The third wheel

(ARIELLE POV)

Oh well, color me surprised!

I blinked severally to ensure that I was not seeing wrongly. My eyes widened in shock, my mind trying to process the scene before me. My husband, Jared, was standing beside another woman, a pregnant woman who claimed to be his wife, in a restaurant where I worked.

The woman's words earlier reverberated in my ears, “my husband will have you fired!” My heart pounded, breathing suddenly becoming difficult.

I felt like I had just been punched in the gut. I took a step forward, my voice raspy and barely a whisper, “Jared?”

Jared met my gaze, his composure unwavering. “Hey, Arielle,” he said in a casual tone,, as if being seen in the restaurant his wife worked in with another woman who claimed he was her husband, was a normal occurrence.

My eyes narrowed at him, as I expected him to offer me an explanation.

Before Jared could respond, Sofia stepped forward, her face a mask of surprisement, “Oh, you must be Arielle! I’m so sorry for the confusion. I’m Sofia, Jared’s old friend.”

Looking at my expressionless face, Sofia continued, her voice syrupy sweet, “Jared’s been so kind, helping me get settled in town. I just returned from abroad and I’m going through some tough times. He’s been such a wonderful support."

My eyes never left Jared's face, my gaze unnerving. “Support?” I asked, unable to mask the disbelief in my tone.

Jared nodded. “Yes, support. She's pregnant, new in town and almost helpless. She needed someone to talk to and to help her navigate her way around town. I was just being that friend.”

Still, I was not convinced, and my eyes shifted to Sofia, who stood there with an air of vulnerability, her eyes pleading for understanding. “And the child?”

Jared frowned and his voice became serious, “Of course not! The child isn't mine, Arielle.”

I relaxed a bit, deciding to trust my husband. Just then, Sofia cleared her throat to get my attention.

“Umm… Arielle, right? I apologize for my behavior earlier. I was totally out of line, you see, being a pregnant woman in a new city alone isn’t easy. I needed some support, so I may have exaggerated Jared’s role a bit. You understand, don’t you? How do we sometimes need to feel protected?” she said, and I could tell her apology was insincere.

I looked away, reluctant to accept her apology. She was rude, claimed my husband as hers, and even threatened to have me fired. But Jared noticed my reluctance, and signaled me to forgive her.

“It's okay, I forgive you,” I mumbled, but then my eyes caught the glint of a vibrant blue gem on her wrist.

Wait a second, is that the Blue Diamond limited edition? The one I glimpsed in Jared’s bag last night? I thought it was an anniversary gift for me!

Sofia was definitely aware of my stare.

She turned to me, feigning innocence and making puppy eyes. “Oh this bracelet? It’s from Jared. Arielle, surely you don't mind your husband getting me a little gift? Don’t look at me like that. I'm pregnant with someone else’s child, remember? You have no reason to feel threatened. I promise, we are just good friends.”

I smiled coldly, my lips pressed together in a thin line. I didn't bother responding to Sofia's question, instead, I turned to Jared and said, “I need to speak with you in private, in my office.”

Without waiting for a response, I turned and strode away. As I left, Sofia’s voice drifted after me, saccharine-sweet: “Jared, I had no idea your wife was this sensitive.”

Jared trailed behind me, our footsteps echoing in the hallway that led to my office. I pushed open the door and stepped inside, Jared following closely behind.

Alone with him now, I turned to face him, my face bearing a displeased expression.

“What's going on, Jared? What are you buying gifts for a pregnant woman, a pregnant woman who claimed to be your wife a few minutes ago.”

“Arielle, I promise, it's not what it seems like. The bracelet was for you. I just…I just didn't want to hurt Sofia's feelings. Like I said, she's going through a tough time.”

“And you expect me to believe that? You abandoned our anniversary dinner, promising me a compensation gift, and now I see you giving it to another woman?”

Jared's face turned pleading. “Please, understand. I'll get you another one, a much better one.”

I shook my head, my expression cold. “It's not always about gifts, Jared. Occasionally, your aloof nature makes me wonder if you're invested in our relationship and marriage, as much as I am.”

Jared's face fell, his expression hurt. “Come on, don't talk like that. I am committed to our marriage too.”

I ignored his words and went on. “It doesn't seem so most times because I don't understand why you're unwilling to hurt another woman's feelings, without caring if your actions hurt me, your wife.”

Jared tried to apologize again, but I cut him off. I was too tired for arguments, and besides, I had to go back to prepping for lunch service.

“Let's continue the conversation later at home,” I said, then something struck me. “Have you returned home since last night?”

He nodded. “Yes, I have.”

“Alright, let's see later at home.”

Jared nodded and placed a feathered kiss on my forehead before stepping out.

I exhaled sharply after Jared left. I tried to gain control over my emotions, deciding not to dwell on Jared and Sofia.

After regaining composure, I made my way out of the office to continue my work. I got engrossed afterward, and didn't stop until it was closing time.

I was packing up to return home when my phone rang. I glanced at the screen and discovered it was Ashley, my best friend.

A smile broke out on my face, and I answered the phone.

“Hey, where are you?” Ashley's voice sounded from the other end.

I was taken aback by her unusually serious tone. Ashley's voice was always cheerful, and I became concerned by the sudden switch. “I'm at work, although I'm about to leave. Why are you asking, and why do you sound so serious?”

Ashley's next response sent a chill down my spine. "I just saw Jared and a pregnant woman going home together…”