Chapter 3

As soon as I opened my Instagram, I noticed a post from Emily.

[Thank goodness I have you to comfort me.]

The accompanying photo showed her in her kitchen, where Theodore was preparing porridge.

Seeing the flood of envious comments below, I silently wiped away the tears that gathered at the corners of my eyes.

Once, when I was bedridden with a high fever, I begged him for just a cup of hot water, but he refused.

Now, he was happily cooking for Emily.

I suddenly realized I couldn't wait any longer. I looked at the e-ride app on my phone, which showed the car I had been trying to hail for ages still hadn’t arrived.

Determined, I braved the pouring rain and walked toward the bus stop. Although it was only a few dozen meters away, each step felt like miles.

Large raindrops hammered down on me, and with every step, a sharp pain surged through my abdomen.

I pressed a hand against my belly, my face pale, a bandage still wrapped around my head.

Many people on the bus noticed my condition and quickly offered me their seats, asking if I needed a doctor.

I shook my head and declined their offers.

By the time I returned home, it was already past eight in the evening. As I stepped through the door, I found Theodore sitting in the living room.

He was livid.

"Why didn’t you let me know you were coming back? Do you have any idea how long I searched for you at the hospital?"

I grabbed a towel and wiped my face.

"I called you. You didn’t answer," I said calmly.

"And half an hour ago, Emily posted that it's so nice to have you by her side."

A flicker of embarrassment crossed Theodore’s face.

He had not expected me to call him out. He was momentarily at a loss for words.

"What are you on about? Emi is on her period. What’s wrong with me keeping her company? Why are you being so petty about it?"

I let out a derisive laugh.

In the past, I might have had a huge argument with him but this time, I simply grabbed a fresh set of clothes and headed into the bathroom.

"I won’t do it again," I muttered to myself.

As the hot water cascaded over me, it washed away the chill that had settled in my bones.

Looking down, I noticed blood trickling down my legs…

The night before, I hadn’t slept well, as the pain in my abdomen kept pulling me in and out of sleep. When I finally woke up the next morning, I felt dazed.

Stepping out of my room, I caught sight of Theodore returning home.

Perhaps realizing that he had overstepped in recent days, he was unexpectedly gentle.

"You’re awake. I brought you breakfast."

I nodded without saying a word and went straight into the bathroom to wash up.

When I finally emerged, Theodore was waiting for me.

"Sit down and have breakfast. I’m free today, so I can take you to see that movie you've always wanted to watch."

The film had received countless rave reviews since its release, and I had asked Theodore to go with me many times before, only to be turned down each time.

It wasn’t until I saw Emily's post with her movie ticket that I realized he was genuinely busy and not that he didn’t want to accompany me.

"I don’t want to go," I replied.

His face instantly darkened with anger at my refusal. He grabbed my wrist and shouted, "How many times do I have to tell you, Camilla? Emi and I are just friends!

"She was unwell yesterday, so I went to keep her company. Why are you being this way? Insisting that I have something going on with her?"

I calmly withdrew my hand and looked at him.

"I know you two are just childhood friends."

I tried to explain, but he regarded me with skepticism as if searching for something in my gaze.

Disappointment washed over him, for I remained composed, steadfastly meeting his eyes.

My face showed no emotion, but for some reason, seeing that I wasn’t angry only seemed to fuel Theodore’s irritation.

He turned and stormed into the bedroom, quickly changed his clothes, and slammed the door behind him.

I didn’t pay him any mind and simply followed him out the door. I had an appointment with my lawyer to discuss the details of the divorce, and I couldn’t afford to be late.

By the time I finished talking with my lawyer, it was already afternoon. Just as I was about to grab the divorce agreement to show Theodore, his call came in.

“Get ready. I’ll pick you up at home later.”

I furrowed my brow.

Before I could even voice my refusal, he hung up.

Reluctantly, I set the divorce agreement aside and called a cab to head home.

After arriving home and grabbing a cup of hot water, I noticed Theodore's car pulled up outside the building.

I frowned but had no choice but to go downstairs.

When he saw my bare face and the casual clothes I wore, a flicker of surprise crossed his expression then immediately soured.

“What are you wearing?” he snapped. “You couldn’t even bother to put on some makeup or change into a decent outfit?”

Just as his words hung in the air, the front passenger door swung open.

Emily stepped out in an exquisite evening gown, wearing the very diamond necklace she had showcased in her post.

With a meaningful look at me, she strolled over to Theodore and wrapped her arm around his. “I’m sorry, Theo. It’s all my fault for forgetting to tell Camilla”

Theodore’s expression softened instantly as he gazed at Emily. He casually draped an arm over her shoulder.

“It’s alright. You’ve been so busy, it’s understandable that you forgot.”

I felt a wave of disgust wash over me as I watched the two of them bask in their affection.

Just as I turned away from them, Theodore called out to me again.

“Get in the car.”

As I approached the vehicle, I glanced at the passenger seat and noticed a sticker prominently displayed there. It read:

[The Goddess Emi’s Exclusive Seat].