Chapter 4

I didn't follow them in immediately. I spoke softly into the microphone.

"They're inside. I wanted to come to this restaurant with him, but he told me he hated it.

"I guess he didn't hate the restaurant. He just hated the person he'd be eating with."

My voice carried a perfect touch of heartbreak, but there were no tears on my face.

"Now, I'm going in. I want to ask him myself if Miss Miller is indeed his most important 'client' tonight."

I walked into the restaurant.

The host greeted me. I gave him Ethan’s name.

"My husband booked a table. Ethan Sterling."

The host checked the system, his expression turning slightly awkward.

"Mr. Sterling booked a table for two. By the window. May I ask who you..."

"I'm his wife," I said with a sweet smile. "I'm here to surprise him."

The host hesitated for a second but ultimately led me over.

Ethan was the first to see me. The smile on his face froze instantly.

A flash of panic crossed Chloe’s face, but she quickly masked it, replacing it with a smug, mocking look.

The chat:

[Look at his face! He looks like he saw a ghost!]

[The mistress is actually smirking? The audacity!]

[Stay calm, Clara! Destroy them!]

Ethan stood up, his face darkening.

"Clara? What are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here?" I repeated his words, my voice terrifyingly calm.

"On our wedding anniversary, I couldn't find my husband. My tracker showed him at The Lumina, and then I saw his car pull up here.

"Ethan, don't you think you owe me an explanation?"

The surrounding diners began to whisper, turning their heads to watch.

Ethan lowered his voice, his tone laced with anger.

"Are you tracking me? Have you lost your mind? We are going home to talk about this!"

"Go home?" I laughed. "Which home? Our apartment, or your little love nest at The Lumina?"

Chloe stood up then, putting on her best innocent, victimized act.

"Clara, you've got this all wrong.

"Ethan and I were just discussing a project. The launch went really well today, so Ethan offered to buy me dinner to celebrate.

"We..."

"Does discussing projects require wrapping your arm around his?" I cut her off, my eyes locking onto her hand, which was still lightly touching Ethan’s sleeve.

Chloe’s face flushed red, then turned pale.

Ethan yanked his arm away from Chloe’s touch and tried to grab my wrist.

"Clara, stop making a scene! This is embarrassing!

"Chloe is just my assistant. We were genuinely talking about work! Stop being so dramatic!"

"Dramatic?" I pulled up the screen of my phone, displaying the evidence right in front of him.

"Ethan! Today is our third wedding anniversary!

"I booked a restaurant and waited for you, and you told me you were too busy!

"I worried about you working too hard, while you were busy taking another woman out of your private condo for a romantic dinner!

"Is this your anniversary gift to me?"