Later, over time, as Martin's secretary, the frequency of her calling him increased exponentially and her reasoning became even more trivial, like fixing pipes, changing light bulbs and finding a missing cat or ID card. Jenna could always summon him away with only just minor reasoning.
“She’s just a young girl trying to make her way in the world,” Martin would coax me. He would say, “She reminds me so much of you back in the day.”
Every single time he held me in his arms, he would coax me, “You’re the only one I’ll ever love in this lifetime.”
However, this time, I could not bring myself to believe him.
The lies Martin told me and the sincerity he showed Jenna became the sharp dagger that pierced my heart.
The next morning, I woke up because of Jenna's voice.
When I opened the door, I saw Jenna and Martin standing in front of the dining table, playfully dividing breakfast into plates.
“Stop it,” he said.
“Boss, feed me!” Jenna pouted and inched closer to him.
Martin sighed, amused and picked up a slice of sandwich from the table, moving to feed her.
Jenna took the opportunity to bite Martin's fingers, her bright eyes brimming with mischief.
He tried tickling her to make her let go and amidst their antics, his gaze locked with mine.
Startled, he reflexively pushed Jenna aside, his face pale as he hurriedly walked toward me.
“Did we wake you up?” he asked.
Pretending not to see their interaction, I shook my head. However, out of nowhere, Jenna squeezed herself between me and Martin.
"Cathy," she said. "Boss really loves you so much, you know. Look, he even went out to buy you breakfast himself! It's your favorite, meat buns and strawberry shortcakes!"
"Huh," she joked. "I just got a measly sandwich. He's really a stingy boss!"
She giggled while throwing playful looks at Martin, who responded with a helpless yet indulgent smile.
My gaze was directed to her then fell into the delicate necklace around her neck. It was a Van Cleef & Arpels.
That receipt for the necklace? It was still sitting in the pocket of Martin’s coat.
I once thought it was a surprise gift for me, but now it adorned Jenna's neck.
“Well, it’s fine if the boss doesn’t treat you well,” I said coolly, pulling my hand away. “After all, Miss Miller seems perfectly capable of treating herself. You were able to buy a necklace so expensive just like that.”
Then I turned and walked to the table to sit down.
Behind me, the two of them were still standing in place, one looking flustered while the other smiling.
The breakfast felt tasteless in my mouth.
Before we left, Martin pestered me to accompany him to the office. I actually did not want to but I did not have the energy to refuse. So, I reluctantly agreed.
However, Jenna got to the front passenger seat first. As she rolled down the window, she said, "I easily get carsick if I sit on the back. You don't mind sitting on the back today, right Cathy?"
I turned to look at Martin, who had not gotten into the car yet, but all I could see was his embarrassment.
"Cathy, Jenna's stomach hasn't been okay in these past few days …."
I did not let him finish his sentences. I just opened the door and got into the back seat.
The bumps in the back made my abdomen tighten painfully and cold sweat dripped down my back. I had to grip the handle tightly to steady myself.
At the front, Martin and Jenna were talking and laughing merrily as if there was not that third person in the car.
"Cathy, why are you sweating?"
At the red light, Martin finally remembered my existence and glanced at the back toward me.
I forced myself to smile and shook my head.
From then on, he kept looking back at me. His concern was evident. He even did not realize that he had run a red light.
The whole world might see him as a devoted, loving husband, but only I knew that his heart was slowly leaning toward someone else.
Martin himself did not realize it but undeniably his heart leaned toward Jenna. The woman who, in his own words, reminded him so much of me.
Martin would make time to hug me even though he was so busy. From the eyes of the outsider, we were an inseparable and loving couple.
