into the kitchen.
Castiel followed her in.
Julia was clearing the table in the dining room when she heard noises coming from the kitchen.
Castiel was stopping Denise from putting on her apron. "You don't have to do the dishes. Let the maid handle it."
The Patrick family never had a maid.
All the housework, cooking, washing dishes, and mopping were done by Julia alone.
Castiel had said he didn't like strangers walking around the house.
But now, for Denise, he lied that there was a maid.
When Julia stacked the dishes and brought them into the kitchen, she saw Castiel standing at the stove, stir-frying with a spatula.
He was frying eggs for Denise.
During the three years of their marriage, it was the first time for Julia to see him set foot in the kitchen.
She got up at five every morning to make breakfast, but Castiel never once acknowledged her efforts.
Julia placed the dishes in the sink and began to wash them.
The cold water hit her injured fingers, but she bit her lip, refusing to make a sound.
Behind her, Denise's laughter rang out, light and playful, with a teasing lilt. "Castiel, your fried eggs don't taste as good as they used to. Remember? I cooked for you before I went abroad."
"Of course I remember. You totally blew up the kitchen that time," Castiel replied.
They both laughed.
Julia kept her head down, the sound of the running water drowning out her silence.
At eleven that night, Julia finished her shower and walked to the guest room, wearing her worn-out pajamas.
When she pushed the door open, she saw Denise standing in the doorway.
Denise was dressed in a silk nightgown, her hair just dried, and the scent of shower gel lingered on her.
"Julia," Denise said, tilting her head with a smile, her voice sweet and soft. "Castiel said I should stay in the master bedroom. Hope you don't mind?"
The hallway light on the second floor was sound-activated. After a few seconds of silence, it automatically shut off.
In the darkness, Denise's eyes were bright, staring straight at Julia.
She was smiling, but something lurking beneath that smile made Julia's skin crawl.
Julia stepped aside. She wasn't in any position to mind about it.
Denise walked into the master bedroom, her slippers making a soft slap-slap on the floor, and the door closed behind her.
Julia stood in the hallway, hearing Castiel's voice from inside the room.
"What took you so long?" His voice was low and gentle, with a patience she'd never heard from him before.
She dropped her gaze, curling her fingers in her palm, then turned and slipped quietly into the guest room.
The guest room's light was so worn out that she had to flip the switch twice before it finally turned on.
She'd made the bed herself that afternoon.
For three years, she'd made Castiel's bed over and over. She knew exactly how thick the blanket should be folded, where the pillow should go, and there always had to be a glass of water on the nightstand.
Every single detail was etched in her memory, but not once had anyone ever made a bed for her.
She sat at the edge of the bed, and the ache in her stomach flared up again.
It wasn't the kind of pain that hit all at once. It was a sour, twisting ache that slowly worked its way up from the pit of her stomach to her throat.
She hunched over, pressing her hand against her belly.
Over the past six months, the pain had been coming more and more often.
At first, it was a dull ache now and then. She figured it was because her meals were all over the place.
But then it started hitting her every single day, sometimes jerking her awake in the middle of the night, making her curl up in bed, shivering and soaked in cold sweat.
She never told anyone.
No one in the Patrick family would give a damn if she was hurting.
Her phone rang.
It was Castiel's mother, Giana Patrick, calling, "Julia, you know Denise is back, right?"
"Yes, Giana," Julia replied.
"She and Castiel grew up together. They've got a real bond. Remember that, and don't go acting all jealous or petty. Castiel only married you because it was convenient. So don't forget where you stand."
A marriage of convenience. Three years ago, Giana told her the same thing.
Back then, Julia's dad had died, leaving her drowning in debt. The Patrick family said they'd clear it all for her, but the catch was that she had to marry Castiel.
"I understand, Giana," Julia said.
"Good. Denise is soft-hearted, so let her have her way," Giana said.