The doctor was bandaging my wounds when I finally received the call from my childhood friend, Sharon Salazar. "I visited the shop where Cindy bought the custard pie and it really is quite interesting."
My spirits lifted immediately, so I responded, "The court hearing is in seven days. Thanks for all the hard work. I'll triple your fee."
"Hmph, is this detective short on money? After I help you with this, all I need is for you to fulfill one wish of mine," Sharon said with a smile.
"Okay." I agreed right away, since I fully trust Sharon's professional skills as a well-known private detective.
With seven days ahead, that would be enough time for me to firmly establish myself on the show.
News of my decision to divorce Cindy soon spread among our family and friends and they all began to condemn me.
[You scumbag! My cousin didn't even look down on you for being a country bumpkin, but you're the one acting like a jerk now. Seriously, you're sick!]
[You're divorcing over a box of custard pie? Have you lost your mind? Or did someone slam your head into a door? How can you betray the Swansons' kindness all these years?]
[Don't let me catch you, or I'll punch you in the face!]
[Scum! Bastard! Shameless! Just die already!]
Each word was more ruthless than the last and I just let them bombard me with those insults.
Ignoring it all, I spent the night in the cramped back room of my restaurant, then got up the next morning to work as usual.
The looks my employees gave me when they entered the restaurant were clearly laced with a hint of disdain. I simply acted as if I hadn't noticed a thing.
But not long after, Cindy arrived with Joshua.
"Honey, how's the wound on your head? Does it still hurt? Joshua and I came to apologize. We even made your favorite beef soup."
She handed me a thermos with concern, then coquettishly added, "Honey, please don't be angry anymore, okay?"
Smack! I raised my hand and smacked the thermos away.
The soup was now splashed everywhere.
Seeing this, Cindy's face was filled with shock and she immediately burst into tears of grief.
Behind her, Joshua glared angrily and tried to argue with me, but she stopped him.
Several employees began to murmur. "I really don't know what the boss is thinking. Just because the boss's wife bought egg yolk custard tarts, he's being so aggressive, threatening to divorce her."
"Yeah, the boss's wife keeps compromising and trying to please him, but it's useless. Maybe the boss already has someone else and she's making a scene on purpose."
"By the way, Joshua is a really good brother. Yesterday, he stood up for the boss's wife and even got into a fight with the boss."
Hearing this, the customers' gazes toward me gradually turned to disgust.
They said they might know me, but not with my heart. They even said that I disguised myself too well, but I was actually a real jerk.
I remained cold and kept urging Cindy to leave.
But Joshua suddenly dropped to his knees before me with a thud. "Noah. Please, don't blame Cindy. I got into a fight with you yesterday because I was impulsive. If you want to punish me today, just take it out on me!"
Everyone who witnessed Joshua's action gave him a thumbs-up. They thought he was kind-hearted and highly responsible. At the same time, they saw me as lacking integrity and being far too petty.
Cindy clenched her fists. She hoped I would let it end here and not cause any more trouble.
Yet, with a look of utter disgust on my face, I turned away, fetched a basin of water and directly threw it all over Joshua.
Everyone was stunned.
Cindy's beautiful eyes widened in an instant and she flared up in anger. "Noah! Have you lost your mind? Joshua is kneeling before you and this is how you treat him?"
"He deserves it." I smiled coldly, without a trace of regret on my face.
This made Cindy tremble with rage; she staggered back several steps, nearly collapsing to the ground.
