Of course not.
The thought echoed silently in Astrella’s mind.
For years, she had always been the one buying clothes for him, every season, eight outfits, four pairs of shoes, each carefully chosen and brand new from the mall. His suits were always pristine, his leather shoes gleaming with an almost unnatural shine.
But her own clothes? They came from the discount racks near the zoo, ten dollars for one, fifteen for two.
Seeing Astrella’s silence, Norella tossed another bag in her direction, a mocking smile on her lips.
“Look,” Norella said, her voice dripping with satisfaction, “even lingerie; Raiden bought this for me. This foreign brand, one set, costs five hundred!”
“And lipstick, perfume, anything I desire, even things I don’t want, he buys it all for me.”
Norella’s eyes gleamed mischievously.
“Oh, how could I forget the best part?” she added, sneaking a box of condoms from her bag. She held it up with a wink as if showing off a prized possession.
“When he paid, he slipped this in secretly. Do you think this brand is any good? I honestly don’t have much experience with it myself.”
Astrella moved her lips slightly, her voice barely a whisper. “If you two want to use them, then use them…”
Since the birth of their child, their once passionate married life had slowly faded into distance. Lately, they had been sleeping in separate rooms.
Now, with his first love back in the picture, maybe Raiden truly had a reason for needing them.
The thought shadowed her expression, a cold weight pressing on her chest. Love was a necessary ingredient in such moments.
Norella’s lips twisted into a mocking smile. “I was going to ask how many he uses in one night, but it seems you wouldn’t know. You don’t have the experience, do you?”
Astrella’s cold expression only fueled Norella’s disdain.
“Don’t tell me,” Norella added with a cruel edge, “after you had the child, you two haven’t…? You really don’t take care of yourself. Look at you, so much younger than me, yet already sporting neck wrinkles. What man would want to touch you?”
As Astrella spoke, Raiden rushed out of the room, his face pale, their son cradled in his arms. "Quick, to the hospital!"
Reaghan's small, chubby face was ghostly white, his lips tinged with an alarming shade of purple. "My tummy... it hurts so bad!"
Astrella's heart twisted painfully at the sound of his anguished voice.
She could set aside her own feelings for Raiden, but for the child she had carried and raised, there was no ignoring her bond.
Raiden’s eyes flashed with barely contained frustration as he looked at her. "How are you taking care of him? How did he suddenly get this sick?"
Astrella's eyes burned with unshed tears. In the past few days, Reaghan had pulled away from her, leaving Raiden and Norella to care for him. And now, with their son so sick, they were blaming her?
Choking back her frustration, Astrella forced herself to swallow the rising tide of grievance.
"It looks like acute enteritis. We have navel plasters at home; apply one to the child first…"
But Norella seized the moment, her voice dripping with mockery. "Astrella, darling, you're just a high school graduate. How could you possibly know anything about medicine?"
Astrella ignored her, pushing aside the sting of her words. She swiftly retrieved the medicine box, taking Reaghan from Raiden’s arms with practiced care. Gently, she applied the navel plaster, wrapping him snugly in her coat before rushing out to the clinic.
The clinic was still open, the lights casting a warm glow. After a thorough examination, the doctor offered a reassuring smile.
"Acute enteritis. Luckily, you applied the navel plaster in time and kept him warm. Otherwise, he would have been in much more pain."
The doctor’s tone softened. "Just be careful. No cola or hamburgers for him anymore. And avoid hot and cold food combinations, they're a nightmare for his stomach."
Astrella nodded silently, her heart squeezing as the doctor continued, "Preschoolers have delicate digestive systems. When you get home, stick to cereal and nutritious meals."
Raiden stood there, his head hanging lower with every word, his expression darkening further.
When Astrella carried her son back home, the sight of the hamburger boxes and cola bottles on the table struck her like a dagger to the heart. The weight of it hit her all at once and a flare of anger ignited within her, scorching through her veins. It was a fire that demanded no response, no words, just pure, unrestrained fury.
Without a second glance, Astrella tightened her grip on her son, the child who had always been her world and turned away. She retreated to her room, seeking solace in the quiet, away from the mess they had left behind.
