Chapter 4

To make sure I didn't ruin the disguise, I went to a professional theatrical makeup artist and got an SFX "elderly makeup" look.

I put on my dad's old, slightly oversized tweed jacket, looking exactly like a man in his late fifties, before heading to the restaurant.

When I arrived, Ethan was already waiting.

He was wearing a sharp suit, his hair slicked back, and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses.

Indeed, he was exactly Chloe’s type.

Over the years, every single guy she cheated on me with looked exactly like this. She had absolutely no range.

When Ethan saw me, he stood up quickly and jogged over, looking incredibly nervous.

"Mr. Miller! Hello, sir. Wow, you look so young. You barely look older than me."

I nodded and smiled, playing along. Of course I looked young. I was only three years older than Chloe.

"Thanks. Men don't really do skin care, I just got lucky, I guess."

I kept my words brief and my voice low. The gap between thirty and fifty-eight is quite wide, and my SFX makeup wasn't flawless. If he looked too closely, the game would be up, and I needed to keep the surprise alive for Chloe.

Fortunately, Ethan was a young guy who didn't know anything about makeup. He was too nervous to notice the details, and I managed to completely fool him.

The kid was young and naive. He probably thought he had found a wealthy, sophisticated older woman who could help his career while giving him a passionate, tender romance.

"It must be your great mindset, sir. That’s why you look so youthful. Honestly, with the way you carry yourself, if we walked down the street together, people would think you’re in your twenties. No wonder Chloe is so beautiful."

After saying this, he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, wondering if his flattery was too obvious.

"You've got a quick tongue, kid," I laughed.

He blushed, calling me "sir" with every sentence.

Once we sat down, he pulled two boxes of premium Cuban cigars from his bag and presented them to me sheepishly.

"I didn't know if you smoked, sir, but I brought a little something. I hope you like it."

Fantastic. Another premium addition to my dad's birthday gifts.

My joy was genuine. I waved my hands, pretending to refuse. "Oh, no, no, I can't take this. Only Chloe's grandfather smokes in our family. I don't smoke at all."

Hearing this, Ethan practically forced the cigars into my hands. "Then please give them to Granddad, sir! Just tell me what you like, and I'll get it for you next time. Please don't be polite with me. This is the least I can do. Once Chloe and I get married, I’ll take care of you and Mrs. Miller like my own parents."

"You're a sincere kid. Alright, I won't be polite. If I keep refusing, you might think I don't approve of you."

I had to play my role perfectly—not too cold, but not too eager either, to avoid raising any suspicion.

The show was just beginning, and I couldn't afford to ruin it. This was going to be the grandest birthday gift for my dad.

Seeing me accept the cigars, Ethan was over the moon. "Thank you, sir! I promise I will make Chloe the happiest woman in the world."

Suddenly, I felt a pang of pity for this idiot. He was going to such lengths for a washed-up, married woman.

Did he have any idea what kind of monster Chloe really was? When she got bored of him, she would discard him without a single shred of mercy.