Chapter 2

Tessa shot him a coquettish look: "Don't say that. I'm just trying it on..."

Lucas Hunt laughed and handed her the coffee: "Less sugar, more milk, hot."

Then he glanced at me: "Yours is on the table."

This order of priority seemed to have always existed.

It was just particularly glaring today...

Tessa suddenly called out to him, "Oh no, the zipper on the back of this dress isn't done up properly. Help me out."

I turned to look.

It had clearly been zipped up before, but now it had slipped down, exposing her fair skin.

Just as I was about to help her, Lucas Hunt had already stepped forward.

He pinched the zipper and pulled it up. The practiced motion stung my eyes.

He turned to look at me: "Where's Martha?"

I snapped back to reality, forcing my tears back:

"She had to go back to her hometown. I let her leave two days early."

Lucas Hunt reached out and pinched my cheek, "Martha's so lucky to have met such a kind mistress like you."

After speaking, he lowered his head to kiss me.

A loud crash came from behind us.

Tessa had knocked over the coffee cup and burned her hand, letting out a shriek.

Lucas Hunt immediately let go of me and strode over: "How can you be so careless? Did you get burned? I'll get the medicine."

He rummaged through the medicine box muttering complaints, then crouched in front of Tessa to apply ointment.

He kept saying, "So clumsy. How old are you anyway?"

I picked up the coffee on the table and took a sip.

Bitter.

So bitter.

I put down the coffee and walked into the bedroom to start packing.

Lucas Hunt appeared at the door: "What are you doing?"

"Packing. Going home."

He frowned, "They want you back?"

I didn't look up: "Yeah."

"Claire," he walked in, "I've told you so many times. Parents who don't bless us aren't worth keeping. Why do you have to go back and suffer?"

My hands paused while folding clothes.

He really had said it many times.

From the first time my parents objected, he'd told me to cut ties with my family, saying parents like that weren't worth it.

But I didn't listen. I kept trying to make my parents acknowledge that I'd married well.

I'd been looking forward to next week's wedding for three years.

They say a wedding is a ceremony every girl wants.

But for me, it was more about showing my parents that Lucas Hunt was worth it!

I wanted to tell them he still remembered the promise he made me when he was at his lowest.

That he was willing to give me a grand wedding to announce it to the world...

But in the end, it was all just my self-deception.

If he really loved me, how could he bear to make me cut ties with my parents?

"We're not having the reception either," I zipped up my suitcase, "and you won't be there anyway. What am I staying here for?"

He was speechless.

"I just said we'd postpone it, not cancel it," his tone softened, "something urgent came up at the company. I had no choice. About your parents—once I'm done with this, I'll go talk to them myself."

Tessa also came over carrying the bridesmaid dress:

"Claire, don't blame Lucas. You just stay home drinking coffee and watering plants every day. How would you know how busy he's been at the company lately?"

"As his secretary, I know exactly what he's doing. He's been working around the clock for weeks!"

I paused: "Secretary? Aren't you in the operations division?"

Something suddenly flashed through my mind—employee gossip I'd overheard when I went to find Lucas Hunt at the company a few days ago:

"Mr. Hunt's secretary follows him around all day. They close the office door for an hour or two, and when they come out, her hair is all messy."

I'd laughed it off at the time.

I thought Lucas Hunt's secretary was still old Robert. He was used to him and wouldn't replace him easily.

Turns out... this secretary wasn't that secretary!

Tessa froze for a moment, quickly glancing at Lucas Hunt, then explained with a smile:

"The operations division hasn't been busy lately, so I volunteered to help Lucas share the load. He was too tired. I couldn't just watch."

"Claire, I'm doing this because I feel bad for your husband. If you can't help him, I will!"