Chapter 10: Punishment for Adultery
In the past few years, as a stay-at-home wife, I continued studying and designing jewelry privately. It wasn’t to pass the time; I genuinely loved it. In my past life, I gave up my career because Jeremiah preferred a family-oriented wife. Now that I think about it, it was laughable and pathetic. Thankfully, I’d been given a chance to start over. It wasn’t too late. While lost in thought, I drifted off to sleep.
The sky was bright when I woke. I checked my phone and saw I’d slept until noon. My stomach growled, reminding me it was lunchtime. I washed up quickly and headed to a restaurant; cooking felt like too much of a hassle.
Just as I stepped out, I bumped into Eric, casually dressed in a black hoodie. He greeted me with a raised hand. “Heading out?” he asked.
I yawned lazily. “Yeah, grabbing some food. Don’t you have work today?”
“It’s the weekend. Even the CEO needs a break,” he replied, raising an eyebrow. “Actually, perfect timing. I’m heading out for lunch, and since you mentioned treating me yesterday, how about today?”
“Sure. Let’s do it,” I agreed. I was planning to treat him anyway; he’d been a great help yesterday. Since I was treating Eric, it couldn’t be just any restaurant. I made a reservation at a well-known establishment in the city’s heart.
Once we arrived and ordered, I noticed all his dishes were my favorites. I was briefly stunned, dismissing it as a coincidence. Eric cracked a crab, picked out the meat, and placed it on my plate. “Try this. It’s fresh.” I was about to thank him when a shrill voice interrupted.
“What are you doing here, Jane? And you’re eating with Mr. Flint? When did you two get so close?”
It was Elsa’s pretentious voice. I rolled my eyes, swallowed my food, and looked up. Jeremiah stood beside her, his expression dark and gloomy, hands clenched at his sides, veins bulging. He immediately launched into accusations.
“No wonder you’ve been demanding a divorce. You’ve found my replacement! You know Eric and I don’t get along, so you must be hooking up with him on purpose. Are you trying to disgust me—or yourself? Tell me the truth. When did you two start seeing each other?”
I eyed his hand resting on Elsa’s shoulder and laughed. “Having a meal together means hooking up? If that’s the case, you two are probably committing adultery by hugging and holding each other.”
Jeremiah quickly withdrew his hand. “Elsa wasn’t feeling well, and I was just helping her,” he snapped.
Did he think I’d fall for that clumsy excuse? I scoffed. Eric, who had been eating quietly, spoke up.
“If your wife wants a divorce, you should reflect on yourself instead of rushing to accuse her. With that brain of yours running Cornell Group, it’s no wonder the company’s been in decline. Dining with another woman is perfectly fine for you, but now that Jane’s having lunch with me, suddenly it means she’s cheating. I don’t think I’ve seen anyone as hypocritical as you are.”