Chapter 60 Hunch
Nami was at a loss for words, not even knowing how to comfort Lea right now to make her feel better. Lea's grandparents were victims of the meteor crash, and Ethan already knew about it? She didn't know what news could be more shocking than this.
"Lea, I think Ethan might have a reason why he chose not to tell anyone, especially you. Maybe he—"
"He still holds a grudge against me!"
"Grudge? What do you mean?"
"Ethan and I have been rivals since junior high, often competing in science olympiads. He's considered a genius student, approaching Professor Levi's abilities. His IQ is almost 200. Even if I try very hard, I can't catch up to him. I even planned to cheat, but he quickly realized it. I begged him not to report the matter to the olympiad committee or anyone else. At that time, he looked at me with hatred in his eyes, as if I were a disgusting human being!" Levi sobbed. He was getting more and more emotional, leaving Nami at a loss for what to do to make Lea feel better.
"L-Lea, calm down! Have you really confirmed that your grandparents didn't survive and were victims of the meteor crash? Have you received any information from your family?"
"No, I haven't received any information from anyone!"
"Really? If so, that means you still can't confirm whether your grandparents survived or not, right?"
"My family wouldn't tell me anything. They'd probably cut off all communication while I was here."
"But aren't we allowed to contact our families every weekend?"
"Even if we were allowed to, they wouldn't contact me."
"But why?"
"I don't know, I don't fully understand. My father and mother are two intelligent people who married through an arranged marriage to continue their intelligent and quality offspring. My father is a professor who teaches physics at a university and my mother is a surgeon. My older brother works as a scientist at ERI and my older sister is studying at the best university in the world and she has received an offer to work at Sanders Laboratory. She feels very happy because it is an honor to receive such a special invitation."
"Your family is amazing, Lea!"
"Meanwhile, I'm so mediocre. Everything I do always produces results that my family doesn't quite satisfy. For my older brother, representing the kingdom in the Science Olympiad isn't an achievement, because he's been the reigning champion in Physics since he was a child. Likewise, for my older sister, coming in third in the Olympiad is nothing compared to being invited to join the most incredible laboratory in the world. I don't have anything to be proud of like them."
Seeing me speechless, Simon immediately snatched his phone from my hand. He looked even angrier than before, as if I had crossed a line I shouldn't have crossed.
"Hello?"
"Simon, was your wife the one who answered my call? What now?"
"Calm down, it's okay! I'll be right there, just wait!" He said, ending the call.
I stood there, waiting for his explanation, my heart almost stopping. Simon glanced at me with a look of anger in his eyes. I didn't understand why he was so angry with me? What had I done wrong to make him so cold?
"Didn't I tell you never to touch my phone, let alone answer it!"
"What's wrong with a wife holding her husband's phone? What did I do wrong?"
"You're making me sicker by the day!"
"You're in a relationship with her? You're in a relationship with Erika Gonzales, aren't you...?" I shouted, filled with emotion, hoping he'd give me an explanation that would make me feel better.
"Are you accusing me of cheating?"
"It's true, you bastard...! Do you think I'm stupid? You went to her apartment to have sex with her, didn't you...?"
"Don't yell at me, you bastard...!"
A hard slap hit me in the face, making me fall to the ground. The slap made me accidentally bite my lip, causing it to bleed.
"Blood?" I muttered. Blood dripped onto the floor, and the pain worsened. I turned to Simon, hoping he'd regret it, apologize, and help me immediately. But instead, I was ignored.
He hurried away, leaving me wounded. I stood up and tried to chase after him. No matter how much it hurt, I didn't want him to see that woman again.
"Simon, wait...! Please don't go!" I said, pulling at his hand. I promised I'd forgive him as long as he stayed.
"I need you more, Simon! I'm your wife...!"
"Let go of my hand, don't you hear? Don't you see what you look like now? Go to church and become a nun, because no man will ever be interested in a boring woman like you again...!"
Simon slapped my hand away and left after shouting at me. I froze on the cold, empty floor of our house. Did I still have the right to cry? Was I allowed to cry? A woman like me, did I still deserve happiness?