Juliette bit her lip, her eyes welling up.
Fine! I’m just a nobody. How could I ever compare to Ms. Atherton? She’s clearly Mr. Dunbar’s beloved, unlike me… I’m sorry, I overstepped.” With that, she turned and walked off, looking utterly dejected.
Armando wavered. His instinct was to chase after her.
But when he glanced at Jovana, he hesitated. I le stayed, though his brow remained furrowed as he watched Juliette’s retreating figure.
Jovana caught his hesitation and let out a soft laugh. She stepped away from him and pointed to a dress in a glass display.
‘I’ll take that one. The most expensive piece you have.”
Armando snapped back to attention, pulling out his card and handing it to the clerk.“Charge it. And everything else my wife liked.” The clerk’s eyes lit up.
“Mr. Dunbar, you’re so good to Ms. Atherton!”
Armando grinned.“She’s my wife. Who else would I spoil?”
Jovana gave a tight, sarcastic smile but said nothing.
644
After leaving the boutique, Jovana had long lost interest in the whole outing.
She pursed her lips. Seeing her demeanor, Armando told her to sit on a bench and went to buy her a drink.
He’d always been like this–one glance, and he knew exactly what she needed.
But now, Jovana realized he probably played the same game with Juliette.
Armando handed her the drink.“Try it. Same as always, right?”
Her eyes dimmed as she took a small sip.
The flavor hadn’t changed, but the man handing it to her had.
Her phone buzzed in her bag.
It was a text from an unknown number.
It read, “Ms. Atherton, how’d it feel seeing me with Armando last night? Hurts, doesn’t it?”
“I’ll let you in on a secret: every night he’s not with you, he’s with me. He can’t get enough. Uses a whole box of condoms every time.”
Jovana’s expression didn’t waver. Her eyes were like frozen glass.
That number sent another message. “Wanna bet? I guarantee he’ll ditch you to
Jovana didn’t believe it.
come to me in five minutes.”
Armando might be cheating, but he knew his priorities. She believed he wouldn’t drop everything for a few flirty texts.
But the next moment, reality hit her like a punch.
She watched Armando type on his phone, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Then he pocketed it and said, all businesslike, “Vana, something came up with a company project. I’ll have the driver take you home, okay?”
Jovana glanced at the phone, catching a glimpse of flirty messages, and let out a soft laugh.
She thought, “So, sneaking off to sleep with Juliette is his ‘something came up‘?”
“Sure, go
ahead.”
She swallowed the bitter taste in her throat and didn’t try to stop him.
Armando was surprised by her calm. Usually, she’d pout and beg him to stay. Her quiet acceptance left him oddly unsettled.
His phone kept buzzing, snapping him back.
He assumed Jovana had just matured, maybe even become more understanding.
007 46
38
So he left.
The moment he walked away, Jovana tossed the drink he’d bought into the trash, her eyes cold as stone.
Not long after, Juliette sent a photo of them lying on a bed.
Her caption read, “The unloved one’s the mistress, Ms. Atherton. Look. Armando can’t stay away from me.” Jovana typed back, “Perfect. You two shameless types deserve each other. You should be together forever.”
Juliette didn’t reply, probably fuming.
Back home, Jovana packed more of her things.
She pulled out her design textbooks and sketches from the cabinet, carefully placing them in a box.
These were her treasures. If Jovana hadn’t married Armando, she might’ve soared in her career by now.
Bitterness welled up inside her.
But Jovana believed it wasn’t too late to start over.
She packed a little each day. Anyone observant enough would’ve noticed.
But Armando never paid attention.
When she finished, she stood before the calendar and marked an X on the 25th.
She thought, “Armando, 28 days left.”
A noise at the door startled her. Armando was back.
He pushed open the bedroom door and saw Jovana by the calendar. For some reason, the red X stood out like a warning.
“Vana, what’s with the mark?”
He stepped closer, his voice tight with unease.
Chapter 5.
