Chapter 7
laughing as if this was all some grand joke.
Fueled by alcohol, Anthony complied, pulling Julie closer as the scene grew more intimate.
Laughter and cheers erupted, filling the room with a sickening camaraderie that left me frozen in place.
It was heartbreaking.
These were the same people who had never supported my relationship with Anthony, even after we were married.
Yet there they were, openly celebrating his affair with Julie, acting as though she was the rightful woman by his side.
I could feel my heart shattering into a thousand pieces. But I decided to turn and left the bar without looking back.
“Enjoy the night, Anthony,” I said, my voice low but cutting.
Outside, the rain poured relentlessly, drenching me almost instantly. It mirrored
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my mood perfectly.
I did not hail a taxi. Instead, I ran into the downpour, letting it hide the tears streaming down my face.
Mascara and eyeliner mixed with the rain, streaking my face in chaotic lines. My hair clung to my skin, and my dress was soaked through, but I did not care.
I looked like an insane person–crying, drenched, and disheveled. But at least the
storm gave me cover to vent my anger, my heartbreak, and my despair.
Then my phone buzzed in my pocket.
[Anthony: Where are you?]
[Daisy: Going home, since I’m not feeling well. Just enjoy the party, don’t mind me.]
[Anthony: Okay, take care. I think I will go home late, so just call me if you need something.]
I did not bother replying again. There was no need–after all, I already knew the real
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reason he would be staying late.
Once home, I drew a hot bath, sinking into the water as if it could wash away the storm inside me.
The heat wrapped around me, but my body, overwhelmed by heartbreak and the hours spent drenched in rain, began to falter.
I must have passed out in the bathtub. When I finally stirred, an IV was in my hand, and I was lying in a hospital bed. Anthony was sitting nearby, his face filled. with concern.
But it was not just Anthony. Julie was there
too.
I blinked several times, unsure if I was hallucinating. But no, it was her, sitting with feigned politeness, her presence a mockery of everything I had endured.
Anthony noticed I was awake and immediately took my hand. “Are you finally awake?” he asked, his voice heavy
with worry.
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I met his gaze coldly and sneered, “Are you actually worried?”
His brow furrowed, and he gripped my hand tighter. “You passed out all night and only woke up at 9 this morning. Imagine how worried I was!
“You said you weren’t feeling well last night, why didn’t you tell me it was this serious? I would‘ ve taken you here right away if I’d known.”
His words spilled out, leaving me no room to respond. Julie, seated nearby, rolled her eyes but said nothing.
Anthony’s affection used to melt my heart, but at that moment, it felt like nothing more than an act.
I pulled my hand away sharply. “You‘ re squeezing me too hard. The IV pricked me.”
“Oh, right. I’m sorry.” He stood up quickly. “I’ll call the doctor to check on you.”
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Then, turning to Julie, he added, “Please take care of Daisy for a moment.
Julie responded with her usual saccharine tone, “Yes, Mr. Harris.”
As soon as Anthony left, I turned my face. away, unwilling to look at her. Julie, surprisingly, kept quiet and simply sat beside my bed.
Perhaps she understood the need to maintain appearances in public.
Just then, a notification popped up on my phone, which was resting on the bedside. table. My US visa approval had come through. Julie, ever curious, noticed it immediately.
“Well,” she said, her tone casual but probing, “we don’t need a visa to vacation in the US. Are you planning to stay
forever?”
I snatched my phone from the table. “That‘ s none of your business,” I
snapped.
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Before she could respond, Anthony
returned with the doctor, and I tucked my phone out of sight.
After a brief examination, the doctor informed me that I could be discharged the next day if my fever continued to subside.
Breakfast was brought in shortly after, and Anthony, in his usual overbearing way, insisted on feeding me.
“I can eat by myself,” I said firmly.
“Are you embarrassed because Julie‘ s here?” he teased, misreading my mood entirely.
Julie, ever the opportunist, smiled politely. “Oh, that’s right. I shouldn‘ t intrude. Forgive me. I’ll head to the office and handle your work for today, Mr. Harris.”
“Right. Please take care of things, Julie,” Anthony said, nodding at her.
She grabbed her bag and flashed me a sweet, insincere smile. “Get well soon,
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Mrs. Harris.” Then she left, her exit as calculated as her presence.
The moment the door closed, I suppressed the urge to confront Anthony.
I already knew the truth. They had been together when the maid called Anthony about my condition, and he had not left Julie behind.
The world might think it was normal for a secretary to accompany her boss, but I knew better. They could fool everyone else, but they could not fool me.
Anthony, oblivious to my thoughts, resumed feeding me. “I actually planned a vacation to celebrate our wedding
anniversary,” he said, trying to sound thoughtful. “But with your health, it might
have to wait.
So, he did remember our anniversary. How
ironic.
I smiled faintly, masking my disgust.
“That‘ s okay. A gift is enough for me. We
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can vacation anytime.”
“Great. I’ll make sure it’s something luxurious,” he said, clearly satisfied with his plans.
I nodded, my voice soft. “I’ll have something for you too.”
His face lit up with childlike excitement.
“Really? I can’t wait to see it!”
As he yawned, I asked, “Did you not sleep all night?”
“I’m fine. I’m used to staying up late for work,” he replied, brushing it off.
“No, no. You need to rest. After breakfast, go to sleep. I’ll be fine,” I insisted.
He hesitated but eventually nodded,
“Then I’ll sleep on the sofa for a few hours.”
Within minutes, he was soundly asleep, his even breaths filling the room.
I glanced at him, ensuring he was truly out,
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and then reached for his phone. The more evidence I gathered, the sooner I could escape this nightmare of a marriage.
Just as I unlocked his phone, both our phones buzzed simultaneously.
It was making my heart leap.
So, I immediately glanced at Anthony, expecting him to not wake up. Fortunately, exhaustion kept him firmly asleep.
I checked his phone first.
Julie had messaged him, [You have to pay because last night we didn’t get to enjoy our time together as promised, okay?]
Accompanying her message were photos of tourist destinations in Japan.
[Julie: When I was scrolling through tourist attractions, Japan kept appearing on my homepage. It seems like a sign that we should go there. You said you wanted to celebrate my pregnancy, right? So how about a babymoon in Japan tomorrow?]
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Since Anthony had not replied, Julie sent another message–a photo of her with a pleading expression.
[Julie: Please, our baby will love it too.]
The sight of her theatrics made my stomach churn. “That’s so disgusting,” I muttered under my breath.
Before scrolling further through their chat, I switched to my own phone. Julie had sent me several provocative messages.