Only that one time.
And it was still because of Naomi.
Now, looking at Alex's open, straightforward face, I only found it funny. I pulled out the WeChat live updates Naomi had sent me and put them in front of him.
"Stella, Alex and I have both been waiting for you for half an hour. The food is already cold."
Naomi took a photo of the dishes.
"I'm hungry."
"I'm eating first."
In the live-update photos, there was Alex's teasing voice, laughing as he said, "I've never seen someone like you, like a starving ghost reincarnated."
A very ordinary sentence. But it made me hear indulgence—an indulgent feeling I'd never carefully noticed before. Even after Naomi finished eating and took a selfie, I could still hear Alex say,
"You little glutton, you didn't wipe the corner of your mouth clean."
Naomi said, "Baby, there's so much good food, and I ate it all, so it's not wasted."
"Your Alex looks like an injured puppy—come pick him up."
In the messages Naomi kept sending, I could hear so many fragmented bits of Alex's voice—Alex laughing at her for being like a little pig, and Alex saying she was very cute.
And even Naomi questioning, "Between me and Stella, who's cuter?"
And Alex said, "My god, why are you getting jealous of my wife."
"Of course you're cuter."
My heart ached until it was about to shatter, yet I watched Alex's expression go blank for a moment. Then, furious and flustered, he pointed at me and said,
"Stella."
"Naomi is your best friend, your family you've had for twelve years. How can you think about me and her with such filthy thoughts!"
I looked at Alex being righteous and stern, and I still felt hurt. My chest felt like it was stuffed full of damp cotton, about to suffocate me.
"Alex."
"I didn't say anything."
Tears fell. I met Alex's stunned face.
"What are you confessing without being asked?"
I shoved him away hard and shut the door. Ignoring him shouting my name, pounding on the door hard and yelling,
"Stella!"
"I've never wronged you!"
"We're about to get married!"
"You can't treat me like this!"
Listening to his voice, I only felt like even the heavy air was mixed with dense needles, seeping in everywhere and stabbing into my nerves. It hurt so much I was about to break down, yet I saw Naomi send me a WeChat message asking me,
"Stella, are you sick!"
"You suspect me and your husband?"
"Explain yourself right now! I'm not taking the blame for this!"
Looking at Naomi's messages, I still felt it was mocking.
Naomi and I had been together for twelve years, from meeting in high school until now, never separated. I treated her as family, as my closest friend, yet I'd never thought that such a melodramatic plot would also get applied to us.
I collapsed into a sitting position in the living room, looking at the house that had already been dyed with celebratory cheer, and I still couldn't control the tears surging down.
Until a friend called me and said,
"Stella."
"I got what you wanted."
My friend asked me worriedly, "Are you ready?"
I only listened to her speak, opened that file, and watched Naomi lying in Alex's arms, crying until she choked.
"Alex, this is our third baby."
"Will I not be able to get pregnant in the future?"
Alex coaxed her.
"No."
"If that day comes, I will definitely take responsibility for you."
I watched him kiss Naomi's lips and tell her,
"I'll stay with you."
I watched the video, and my stomach churned violently. Before I could react, I had already vomited all over the floor.
