Chapter 2

The next day, I made breakfast for Muriel as usual.

The three of us sat at the table, but it was quieter than it usually was.

Muriel ate carefully. "Did I say something wrong yesterday?"

Howard immediately started cracking jokes, sitting down next to me, holding one of us with each hand.

I didn't want my daughter to worry, so I forced down the nausea in my chest and put on a smile.

Luckily, Muriel didn't notice anything off.

After she left, Howard blocked my way.

"Agatha, that was just a misunderstanding." He held me tightly. "A little kid says something offhand, and it leaves you sulking all day long."

Howard thought I was only jealous.

"It's the first time you've used a female secretary."

Howard laughed. "That's all this is about?"

He looked at me, his gaze steady and full of tenderness.

"There's nothing between her and me. Once we hire someone else, I'll replace her right away, all right?"

I stayed silent for a moment, then let the matter drop instead of pressing Howard on it.

He was busy, and so was I.

After graduation, Howard wanted me to come work at his company.

I didn't agree. Under my mentor's guidance, I started my own startup.

The professor said it had been my senior's idea.

Except my senior went abroad right after graduation, so it never came to be.

The early days were always hard and hectic.

I had no time to pay attention to the flashy distractions around Howard.

By the time I wrapped up, it was already seven-thirty in the evening.

I picked up my phone. Howard had sent me a few messages saying he was working late tonight and wouldn't be home for dinner.

Muriel had gone to her grandmother's today, so I was in no rush to get home.

When I reached the parking lot, I suddenly turned the car around and drove toward Howard's company.

My head was a fog the whole way.

When the receptionist saw me arrive, a flash of surprise crossed her face, but then she broke into a bright smile and called out "the boss's wife," escorting me to the private elevator.

By the time I reached the area outside Howard's office, before I even stepped in, I could hear the cheerful laughter inside.

The air conditioning wasn't even on, yet a chill ran through my whole body.

Through the glass, Sydney had her arms wrapped around Howard's neck from behind, leaning against him.

Howard had his head tilted, walking Sydney through a project proposal.

His gaze was focused and gentle.

Familiar and yet strange.

The man who said he had to work late was now with another woman, as close as a couple freshly fallen in love.

That scene crashed into my sight, and something in my mind came down with a roar.

I wanted to charge in and cut off Sydney's hand right there.

The corridor lights came on.

Howard looked up, his expression changing all at once.

He stood and came toward me, and by the time he reached me his face was all delight.

"Honey, what brings you here all of a sudden? Here to pick me up after work?"

Sydney stood beside him, tilted her head up, and called out "sister-in-law" with a smile.

I narrowed my eyes and gave a cold laugh. "Isn't she your secretary? Why is she calling me her sister-in-law? What, does no one at your company know how to keep proper boundaries?"

"Or is every woman at your company this close with you—are they all your dear little sisters?"

Sydney's eyes reddened at once, and she bit her lip. "Howard takes such good care of me, treats me like a little sister. And I'm the one who usually looks after his meals and daily needs. It's not what you think, sister-in-law."

His meals and daily needs?

So it had already gone that far.

I raised an eyebrow and said impatiently, "This is a workplace, not some game of house you're playing. My company still has a deal on the table with yours, so please use a proper professional address. My name is Ms. Bell."

Howard leaned down and pulled me into his arm. "Why are you so upset? Just because I didn't get home on time today?"

The loving gesture softened something in me.

The next moment he added, "She didn't mean anything by it. The girl has no one to lean on at work; calling me 'Howard' like that saves her a lot of trouble."

"Don't give her a hard time, okay?"