2#02

2

The elderly woman complied and consumed the drink, quickly falling into slumber.

In the meantime, Josh eagerly put on the Father Christmas outfit, secured the vehicle, and hurried off to meet his assistant, Tatiana.

He was responsible for his grandmother's demise but still criticized her for departing without informing anyone.

I reprimanded him, "Be quiet, Josh! How can you speak of grandma like that? She was elderly, why did you leave her unattended in the vehicle?"

Josh's face briefly showed annoyance, but he controlled his emotions and said, "I apologize, I made a mistake! Darling, please don't be upset, it's entirely my fault! Tomorrow, I'll kneel before grandma's grave and ask for forgiveness, alright?"

Before I could reply, his mobile phone rang. He answered it and swiftly left the bedroom, as if trying to escape. His mouth formed a smile, his expression full of fondness.

After ending the call, he rushed to take a shower. His phone, left on the side table, continued to vibrate persistently.

Since we began our relationship, Josh had always used my birthdate as his password, claiming it was to provide me with a sense of security, allowing me to check his phone whenever I wished.

Throughout the years, I had completely trusted him and never looked at his phone without permission.

I entered my birthdate, unlocking the device. The most recent conversation was with someone labeled "My Tatiana."

[Sir, your little temptress is lovesick and requires your warm embrace as a remedy. Please come soon ...] The accompanying image showed a scantily clad woman with a fluffy tail, exuding allure.

[I'm on my way! You insatiable temptress, I'll ensure you can't leave the bed tomorrow morning!]

I scrolled through the messages for an extended period before finally seeing my own name, hidden among numerous other conversations. My messages had been silenced, explaining why my texts about grandma's incident went unanswered.

I powered off the phone and returned it to the table. A wave of anguish washed over me, a combination of sorrow from losing my closest relative and heartbreak from his infidelity.

Josh emerged from the shower, instinctively picked up his phone, glanced at the screen and asked with slight unease, "Natalie, what brings you here?"

Composedly, I lifted a glass from the table, "I was thirsty and came for some water."

He laughed, seemingly relieved, and carried me to the couch, gently scolding me for not taking care of myself and walking on the cold floor barefoot.

He handed me a cup of warm water, then quickly dressed in a suit I had prepared earlier, "Natalie, the office just called, I need to work late tonight. Don't stay up for me! I'll bring you breakfast in the morning."

As he was about to leave, I stopped him and handed him a document.

"What's this?" he inquired.

I replied, "Grandma's house lease is ending and the apartment we rented in your name needs your signature to terminate."

He glanced at the first page of the document and was about to turn the page when his phone rang again. In his haste, he signed his name without reading further.

Had he examined it more closely, he would have noticed that the document underneath was a divorce agreement.

He turned to depart and I swiftly grabbed a jacket and followed him, "If you're working late, I'll keep you company."

He hesitated, trying to find an excuse to leave me behind, but when I insisted, he reluctantly made a quick call to warn the other party.

When we arrived at the top-floor office, it was deserted.

He set up a makeshift bed on the sofa for me. "I know my wife misses me. Rest here and keep your husband company while I work."

Sitting at his computer, he appeared completely engrossed in work, as if his earlier flirtations with Tatiana had never occurred.

Unexpectedly, I dozed off. In the middle of the night, I awoke feeling cold. The room was dark and Josh was nowhere to be seen.