Sidney didn't give the chef any specific order, just saying, "Anything will do," before leaving the kitchen. She fiddled with the flowers on the dining table and noticed that the roses she had arranged two days ago were already starting to wilt. She was just thinking how quickly they had faded when the house phone rang. The butler answered and said it was Mrs. Sampson calling. Sidney initially thought she was looking for Jayson, but to her surprise, the butler handed the phone to her.
"Hello, is this Mrs. Calderon?"
"...Yes."
"This is Ms. Sampson! I wanted to ask if you're free this afternoon. How about going for some afternoon tea? There's a new famous place from New York!"
"..."
"We agreed last time to meet when you're free! Are you available?"
"Sorry, I've been a bit busy lately," Sidney replied, not wanting to go out and looking for an excuse to decline. She was very resistant to going out these days. Every time she stepped outside, she felt an inexplicable sense of pressure that made her anxious.
"Oh, I felt an immediate connection when we first met! Come out for tea! I'm going to Europe with my husband next week, let's get together before then!"
Sidney couldn't resist her persistent invitation, and after some hesitation, she finally agreed.
Jayson, who had been watching her agree, remained calm and pretended to know nothing. They had breakfast together, then went about their own tasks.
In the morning, Sidney finished the book she hadn't completed yesterday. After casually slipping into some clothes, she noticed they were a little loose, a sign she'd lost some weight. Glancing into the long-forgotten mirror, her pale, thinner reflection caught her off guard. She quickly dabbed on a little blush, trying to add some color to her face before heading out.
The bodyguards were already waiting at the door, and there were twice as many as usual, with a minivan waiting. Sidney didn't think much of it. She got into the car, told them the destination, and when they arrived, the large group immediately turned heads. Quickly, she pulled her scarf up to cover her face and hurried into the café.
The bodyguard was watching them from a short distance.
Sidney forced a smile and greeted Mrs. Sampson.
"Hello, Mrs. Sampson."
"Don't be so formal. Just call me Elise."
"Your name really suits you!" Sidney said politely.
Elise was the kind of person who could talk about anything, and before her seat had even warmed, she was already chatting about everything under the sun.
Sidney listened the whole time, occasionally forcing a smile in response.
"See, that's what I mean! Once you have a kid, your time's not your own anymore. Like today, I just wanted to get out for a bit, but I had to ask my mother-in-law to watch the baby. Ugh! Makes me wish I'd enjoyed those carefree days when it was just the two of us."
By this point, Sidney already knew the reason Elise had invited her out. It was nothing more than an attempt to brainwash her, telling her not to worry too much about losing the child.
And who else could have made her do this?
Sidney didn't say anything or nod. She just stared blankly at the coffee cup on the table.
"Your husband really cares for you. He used to be a very disciplined person, hated people leaving work on time, always connected with the office during work hours. But since marrying you, he's not only been more lenient with his employees, he also cut down on his work hours to be with you. Considering everything that's been happening, he's really worried about you and has been searching for doctors for you everywhere."
At this, Sidney looked down at her left hand under the table, the empty space where her ring used to be.
"Girl, if you can marry a man who loves and treats you like a queen, you've got it made! Everything else is just fluff!"
"Elise."
"Mm?"
"I think I've understood the purpose of Jayson sending you today. I'm really not interested in shopping, so why don't we just call it a day here? I'll cover the coffee. Sorry, but I'm leaving now." Sidney stood up without hesitation and walked out of the café.
The City wasn't exactly bustling, but it wasn't quiet either. As soon as Sanaa stepped out, she bumped into Sanaa, who had already spotted her from a distance, clearly noticing the entourage.
Sanaa looked quite disheveled, wearing out-of-season designer clothes and messy, unstyled curls. She glared at Sidney with hatred, but, due to the large number of bodyguards, she didn't approach. Instead, she mouthed a few words to her.
She understood the two words Sidney mouthed, then turned and walked away.
When Sidney returned home, she immediately locked herself in her room. No matter how much the butler called from outside, she refused to come out. As she could still hear Sidney walking and moving things around, the butler didn't think anything was wrong and went downstairs to mind his own business.
Meeting Elise and Sanaa today had disrupted Sidney's previously calm mind. What she had thought was a calm, steady day quickly turned into one filled with frustration, anxiety, and unease.
Sidney paced anxiously back and forth. When she couldn't take it anymore, she opened her wardrobe, took all the clothes out, folded them again, and put them back, doing this over and over for dozens of times.
She caught Sanaa's smug expression as she said, "This is your karma." Yes, she was getting what she deserved.
She kept repeating the same action until her headache felt like it was about to explode. After swallowing a painkiller to ease the pain, she finally picked up the phone and dialed Jayson.
"Hello?" Jayson was overjoyed to receive a call from Sidney. He thought Mrs. Sampson's meeting with Sidney today had been very effective.
"Did you send Mrs. Sampson to find me?" Sidney asked sternly.
"What's wrong?"
"I warn you, don't meddle in my affairs!" she said impatiently.
"I'm your husband! I have every right to care about you!"
"I don't want you to care! I don't want your sympathy! The more you try to please me, the more disgusting I find you!" Sidney said, her words cutting, just trying to hurt him as much as possible, to make him suffer with her.
"The damage is done, and we can't undo it. Can't we face it together?"
"Shut up! Stay out of my life!" Sidney angrily hung up the phone and collapsed into tears. She didn't understand how, when she was suffering so much, he could go on with his life, eating and sleeping as if nothing was wrong, while she was the only one in pain.
Jayson didn't come back that night.
He didn't come back the next day either.
Sidney knew he was angry. It was her fault, she had upset him.
By midnight on the third day, she hadn't slept for two days. What occupied her mind now was: where could he be at this late hour? Was he at the club, drunk and passed out in some warm embrace?
She was suffering like this, yet he could be enjoying himself? Out there, living it up?
So, she called to probe.
The phone rang several times before being answered, but it wasn't him on the other end.
"Hello?"
It was Kayley.
"Tell my husband to come listen to the phone." She said, her tone blunt.
"He's in a bad mood and drunk."
"Then have the bodyguards take him home."
"He doesn't want to come home and face your sour face, don't you know?"
"That's between me and him, you have no right to interfere. Tell them to bring him home." She had never spoken in such a commanding tone before, but now, she felt no patience for anyone.
"Ha! I told you before you two weren't right for each other, that you didn't match at all. Do you get it now? You feel how painful this marriage is, don't you?"
"None of your business!" Sidney couldn't help but curse before hanging up the phone.
She tugged at her hair, her thoughts racing. Could they have had an affair? Is that why Kayley was so confident?
She considered every possibility but kept imagining the worst. Finally, dawn came, and judging by the time, Jayson should be waking up from his hangover.
She dialed again.
"Hello?" This time, it was Jayson's hoarse, groggy voice.
"Jayson." This time, the two words felt incredibly heavy to Sidney.
"What is it?"
"Let's get a divorce." This was the conclusion she had come to after a night of thinking.
When Jayson heard those words, he sobered up instantly. He couldn't speak, and Sidney on the other end was still waiting for him to respond.
"Say it again."
"Let's get a divorce."
"Say it again, if you dare!" He was furious.
"Divorce!" Sidney didn't back down.
"What's wrong with you?"
"Where are you lying right now? Whose bed are you in?"
"I'm lying on the office sofa at the club! What exactly are you thinking?" He felt like he was understanding Sidney less and less. She was becoming more extreme and pushing him away.
"What about Kayley? Didn't she take the chance to offer herself?"
"Do you even know what you're saying? I've told you, I only have a superior-subordinate relationship with her!"
"She doesn't think that way! You don't come home and sleep outside all the time, how am I supposed to know if you've done something to betray me?" She realized how sharp and bitter her tone was, and deep inside, a voice was screaming at her to stop, but she couldn't control herself.
"Didn't you used to trust me? And you know my principles, don't you? I've never done anything to hurt you! How many times do I have to say it?" Jayson asked, his anger boiling over.
"You don't need to explain anymore. I don't care if you've betrayed me or not, I just want a divorce! Divorce, and I'll be free!" The moment those words left her mouth, she knew they were heading toward irreparable destruction.
"Whatever!"
