Chapter 4

Mira walked into the house without a word.

I'd just finished changing my shoes when I saw her sitting on the sofa, arms crossed, her face a mile long.

I pretended not to notice and started unpacking my luggage.

After a while,

She finally spoke.

"What exactly is your relationship with that Chloe Vance?"

She stared at me intently, desperate for my answer.

"I told you, she's a buddy!"

"A buddy? You're calling a woman your 'buddy'? That woman was clearly all over you! Were you seeing her the whole time you were home? Were you two together all those days?"

Her questions came like a machine gun, and the more she talked, the angrier she got.

She stood up and threw a cushion at me.

I dodged it, ignoring her rage.

I said calmly, "She's a good person. As a friend, what does it matter if she's a man or a woman?"

"Of course it matters! You're married! How can you be calling another woman your 'buddy'?"

I retorted, "Oh, really? Aren't you married, and you're still calling all those men from your old neighborhood 'buddies'?"

Mira was so shocked she couldn't speak.

I'd never seen so many expressions cross her face at once.

Shock, shame, and regret.

Finally, after a long pause, she squeezed out a sentence through gritted teeth.

"They're different! I grew up with them, I know everything about them..."

I cut her off directly, mimicking her usual words.

"Chloe and I are childhood friends too! What's so different about that? Can't you trust me?"

Mira was completely stumped.

For days, she gave me the silent treatment around the house.

I simply pretended not to notice.

That weekend,

We went to Mrs. Harrington's parents' house for dinner, as usual.

At the dinner table, Mrs. Harrington noticed the tension in the air between Mira and me.

"Mira, Cole moved away from his hometown for you; you can't keep acting like a spoiled princess."

Then she looked at me kindly. "Cole, Mira's been spoiled since she was little, she can be a bit delicate. Don't take it too seriously. Married couples have their ups and downs, but they always work it out. You have to be more understanding."

Mira, as if begging for peace, clasped my hand.

"Husband..."

She was about to speak when someone interrupted her.

"Mira, why didn't you tell me you were coming for dinner?"

Tristan Hayes had arrived.

Tristan immediately hooked his arm around Mira's neck.

Mira awkwardly pushed his hand away, glancing at me with a hint of embarrassment.

Tristan noticed me standing there and let out a dismissive "tsk." He said casually, "Oh, Cole's here too!"

As he spoke, a whole group of people came in behind Tristan.

These were all Mira's "guy friends."

"Mira, you're here! Why didn't you invite us to hang out?"

"It's rare for everyone from our old neighborhood to be together like this."

Mira's face indeed lit up with anticipation.

Mira looked at me, pleadingly, hoping I would agree.

The other guys also looked at me,

As if they were practically glaring daggers at me if I didn't agree.

Even though Mira and I had been married for three years,

I still wasn't close to any of them. They were always somewhat distant toward me.

And, of course, I couldn't integrate into their circle.

They couldn't relax when I was around.

"Husband, how about you come hang out with us?"

Mira affectionately linked her arm through mine, asking sweetly.

For a moment, the entire room fell silent.

Everyone was looking at me.

Some of the guys exchanged glances.

Everyone was waiting for my answer.

They didn't want me there, but they desperately wanted Mira.

Since that was the case, I'd give them what they wanted.

I wiped my mouth and replied coolly, "Okay."

They stopped talking.

The atmosphere was incredibly strange.

A few minutes later,

Mira cautiously spoke, "Then I'll... be back early."

Then she added,

"You don't have to come pick me up later; they'll take me home. I'll definitely be home early this time."

She gave me a reassuring promise.

But I just smiled, quietly eating my dinner.

Mira stood up and left with them.

Before they even walked out the door, I heard someone say,

"Did Cole change his mind? He's actually letting Mira go out with us?"