No More Waiting for Summer's Final Fireworks

Spending our wedding anniversary with our son, my CEO husband, as usual, carefully picked out the scallions we didn’t like from our food.

After dinner, we returned home. He bathed our son, tucked him in, and only came back to the bedroom after the boy had fallen asleep.

Just as he pinned me beneath him, his phone suddenly rang.

Normally, he’d treat it as part of our foreplay, teasing me in a low voice, "Be quiet, don’t let them hear."

But this time, the moment he saw the caller ID, he rolled off me and got out of bed.

I got up and followed him to the balcony, intending to embrace him from behind—

Only to see the doting smile on his face as he took the call.

The night was silent, and a clear, sweet female voice came through the receiver.

"I was afraid you might need it urgently..."

The tone was slightly coquettish, yet seemingly considerate in every way.

David Walker’s smile faded, and his expression returned to its usual indifference before he hung up.

When he turned and saw me, all he said was a detached, "Something came up. I’ll be back soon."

He left swiftly, leaving me—still in my thin nightwear—standing there alone.

I went back inside and sat on the bed, waiting for a long time, but he didn’t return.

Unable to sit still any longer, I threw on a robe and went downstairs.

At the foot of the stairs, I saw David standing across from a sweetly dressed young woman.

She glanced up and noticed me, offering a bright smile. "Hi, Ms. Walker! I’m Ella Harris, the new intern at David’s company."

Ella’s white dress fluttered under the streetlight, glaringly out of place. She held up an item, her voice sugary sweet. "David, your razor."

She gave it a little shake before adding, "You left it at my place during your last business trip. You once told me Ms. Walker gave it to you, so I figured it must be important."

I sneered and cut in, "Personal items touched by others are better off thrown away."

"Elizabeth," David frowned. "Don’t speak like that."

Ella pouted, completely unbothered.

Then, she handed me a paper bag printed with cartoon characters, wearing an obedient smile. "This is the tablet David picked out for Andrew. Happy early birthday to him!"

My nails dug deep into my palms, but I made no move to take it.

Only when David commanded, "Take it," did I accept it with a stiff "Thanks."

I had no intention of making a scene, so I took the bag and went straight upstairs.

David returned a while later.

Once in bed, he pulled me close. "Really asleep?"

I stayed silent. He chuckled, his hand sliding over my shoulder. "She’s just an intern. Don’t take it to heart. Why bother with her?"

I pushed his arm away. "I’m tired."

His tone turned cold. "Elizabeth, remember your place."

With that, he turned his back to me.

Not long after, I heard him get up and go to the balcony to make another call.

Through the crack in the door, a faint murmur drifted in: "Glad you made it home safe."

When he came back and saw me watching him, he explained, "I just wanted to make sure she got home alright. It’s late for a girl to be out alone."

"She’s usually so careless anyway."

Perhaps he didn’t even realize it himself—his voice carried indulgence.

Before I could respond, a sudden clap of thunder startled Andrew awake in the next room, his cries piercing the quiet.

David rushed out before I could move.

When I entered, he was about to pull out the tablet Ella had bought to calm him.

"Don’t let him watch. It’ll strain his eyes."

I reached for it, but David sidestepped me, his voice icy. "Just ten minutes. He’s crying for it. Don’t ruin his mood."