Chapter 8 His Love Is Really Cheap
When Steven came out, Rachel was already lying down with her eyes closed.
He looked at her puffy eyelids and gently touched her cheek, his heart aching. Turning off the light, he climbed into bed and pulled Rachel softly into his arms, whispering tenderly in her ear, "Honey, I love you. Good night."
Rachel found every word, every sentence, unbearably grating.
If he loved her, why would he cheat on her?
His love was so cheap.
Rachel turned her back on him as she rolled over. Tears silently slid past her nose and fell onto the pillow.
She was sleepless once again.
She had no idea how long she cried or when she fell asleep. Regardless, it was not a restful sleep, as nightmares repeatedly haunted her.
When Rachel woke up, it was already one in the afternoon. Her head throbbed faintly, and her body felt heavy and weary.
She threw off the covers and went to freshen up. Downstairs, Quinn greeted her with a smile, "Good afternoon, Mrs. Martinez. Mr. Martinez left around eight-thirty this morning. He asked me not to wake you. The food was just prepared and is still hot. Would you like to eat now?"
Rachel nodded, "Please bring it out."
Quinn responded and went to the kitchen. Shortly after, she brought out the dishes and served Rachel a bowl of soup.
She smiled and said, "Mr. Martinez mentioned you were tired these past few days and didn't look well. He specially prepared this chicken soup for you this morning."
Rachel was taken aback and asked in surprise, "He made it?"
"Yes, when I arrived, the chicken soup had already been simmering for half an hour. Mr. Martinez told me to keep it on low heat and called at ten-thirty to check if you were awake."
Quinn had never seen a wealthy husband cook for his wife, let alone with such care and attention.
She had been working here for three years and had never seen the couple argue. They were always loving and sweet.
Rachel loved drinking soup, and Steven had learned to make soup first. Over the years, their fridge was never short of her favorite ingredients, and he would regularly make various soups she loved.
Chicken soup was particularly time-consuming.
With the late autumn mornings still dark, he had to prepare the ingredients before dawn.
Nancy was right that day; Steven's efforts for her were evident.
Rachel stirred the soup with a spoon, letting out a laugh, feeling a mix of complex emotions, thick and heavy, impossible to suppress.
Quinn noticed her silence and asked, "Mrs. Martinez, why are your eyes even more swollen than last night?"
Rachel paused while drinking the soup, recalling her reflection in the bathroom mirror earlier. Her eyes were indeed very swollen.
She casually replied, "Maybe I didn't sleep well last night."
Quinn said, "Then please eat. I'll get an ice pack to help with your eyes."
Rachel quietly finished her meal, took the ice pack Quinn handed her, and sat in the living room with it on her eyes for a few minutes. When her eyes felt less dry, she suddenly heard a notification sound.
It was a text message.
[Steven and Nancy are at Rainbow Mall.]
While making soup for her, he was also out shopping with Nancy.
Rachel let out a bitter laugh. He managed to balance both sides quite well.
She turned off her phone screen, went upstairs to change clothes, applied a delicate makeup, chose a cream-colored Hermes Kelly bag, and drove out.
Rainbow Mall was the largest luxury shopping center in Dawnlight City, and Rachel was a diamond VIP at many of the stores there.
Rachel rode the elevator up to the fourth floor, where she spotted Nancy exiting a store with Steven, who was carrying two Hermes bags.
Steven said something, and Nancy leaned into his chest, patting it lightly.
Rachel froze, staring at them.
She suddenly felt nauseous, wanting to vomit the chicken soup she had for lunch.
What kind of feelings did Steven have for her and Nancy?
Maybe he loved them both.
But which one did he love more?
Rachel gathered her thoughts and taking out her phone to snap a picture of them, then followed them.
Suddenly, Nancy let go of Steven and headed towards the restroom.
Rachel paused, watching Nancy's figure disappear, took a deep breath, and walked over nonchalantly.
After a few steps, Steven noticed her, his eyes behind the glasses filled with surprise and panic.
He immediately strode over, stopping in front of her, and called softly, "Hey, babe."
Rachel was surprised, not expecting him to come over suddenly.
"What are you doing here?"
Steven instinctively hid the bags behind him, then seeing her look over, he helplessly shook his head and brought the bags forward.
"I ordered a Hermes Birkin bag for you a while ago. I wanted to surprise you, but I didn't expect to run into you here."
These bags started at five figures.
Rachel looked at his sincere eyes, feeling a tinge of bitterness.
On the surface, she couldn't tell he was lying.
She glanced at the other small bag, "What's that?"
Steven didn't hesitate or pause, "I picked a perfume for you. It smells good, you can try it when you get home."
Rachel's throat tightened.
These were clearly picked for Nancy, yet he could calmly say they were for her.
Rachel wondered if Nancy was going ballistic somewhere, realizing her bag and perfume had been switched.
"You could have told me directly. I haven't been shopping in a while."
"I saw you were tired. When I called Quinn this morning, she said you were still asleep, so I didn't want to wake you." Steven smiled, "How about I accompany you now?"
His excuse was reasonable and seamless.
He had indeed called home that morning.
The word 'hypocrite' suddenly came to Rachel's mind, perfectly merging with the handsome, gentle face in front of her.
At this moment, she wondered, did she really know him?
Probably not well enough.
Otherwise, how could she not know he could lie so calmly?
"Sure." Rachel's voice was cheerful, "Also, Mom's birthday is coming up. Let's pick out a gift for her."
"Alright, whatever you want." Steven's eyes were affectionate as he lightly touched her eyelid, "Your eyes aren't swollen anymore. How was the chicken soup at lunch?"
"It was delicious."
She curved her lips into a beautiful smile, glancing at the figure emerging from the restroom, her eyes darkening, and pointed to the LV store ahead.
"Honey, I want to check out that store."
"Okay."
Following her direction, Steven also noticed the frozen Nancy.
Nancy never expected that while she was just using the restroom, Steven would be standing next to a woman, and that woman was Rachel.
Her face turned pale, her heart in turmoil.
She knew it was best to avoid Rachel now, to save a lot of trouble.
But seeing Steven and Rachel holding hands, looking so right together as they came her way, she couldn't move.
"Nancy?" Rachel pretended to just notice her, looking surprised and delighted, "You're shopping too?"