Right now, Sidney felt as though she were a guest in someone else's home, free to do whatever she pleased in someone else's space. But as soon as the owner appeared, she felt completely awkward and strangely guilty.
"Why are you here?" Jayson asked impatiently.
"If I'm not here… where should I be?" Sidney thought his question was strange.
"What are you doing in my study?" Jayson, thinking Sidney was pretending to be clueless, asked in another way.
"I'm reading!" Sidney replied. "You won't let me go out, so where else should I read?" She didn't dare speak too arrogantly, but her tone still carried some subtle resentment from her previous dissatisfaction with Jayson.
Jayson sighed, pressed his lips together in frustration, and then spoke, "You can read any of the books here, but this study is where I conduct my business. You can't stay in here."
"What do you mean?"
"You can take the book out to read, but don't touch anything on my desk."
"Oh, I've never touched your desk, and I haven't even used the computer. I only sat on your sofa," Sidney explained.
"Anyway, take it outside to read from now on." Jayson's tone was firm, leaving no room for argument. Sidney pouted, nodded, and picked up the book from the sofa before walking out.
Sidney returned to her room, listening intently, straining her ears to catch any sound from the study next door. She only heard Jayson staying in the study, turning on the computer and then remaining inside, doing God knows what, until nearly evening before stepping out.
Sidney sat on the edge of the bed, her fingers idly tracing the sheets, feeling a wave of boredom wash over her. She watched Jayson walk into the room without sparing her a glance, go straight to the wardrobe, grab some clothes, and head to the bathroom to take a shower. After the showerhead was turned on, Jayson suddenly opened the bathroom door and quickly walked out, his shirt completely unbuttoned, revealing his well-toned upper body.
Sidney dared not look directly at him; her face was turned toward him, but her eyes were fixed elsewhere.
"Come here for a moment."
Sidney was startled! Was he… was he suggesting they take a bath together?
She hesitated but followed Jayson into the bathroom, only to see him pointing at two rows of shower products next to the showerhead. "Did you use my body wash?"
"Yes." Sidney found it strange. Why was Jayson asking this? She had only accidentally used his body wash once. How could he even notice? How meticulous was this guy?
"I can't stand anyone using my body wash. Please use your own from now on."
"Oh, I just accidentally used the wrong one once," Sidney explained. However, Jayson didn't seem to care at all. He let out a sigh as if he were enduring something.
"Get out."
Sidney left the bathroom, exited the room, and sat down in the living room on the first floor. She didn't know where she should stay, as it seemed like no matter where she went, he would disapprove.
After finishing his shower, Jayson changed into a suit and came out. As he went down the stairs, he adjusted his cufflinks, completely ignoring Sidney. He walked past her, gave a brief nod to the butler, and then left the house, his footsteps echoing down the hallway.
Watching his figure disappear behind the door, Sidney finally breathed a sigh of relief. After thinking for a while, feeling stifled in her chest, she went back to her room and called Alondra to vent.
"Hello?"
"It's me, Alondra."
"What's up?"
"I'm annoyed."
"Why are you annoyed?"
"I feel like a criminal."
"That's what it's like being a little wife! Who told you to get married?" Alondra teased her.
"If I moved in with you, would you mind if I used your body wash?"
"You want to move in with me?" Alondra was surprised, thinking Sidney was planning to run away.
"I'm saying if! Hypothetically! Just an example!"
"Huh? I wouldn't mind!" Alondra laughed awkwardly, unsure of what Sidney was getting at.
"Oh! Then what kind of person would mind?" Sidney thought back to the look on Jayson's face earlier, as though he were being harassed by a pesky insect.
"What? Does Jayson mind?" Alondra had already guessed.
"Yeah, I only used the wrong one once, and he got angry like I'd committed some unforgivable crime. How did he even notice that one time?"
"...I heard our boss loves to nitpick. That's probably how he found out," Alondra remembered hearing others talk about how Jayson was picky and mean-spirited.
"... Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"I didn't think of it! Who would deliberately bring it up..." Alondra, noticing that Sidney didn't respond, thought for a moment and then asked, "Are things going well between you two?"
Sidney hesitated for a moment before answering, "Actually... we haven't seen each other since the wedding day, he only came back today."
"... I see... no wonder I've seen him around after work recently..."
"It's actually easier when he's not around! I don't mind, someone as weird as him, it's better if he's not here."
"Well... if you think so, then that's fine... I have no opinion. But... do you have some plan in mind?" As expected of a long-time friend, Alondra had already roughly guessed what Sidney was thinking.
"Yeah, I'm just waiting for the deadline to pass. He finds me tasteless, easily discarded, and mentioned divorce. Then I'll leave B City."
"Huh? You've been planning this all along?"
"Don't tell anyone!"
"Although I don't know what's really going on between you two, this is basically playing him. Aren't you afraid of how he'll react if he finds out?"
"I've thought about it! So this has to be handled carefully, we can't let him find out..."
"Are you treating Jayson like an idiot...?" Alondra thought this plan was too bold. If Jayson found out he had been played, his reaction would be huge. "You need to think this through carefully! Leave on good terms! Don't offend him—it's not worth it."
"Yeah, I know, I'll handle it. Sigh... it looks like it will be hard to meet up in the future. We'll have to chat like this on the phone."
"Yeah, your situation was just too intimidating, I don't dare invite you anymore."
"... He probably doesn't want us to meet, that's why he's doing this." Sidney deeply believed this.
"... Have you seen the gift I gave you?" Alondra suddenly changed the subject.
"Uh... it was stuffed in my bag that day, and I was so upset that I forgot to look at it."
"Oh, it's fine! Honestly, I picked out that gift to wish you both a long, happy marriage, but I guess you probably don't need it now. But... I still think— even if you're not really into men right now— every girl deserves to feel good in something beautiful, you know? If you like it, why not give it a try?" Alondra said, her tone a little playful.
Her words piqued Sidney's curiosity about what the gift could be.
"Thanks, I'm sure the gift you chose is wonderful. Wait a minute, I'll take a look." Sidney tucked the phone between her ear and shoulder, opened the closet, and reached for her canvas bag. She quickly pulled out the paper bag. As soon as Sidney opened the package and saw what was inside, her entire body flushed with heat.
"So, how is it?"
"Alondra!" Sidney called her name, both angry and a little coquettish.
"Hey! Only I dare to give you this in the whole world, you probably wouldn't even dare to buy it yourself! Hurry up and thank me for my great kindness!"
