Chapter 4

"Mason."

"When I get back, I promise I'll be a good mom."

I closed my eyes and didn't move.

Fiona fell asleep quickly.

Her breathing steady, the corners of her lips slightly tilted up.

As if she were already seeing the person she wanted to see in her dreams.

I sat up and picked up my phone.

The lawyer sent the final version of the agreement.

After reading it, I replied directly.

"Deliver it tomorrow morning."

"I want her to sign it before she boards the plane."

The next morning, when the lawyer delivered the documents, Fiona only gave them a quick glance.

"Buying a house? And I need to sign for that?"

I didn't answer.

She seemed to have already assumed the answer.

"Mason, I'm really in a hurry."

"Whatever house or car you want to buy, just buy it."

"You don't need to specially bring these little things to me to sign in the future."

Fiona looked down and signed her name on the last page.

After signing, she shoved the pen into my hand.

"Happy now?"

The lawyer stood to the side, his expression a bit subtle.

I gently closed the document.

"Yeah, we're good."

Fiona seemed relieved and pulled her suitcase toward the door.

Just before leaving, she turned around and kissed the side of my face.

Like giving a little reward to an obedient pet.

"I'll bring you back a gift."

"Be a good boy at home."

At 3 PM, Fiona's flight landed.

She called me.

I watched her name flashing on the screen, stayed silent for a few seconds, but answered anyway.

"Mason, I'm here."

"The flight was smooth, and the baby was well-behaved, didn't bother me at all."

Suddenly, Oren's low laugh came through the phone.

"I don't know if the baby is well-behaved."

"But you're much more obedient than before."

Fiona seemed to lightly swat him.

"Oren, stop it."

"I'm letting Mason know I'm safe."

She told him to stop, but her voice was ridiculously soft.

That shy tone was something I had never heard before.

Oren leaned in closer, his voice almost coming through the receiver right against it.

"Letting him know you're safe?"

"Do you want to tell him we're in the same bed right now?"

Fiona let out a sweet laugh.

Like a teenage girl finally meeting the boy of her dreams.

"Don't be like this, he'll hear you."

Oren's voice got even lower.

"Isn't it more thrilling if he hears?"

My hand gripping the phone slowly tightened.

My knuckles turning white bit by bit.

The next second, the sound of fabric rustling came from the other end.

Along with Fiona's suppressed, heavy breathing.

She seemed to hurriedly cover the receiver.

But some sounds only become clearer the more you try to hide them.

"Oren... not here."

The call was hastily hung up.

I sat on the couch, not moving for a long time.

Actually, I had known all along she was going to see Oren.

But to actually hear with my own ears how softly she laughed while beside another man.

My chest still felt like it was being slowly squeezed by a hand, aching to the point of numbness.

I had been married to Fiona for five years.

To me, she was always decent, always thoughtful, always restrained.

I used to think that was just the kind of person she was.

But it turns out, no.

She just saved all her loss of control, shyness, and passion for Oren.

And what she gave me was the position of a husband.

A home she could return to at any time after her ten-month fling.

My phone suddenly vibrated.

An unknown number sent a photo.

Under the warm yellow light of the hotel room, Fiona's cheeks were flushed, and the corners of her eyes were moist.