Chapter 2

To this day, Ethan still doesn't know I'd long since discovered his affair.

He played dumb, and I played dumb too.

Adults care more about interests.

Seeing the hickey on his neck that Daisy had deliberately left.

I just felt disgusted.

I simply threw the reeking-of-alcohol Ethan into the bathroom.

He still wanted me to take care of him?

In his dreams.

After tossing Ethan into the bathroom, I went straight back to my room and slept.

As expected, Ethan caught a cold the next day.

He came at me right away: "How could you just dump me in the bathroom and ignore me? Are you even my wife?"

I looked at him with an innocent face.

"Sorry honey, you know I'm not good at taking care of people.

"But I think that secretary of yours is pretty good—Daisy, right? Why not pay her extra so she can take care of all your needs?"

When I mentioned Daisy, a flash of guilt clearly crossed Ethan's face.

Then he quickly composed himself.

"Are you jealous? There's nothing between me and her. Last night at the business dinner, those guys were forcing drinks on Daisy. She's just a young girl, I couldn't ignore that.

"I just had too much to drink, and she brought me home. Don't be paranoid—don't you trust me?"

Who asked him?

I just said one thing, and he immediately confessed without being asked.

I blinked in confusion. "I wasn't suspicious of you, honey. I didn't say anything. Why are you so worked up?"

"If that's what you think, then there's nothing I can do."

Ethan's face kept changing colors, and finally he stormed out, slamming the door.

How ridiculous.

After getting upset with me, he'd probably go seek comfort in Daisy's arms.

I checked Ethan's recent spending records.

Chanel, Balenciaga, Hermès.

The clothes Daisy wore, the shoes, the bags she carried, the makeup she used—Ethan bought all of it for her.

If I didn't spend his money, the mistress would.

With that in mind, I immediately called my best friend out to go shopping, buying whatever was most expensive.

After shopping, I took my best friend to a restaurant for dinner.

I didn't expect to run into Barry here too.

It had been half a month since that night.

Honestly, I'd been savoring the memory.

I had even considered keeping him as a kept man.

But seeing him acting like such a chaste virgin, he probably wouldn't agree.

Barry was bowing nonstop and apologizing to a customer.

Because he had accidentally spilled water on them—actually, the customer had bumped into Barry, which is why the water spilled.

But the customer was aggressive.

"Do you know how expensive this outfit is? A waiter like you couldn't afford it even after working your whole life!

"Say something! Are you mute or what!"

Seeing Barry's hearing aid, the customer paused, then sneered mockingly: "So you're deaf AND mute. Get your manager out here—I want to ask what kind of people they hire!"

Barry was working part-time here to support his studies.

He also had a seriously ill mother. The $100,000 prize money Ethan gave him was probably all going to the hospital.

If he lost this job, he probably couldn't even afford food.

Thinking of that, I stepped forward and put Barry behind me.

Many eyes turned toward us, but I didn't care.

Barry's tears shimmered with helplessness.

Being unable to speak meant he couldn't even apologize or explain.

"How much? I'll pay for him."

The customer wouldn't let it go. "Who are you? What business is it of yours?"

I pulled out a wad of cash I'd just withdrawn from my bag and threw it in his face, stunning him.

"Is this enough?"

I threw another stack in his face.

"If not, I have more.

"Bullying someone vulnerable—what exactly are you so superior about?"

After throwing the money, I just pulled Barry away.

My best friend stared blankly at me and at Barry, whom I'd brought along.

"He, isn't he the college student Ethan was sponsoring?"

She had been at the banquet too that day.

Without time to explain too much, I paid the bill and took Barry away.

When we got somewhere private, Barry typed on his phone and played the audio for me.

"Thank you. I'll write an IOU and pay back all the money."

Because deaf-mute people couldn't speak, their tone of communication was different from normal people's.

But somehow, this made him seem cute—his earnest attitude.

He probably still remembered what happened that night vividly, because he didn't dare look me in the eye.

The more he avoided looking at me, the more I wanted to look at him.

How could someone be so good-looking?

I finally understood why men all love innocent women.

I liked innocent men too.

Unable to hold back, I held his hand.

I asked him: "Do you want to be with me? I can give you money, so you won't have to work so hard at part-time jobs anymore."

I didn't expect him to react so intensely, pulling his hand away.

The male voice from his phone played loudly: "You're Mr. Ethan's wife, we can't do this!"

People passing by gave us strange looks.

His bluntness made me laugh.

"It's fine, we both do our own thing."

It's just that Ethan didn't know yet that I had someone on the side.

He seemed unable to believe that Mr. Ethan, whom he respected and was grateful to, could be that kind of person.

He looked shocked, almost shattered.

But Barry was someone with a strong moral compass.

Without hesitation, he refused me again and fled.

Fine, if he didn't agree, whatever.

He's not the only man in the world.

Hmph, he's not even that good-looking, I don't care.