Chapter 3

3: 3

3

Bryan's brow knotted tight, displeasure written all over his face.

His voice came out cold. "Queenie, do you really think there's any point in asking that?"

"Whoever wins the bid wins it on their own merit, don't they?"

A fine line, that. On their own merit. Except he only wanted Maud to win.

I didn't want to keep circling this. Today the only thing that mattered to me was the bidding meeting.

"Mm. You're right. On our own merit."

"Bryan, I'm heading out now. I'll go over and wait."

Bryan shot up off the couch.

"Queenie, I'm not feeling well today. Let me ride out with you."

"Drop me at the office."

I nodded without a second thought.

Just as I was changing my shoes at the entryway cabinet, Bryan gave me a light push.

"Queenie, go grab that file off the desk in the study for me."

"Sure."

I'd taken only a few steps when a row of bullet-comments floated up before my eyes.

【Your handbag is still on the shoe cabinet.】

【Your husband's debating whether to take your handbag with him.】

【He doesn't want to wreck your marriage, so he won't do it openly.】

I turned my head slightly and looked at Bryan. His eyes were shut, and he was breathing deep.

Even so, I walked back over and picked up my handbag.

"Queenie, are you guarding yourself against me?"

My husband's whole face was full of resentment.

"Bryan, why would I guard myself against you? You've got nothing to do with the bidding meeting."

"If anyone, it's Maud I'd need to watch. She's my biggest competitor."

I didn't wait for his answer. I walked straight to the study.

Getting into the car, I set my handbag on the back seat.

The moment he sat down, Bryan was tapping out a text.

I'd barely started the engine when he turned to look at me.

"Queenie, drive slow later. I'm still not feeling great."

"All right, got it."

We'd been driving a little over ten minutes when Bryan suddenly told me to stop.

"Queenie, pull over at that convenience store up ahead. I need to grab something."

"Okay."

I stopped the car at the curb. "Bryan, what do you need? I'll get it for you."

"No need. I'll go myself."

And with that, he headed for the convenience store.

Only, ten minutes went by and he still hadn't come out.

That was when the bullet-comments drifted up again.

【Your husband is really brutal to himself. He already has a stomach condition, and now he's chugging ice water and cold drinks.】

【He wants to make himself sick, get himself into the hospital, so you'll have to take care of him.】

【In a bit, he'll do everything he can to stall.】

I clenched my fists and steadied myself.

Bryan, who normally guarded his health so carefully and studied every wellness trick, was actually pulling something like this.

I took out my phone and made a call.

"Fern Cobb, where are you?"

"Good. Come now, right away. You're going to the bidding meeting in my place."

I checked the time. Half an hour had passed, and Bryan still hadn't come out.

So he really was stalling.

I got out and went into the convenience store. He was sitting on the rest chair by the window, sending a message.

The second he saw me, he apologized.

"Queenie, sorry. I was just handling something for the company and lost track of time."

I waved it off. "Bryan, did you get what you needed? If so, let's go."

He nodded. "Mm. Got it."

Not long after we got back in the car, he was clutching his stomach hard.

Fine beads of sweat broke out on his forehead.

"Queenie, my stomach hurts so much."

"Take me to the hospital."

I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye. He looked genuinely miserable.

"Okay. I'll take you to the hospital."