When A Couple Had Drifted apart, It Could Never Be Whole Again

I sneered. Is that right? In fact, I clearly saw them when I was in the bathtub.

Dennis had been standing downstairs when his assistant threw herself into his embrace. Hand in hand, they slipped into the back seat of a car together and the vehicle rocked for a while and I did not see them come out again. So, this Dennis had meant when he claimed he was working overtime.

In the day that followed, Dennis kept making different dishes for me and caring for me attentively until my health improved a lot.

When he wasn’t home, I arranged to meet my best friend and go shopping. Halfway through our outing, I saw him. Dennis, with his arm wrapped around a woman, walked into a hotel. I followed them inside, just in time to witness them shamelessly making out in the hotel lobby, while his hands roamed over her body. 

They weren't loud but I could hear them clearly from where I hid around the corner.

"Mr. Landon, between me and Jackie Harris, which one do you prefer?” she asked.

His expression darkened and his hands stilled.

“I’ve told you,” he hissed. “Never mention her name. She is pure and you are cheap. Don’t let her name come out from your lips.”

The assistant’s face fell for a moment, but she quickly grabbed his hand, pressing it to her chest, even coyly lifting her coat to reveal more.

"Mr. London, look what I wear …."

He closed his eyes as desire washed over him. He leaned close to whisper something into her ear, then the assistant beamed with joy.

Judging by his lips, he must have said, "I like you better in bed. She could never be as wild as you are."

My best friend pulled me toward the exit. With a trembling voice, she said, "Jackie, don't watch anymore. Let's go, okay? In three days, you’ll leave and we’ll never have to see him again.”

I collapsed into her arms and sobbed, letting out all the grievances I had bottled up over these days.

When Dennis returned home that evening, he brought a beautiful long dress. He knelt beside my bed, looking almost desperate.

"Will you come to tonight’s gala with me, Jackie? Everyone will be bringing their wives," he asked.

I nodded. After all, I was still his wife in name, since we had not divorced yet.

He kissed my forehead, smiled and he had arranged for a makeup artist to come by later.

The doorbell rang suddenly and standing at the entrance was his assistant. She looked pitiful and upset.

Dennis scolded her harshly in a hushed voice, "What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you not to?"

I stepped forward and gently moved him aside, while putting a warm expression on my face, "Is your assistant here? What brings you here to see Dennis?"

The assistant pretended to be scared and shrank behind me.

“I came to deliver some documents to Mr. London. Why is he so angry?” She looked at me sweetly. “Miss, you’re the best.”

She reached out and held my hand then asked for my WhatsApp number.

Dennis's face turned gloomy and he tried to refuse her. However, I took out my phone and accepted her friend request.

The assistant stuck out her tongue at Dennis, then darted away like a mischievous sprite. He frowned, irritation clouding his features. “That assistant … I’ll fire her one of these days.”

Despite his words, his fingers were busy typing furiously on his phone.

I caught a glimpse of the messages. The assistant had sent a photo of herself in a provocative outfit to tease him.

"Mr. London, is it exciting to see me wearing this in front of your wife?" she texted.

He swallowed hard. “You little temptress, just wait. Tonight, I’ll show you what I’m made of.”

I watched him reply, my smile never wavered and I glanced through the assistant’s public Instagram post, which she hadn’t blocked me from seeing.

It was all there. When he’d driven miles to buy me a tiny cake, he had held hands with her in the car. During his supposed late-night overtime, there had been illicit encounters in his office. Every night, after I fell asleep, they had rendezvous in our living room.

A sickening wave of nausea churned inside me, almost drowning me.

Then, out of nowhere, the large commercial screen on the nearby building flashed with the assistant’s photo and name, wishing her a happy birthday.