When I didn't answer, Chandler released his grip on me and said flippantly, "You actually made an appointment with a lawyer just so you could 'coincidentally' run into me? Fine. Since you went through all that effort, let's have dinner together."
I knew this was a sign that he wanted to reconcile. If this had been in the past, my eyes would've instantly lit up as I nodded vigorously.
However, this time, I decided I would play the fool.
Pasting a smile on my face, I politely replied, "I'm busy tonight. Maybe next time."
The next time we sat down to have a meal together, it would likely be to discuss the divorce.
Not wanting to waste another second on Chandler, I stepped around him to enter Adam's office, leaving him rooted to the spot in shock.
What a great feeling that was!
…
By the time I finished consulting with Adam and left his office, it was already dark outside.
Chandler hadn't waited for me.
When I asked the receptionist about it, she told me that he had left immediately after finishing his business collaboration talk, as though he had been worried about someone pestering him.
I was fully aware that that "someone" was referring to me. After all, this wasn't the first time he had publicly humiliated me like this.
Nonetheless, this was the first time I didn't feel upset about it.
I headed to a shopping mall next, where I bought a bunch of clothes that I liked. After that, I went to a florist and bought myself a bouquet of fresh flowers. Finally, I dined at a barbecue restaurant that I had been dying to go to.
Chandler had a sensitive nose, so he couldn't stand the smell of greasy smoke and spices clinging to clothing after eating barbecue. Hence, he had always forbidden me from having that.
The last time I had barbecue was last year. At the time, Chandler and I had had a falling out due to a small matter, and we had been giving each other the cold shoulder for three days. By that point in our marriage, I had already been mostly used to it, but that day was supposed to be our wedding anniversary.
As revenge, I deliberately visited a barbecue restaurant. After that, I went home practically smelling like a piece of barbecued meat myself. Subsequently, we had a huge fight.
With a frosty look on his face, he had said, "You clearly know I hate that smell, yet you still insist on doing what would piss me off. Why?"
My eyes had been puffy and red from my crying as I retorted, "Well, you clearly know today's our wedding anniversary, yet you still insist on giving me the cold shoulder. Why would you do that? Why can't you just placate me and make me happy?"
I couldn't remember what expression had been on his face after I said that, but the bone-deep chill I felt at the time was something I would never forget. Even now, I couldn't stop a shiver from running through me when I recalled that sensation.
Regardless, that was all in the past now.
Stabbing a huge piece of brisket, I stuffed it into my mouth with relish.
By the time I arrived home, it was already quite late at night.
After dealing with my nightly routine, I was about to sleep when I received a message from Chandler, "Have you seen my green tie? I need it tomorrow."
In the three years we were married, this was the first time he had ever taken the initiative to send me a message while we were on the outs with each other.
Hence, I was stunned for several seconds, even wondering if this might be a prank. It wasn't until I had reread the message several times and confirmed that it was indeed real that I slowly typed out my response, "It's on the third shelf of the glass cabinet in the wardrobe. Do I need to ask someone to take it to you?"
Previously, no matter where Chandler was, as long as he needed it, I would be the first to jump into action. However, it was different now. It was already close to midnight, and I needed to get my beauty sleep.
There was no reply from him for a good long while after I sent my message.
Just as I set down my phone and got ready to sleep, it beeped.
"Tomorrow is our wedding anniversary. What would you like? A necklace?"
I paused in surprise, as that was the wish I had made last year. It had come one entire year later.
When Chandler didn't receive a response, he sent another text, "Did you come to the company today? There's nothing going on between Mandy and me, so don't bother her."
The instant I read those words, understanding dawned on me.
He had sought me out to defend his mistress. And here I had been wondering why he would suddenly remember to get me a present. As it turned out, he was worried I would cause trouble for his precious lover.
