006: Meeting at the shopping mall

Elena

The charity gala was still being discussed online. I felt like a discarded shoe when I saw all the blessings and well wishes the two received. 

What broke me more was a comment that Darcy and Ronan should just get married already. 

"Dear, I'm so sorry; my boss just assigned me an impromptu client, so I can't accompany you today. I’ll make it up to you....Elena. I'm really sorry." We haven’t seen each other in the past three years, and I was really looking forward to having a good time with my friend. 

"It's okay, Nancy. Take care of yourself. I’ll be fine here." Being a busy lawyer was much better than a desperate housewife trapped in marriage.

Hanging up the phone, I decided to start my shopping spree. I was soon at a maternity and baby products store. The TV displayed pictures of babies and the various baby items available. It was so cute that I couldn't help but walk in.

“Welcome, madam, what would you like assistance with?” A cheerful sales attendant approached me with a contagious smile plastered across her face. I smiled unconsciously, getting pulled into her jolly mood. 

Spotting those tiny clothes and shoes of different designs and colours. I felt my heart swell with a strange emotion. 

Blue and pink. Those were the dominating colors around the baby shop. It suddenly brought to mind a question I never consider. “Little one, are you a boy or a girl?” I rubbed my flat belly gently. 

Would Ronan care if the baby turned out to be a boy or a girl? 

Pushing the bitter memories aside, I engrossed myself in the numerous items displayed. 

About an hour later, I stepped out of the maternity and baby shop with a few shopping bags in hand. Still immersed in the euphoria of seeing so many baby items all in one place, I paused in my tracks suddenly.

A tall and sturdy figure stood in a jewellery shop across from me. His back faced me, and I felt pulled towards him at once. It was Ronan, and I was about to call out to him when I noticed the detail I missed. 

“Ronan, isn’t this beautiful?” I heard a sweet voice I could never mistake for another.

“Do you like it? Just pick anything you like.” Ronan lowered his head, his response the gentlest I have ever heard in a long time. His voice was so tender that my heart constricted in my chest. This gentleness was never for me, but only reserved for Darcy.

There she stood, in a blue and flair miniskirt with a white crop top. Darcy leaned so much into Ronan that it was as if she wanted to bury herself in his body.

“Aww, your husband dotes on you so much. You’re so lucky.” The salesgirl blurted out in admiration

Husband?

I wanted to run away from the place, but my legs wouldn’t move. 

"Bang!"

Suddenly, the bags fell from my hand, and the contents were scattered on the floor. 

“Elena!” Darcy turned around and called out a little too loudly. “What a coincidence.”

I blinked back my tears, determined not to show them how hurt I was.

I bent down and clumsily picked my items from the floor, hoping they wouldn’t notice me. However, the heavens had a different plan. 

Ronan turned abruptly, and at that moment, I raised my head and locked gazes with him, albeit briefly. 

“Elena, what’s wrong with you? You look pale.” Ronan was already in my face, helping to pack the items littered all over the floor. His scent wafted into my nostrils, and I choked back more tears. 

“N… Nothing! I’m fine.” I spoke defensively, grabbing the remaining bunch of colourful baby books from the floor. I was so swift that I bet Ronan didn’t even get to see what was written on them. 

“Ronan, could you help me get a wheelchair? I feel I’m going to faint.” Darcy uttered weakly.

“Wait here. I’ll be right back.” Ronan suddenly looked so flustered. He rushed in the opposite direction, after helping Darcy to settle on the bench at the waiting area. 

“Now that Ronan is out of the way, we can talk freely, don’t you think?” Darcy’s sudden switch in temperament didn’t shock only me, but also the attendant who brought us coffee. She placed the cups down and stepped away awkwardly. 

“I have nothing to say to you, Darcy.” 

I was about to leave when she dared me. “What! You’re so terrified of me that you won’t wait for Ronan anymore?” I suddenly remembered Ronan telling me to wait for him as well. 

What a joke! “You’re not scared of going shopping with my husband and misleading everyone into thinking he was your man. So, Darcy, why should I be scared?” 

I spoke a little louder, but I underestimated Darcy’s shamelessness. Despite the shocked and scornful gazes the attendant passed her, Darcy suppressed her anger and forced out a smile.

She reached into her bag and brought out a delicate jewellery box. “Guess what gift Ronan got for me.” 

“If you’re only here to flaunt whatever gift my husband bought for you, then I’m not interested.” 

As if taunting me, Darcy quickly opened the box, exposing an exquisite diamond ring that dazzled under the light. The ring was inlaid with a rare blue diamond. 

“Blue tears!"

I blurted out, my shock evident. This ring was one of the rarest and most expensive diamonds on the market, yet my husband got it so casually for Darcy as a birthday present. 

My nails dug deep into my palms until I felt them piercing through my flesh. However, I couldn’t feel any pain. I was numb to everything. My excuse of a ring was carelessly picked by Ronan’s assistant, yet, I cherished it like a treasure. I wouldn’t even remove it when doing the laundry or even cooking. 

What kind of joke was this?

“For the past three years, Simpson Group’s businesses in Europe were personally handled by Ronan. What do you think his reasons are?” 

What! They have been meeting each other in secret? My face paled at Darcy’s words, and I couldn’t keep her out of my head. So, all those long business trips were because of Darcy?

“You think Ronan would have married you if I didn’t angrily leave for Europe and cut all contact with him three years ago?” 

I hate that she was right. It felt like a thousand needles were piercing my heart at the same time.

Ronan, why are you so cruel to me?

“You wanted me to feel hurt, right? You’ve succeeded, Darcy. What else do you want?” I didn’t care about my image anymore. The pain was just too much to bear, so I allowed those tears to fall, hoping to feel a little respite. 

Darcy was surprisingly angered at my words and was about to lash out, but everything changed in the next instant.

“Aah!” 

Following Darcy’s scream, she emptied her cup of coffee onto her body, suddenly looking so scalded and embarrassed. 

“Darcy!” Ronan rushed toward her, his gaze dark.

‘D… Don’t blame her, Ronan. I understand why Elena feels I stole you from her. She’s your wife, after all.” 

You must be kidding me! This bitch!

“You didn’t steal me from anybody, Darcy. Don’t say such ridiculous words.” 

I felt so small when I heard Ronan’s words. He ignored my presence and was all over Darcy. After three years of marriage, I thought I meant something to my husband. Ronan didn’t even ask for my opinion or request to check the CCTV footage. Rather, he held Darcy’s underlying words like a decree. 

It hurt so much that I rushed out, not wanting to embarrass myself further.

___

Darcy

I excused myself with the pretense to use the washroom, yet ended up tailing Elena and losing her in the process. Out of anger, I hit a waste bin in front of me, only to spot the bag Elena was holding earlier among the pile of trash. 

After carefully observing the content, I paled in shock.

“Impossible! Elena is pregnant?” 

I dialed a number saved on my speed dial, while smiling deviously. I knew the child wouldn’t see the light of day.

“Uncle Jasper, I need your help…”