Chapter 2
The dinner finally ended.
Maya rubbed her temples, her voice small and helpless. "Leon, I think the cold air after all that wine is getting to me. I feel awful. Could I maybe..."
Leon didn't even let her finish. "Just stay in the guest room. It's too late to be running around."
He said it like it was the most natural thing in the world.
I pressed my nails into my flesh and said nothing.
Late that night, the master bedroom was cold and empty. Leon never came back.
The unease gnawing at me grew unbearable, so I got out of bed to look for him.
The guest room door was cracked open. Warm light and muffled voices spilled through the gap.
Maya's teary, flirtatious whine drifted out. "You used to love me the most. You'd wait outside my dorm all night after one little fight!"
Leon's voice was low, carrying a tenderness I'd never once heard directed at me. "That's all in the past. What matters is you're back now."
"Leon, you still have feelings for me, don't you? You blame me for not keeping the baby, and you married Claire out of spite, right?"
I shoved the door open.
Maya was practically draped across Leon's chest, her eyes swollen and red.
His hand was stroking her back with an intimacy that made my blood run cold.
The moment he saw me, Leon frowned, irritation plain on his face. "Why are you still up?"
Maya ducked behind him, clinging to his sleeve with half her face peeking out, and she shot me a smirk that was pure provocation.
My voice shook. "Leon, it's late."
His tone got worse. "Maya's not feeling well. I'm keeping her company. Could you try being a little more generous and stop pulling that face?"
Maya put on her most pitiful voice. "Don't blame Claire, Leon. I'm the one who drank too much and said stupid things. I made her upset..."
Leon's heart melted on the spot. He actually turned to me and said, "Maya's got a weak constitution. Since you're up, go make her some hot lemon water to warm her up."
I laughed in disbelief. "I'm your wife, not her maid!"
Leon's expression darkened. "Claire, do you have to be so petty about every little thing?
"She's your sister. If you won't look out for her, the least you can do is let me do it without throwing a fit."
"Some 'sister'!" My chest seized with pain. "What I just walked in on looked nothing like siblings!"
I turned and walked back to the bedroom.
It wasn't long before Leon followed, his voice softer now.
"Babe, I'm sorry. Don't be mad. Maya lost a baby because of me. I owe her."
He held me, pressed his lips to my forehead, and murmured soothing words.
My body stayed rigid. I wanted to confront him about Maya, but I had no fight left in me.
He took my silence for forgiveness and slipped out of the room for a while.
Restless and uneasy, I heard movement and quietly followed.
Leon went into the study and made a phone call, keeping his voice low.
"Transfer the Tech Park project funds to Maya's new studio. She just got back, and she needs the support."
The words hit me like a lightning bolt.
That project was one of our crown jewels. Our team had pulled countless all-nighters to land it.
The person on the other end seemed to question him.
Leon chuckled softly, his voice carrying a warmth I'd never been on the receiving end of.
"It's fine. She's worth it. If we take a loss, we take a loss. Ms. Claire Summers? Don't worry about her. She's my wife. She'll go along with whatever I decide."