Chapter 2

"Kendra, stop messing around, okay?" Preston said impatiently. "You can't fire her over something so small."

"Kendra, I punished her. Molly won't do it again," he added, trying to sound reassuring.

At that moment, all my hopes for Preston were gone for good.

He said he already punished Molly. But how? Was taking her to bed what he called punishment?

Molly, standing behind Preston, was absolutely livid.

She shot me a death glare, teeth clenched, clearly itching to snap back.

But Preston just gave her hand a reassuring pat.

I let out a cold laugh. "This isn't the first time she's gone after me. All those so-called punishments, do they ever work?"

Preston was caught off guard by my words.

In his mind, I was always the sweet, obedient one, never someone who'd stand up to him like this.

He rubbed his temples, sounding impatient. "Fine, I'll just have her moved somewhere else. I'll make sure you never have to deal with her again."

Molly shot me a venomous glare and started angrily typing a message to Preston, demanding an explanation.

Preston slipped his arm around her waist, gave her a quick kiss, and then typed back: [Come on, why bother getting mad at someone like her? She's blind. You're the only one I want.]

Preston tried to play the caring husband, but dinner was just an empty routine for both of us.

I went upstairs for a shower, and when I came out, he was in the middle of grabbing his jacket, clearly in a rush.

When he saw me, he looked uneasy. "Kendra, something came up at work. I have to go."

We both knew it was Molly who wanted him by her side.

But I just nodded, playing the dutiful wife.

That night, I logged into Preston's WhatsApp on his computer.

Molly had just posted a Moments update: [Private moments.]

There were a few boyfriend shots, plus a mirror selfie in a hotel suite.

In the photos, Preston was wearing a bathrobe, holding Molly, who was in nothing but her underwear, and there were unmistakable marks on her neck.

A few minutes later, Preston commented: [The best girlfriend.]

I thought about the wallpaper on Preston's WhatsApp, a photo of us together, and let out a bitter laugh. But the tears just kept falling, no matter how hard I tried to hold them back.

Those photos were like a slap in the face, each one stinging more than the last.

My fingers curled up as I shut down the computer.

The next day, Preston returned home.

He handed me an evening gown. "Kendra, there's a cocktail party tonight. Will you go with me?"

I glanced up at Preston.

He figured I couldn't see, so he didn't even bother to wipe the lipstick stain off his collar, standing there bold as brass, like he had nothing to hide.

I mocked, "Why not just take Molly with you?"

Preston turned his face away, trying to hide his guilt. "Kendra, I've already transferred her. You won't have to see her again."

I just smiled, not bothering to expose his lie.

That night, I slipped into the dress Preston had picked out for me and stood by his side as we walked into the cocktail party.

But there was Molly, on his other arm, linking hers with his just like I was.

Molly typed: [Preston, are you sure she's not going to notice?]

Preston shot me a quick look, saw I was as calm as ever, and replied: [Don't worry. Kendra's blind. Just keep quiet, and she'll never know.]

A man in a sharp suit walked over with a smile. "Mr. Rowe, long time no see. And this must be Mrs. Rowe, right?"

Preston greeted him politely, "Mr. Robertson, it's been a while."

I was about to speak, but then I saw Hank Robertson offer his hand to Molly.

Molly gave him a bright smile, shook his hand, and threw me a triumphant look.

My chest ached, like my heart was being crushed, and I could barely breathe.

It turned out that everyone knew Molly was Preston's real woman, and me? I was just Mrs. Rowe in name only, nothing but a hollow title.

Hank raised his glass, about to clink it with Molly's, but Preston shot him a look.

Hank got the message right away, and in the next second, the glass that was meant for Molly was suddenly in front of me.

Preston looked at me and said gently, "Kendra, have a drink."

My nails dug deep into my palms, but I just played dumb, forced a smile, and downed the whole glass in one go.

So, he only brought me there to take the drinks for Molly.

I knew it. Preston would never bring someone who couldn't even see to a cocktail party.

Molly got all the glory of being Mrs. Rowe, while I was stuck chugging all the booze for her.

But I never expected Hank's toast to be just the start.

Then came Landon, Roger, and Tom.

Almost everyone at the party greeted Preston.

I watched as they shook hands with Molly one after another, but the drinks were always handed to me.

My stomach twisted in pain, but I kept swallowing glass after glass.