Chapter 7 The Testimony of Their Togetherness
Rachel clutched her phone tightly, leaning against the wall as she listened to Steven and Nancy flirt. Every second felt like an eternity of agony.
She realized she didn't have the courage to keep listening.
Instead, she pathetically chose to turn off the recording and walked away.
Steven didn't take long. When he returned to the dining room and saw her wiping her eyes, he rushed over, "What's wrong?"
"I accidentally splashed oil in my eyes, I can't open them."
Steven frowned, pulled out the chair next to her, and sat down. He gently grasped her chin, trying to stop her from rubbing her eyes, "Let me see, don't rub it!"
Even with her eyes closed, the redness and swelling were obvious.
"Silly girl, what if you damage your eyes?" Steven said with concern and mild reprimand. He gently wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumb, "Come on, let's wash it off."
Rachel's lips moved slightly, but no sound came out.
Her eyes were closed, so she couldn't see his expression, but she could inexplicably feel his genuine concern and worry.
After a few steps, she suddenly felt herself being lifted.
Steven carried her to the bathroom, dampened a towel with warm water, and gently wiped her eyes.
He had always treated her this way.
Whether it was drying her hair, giving her massages, washing her hands or feet, or even helping her with makeup, he was always patient. Even if he didn't know how, he was willing to learn for her.
But how could he switch from sweet-talking another woman one moment to genuinely caring for her the next?
Steven touched her brow, "Can you open your eyes now?"
Rachel's eyelashes fluttered as she slowly opened her eyes, meeting his deep gaze.
"Feeling better?"
"Yeah, a bit."
Steven sighed softly and instructed, "Your eyes are swollen. Let Quinn get you an ice pack later. Be more careful next time."
Rachel looked at him, unable to detect any hint of deceit.
She nodded slightly and let him lead her back to the dining room. The housekeeper, Quinn, had already reheated the food Steven brought back.
These three snacks had been a staple from their dating days to their marriage.
They were once the testimony of their love, but now, they felt like evidence of her naivety.
She picked up a spoon and tasted the cake, pausing slightly. It didn't seem as sweet as before.
"Did this place change owners?"
"No, it's still the same. Does it taste bad?"
"Not sweet."
"Let me try." Steven took the cake and had a bite, "It's sweet."
The dessert hadn't changed; maybe it was she who had changed.
Suppressing the bitterness welling up inside, she took a bite of the caramel pudding, "This one hasn't changed."
"Maybe it's been too long, affecting the taste." Steven smiled, "Next time, we'll go to the north side of Dawnlight City. The University of Dawnlight is having an anniversary event at the end of the month. The assistant principal sent the invitation this afternoon."
"Anniversary?"
Steven picked out a piece of deboned fish and placed it in her bowl, nodding, "Yes. Didn't I donate a training building to the school last year on behalf of the Martinez Group? It was completed in August, and they mentioned the anniversary event, asking us to represent the distinguished alumni."
Distinguished alumni?
They were quite famous back then.
She was the queen of the art department, and he was the heartthrob of the finance department.
Even their meeting was meticulously planned by Steven, followed by his grand and public courtship.
Steven back then was full of youthful vigor and radiance.
Just playing basketball would attract layers of onlookers, with many openly or secretly admiring him.
Now, after years in the business world, he had grown more silent and refined, the traces of his youthful self faded over time.
Rachel averted her gaze, concealing her sorrow, and looked at the fish in her bowl. She neither agreed nor refused, "The art gallery is busy; I'm not sure if I can make time."
"No rush. Once you decide, let me know."
"Okay."
After dinner, Quinn brought an ice pack. Steven took it and led her to the couch, "Close your eyes."
"I can do it myself."
"Just relax, okay?"
Rachel clenched her fingers and closed her eyes.
The ice pack was cold, but his touch was gentle.
After about ten minutes, the ice had melted, and her eye swelling seemed to have reduced a bit.
"Tomorrow morning, have Quinn get you another ice pack."
"Okay."
Rachel responded softly, went upstairs to the bedroom, and he let go of her hand, "I'm going to take a shower first. If you're tired, go ahead and sleep."
"Okay."
Watching him grab his pajamas and head to the bathroom, Rachel was lost in thought when her phone suddenly pinged with a text message.
It was from a familiar number.
[Steven doesn't have Nancy's number saved on his phone. He created a WhatsApp account with another number, username "Storm," and Nancy is the only contact. Check Nancy's Instagram, username Echo.]
Rachel's heart tightened.
She opened WhatsApp and found the chat with Nancy.
Username: [Meet Storm]
It was a couple's name.
The profile picture was a painting of a sunset over the ocean, painted by Nancy herself. It wasn't obvious it was a couple's avatar.
She had wondered if Steven had a second phone.
After all, he was never afraid of her checking his current phone. She could access it anytime she wanted.
It even had several apps he never used but she did.
His phone's lock screen password was their wedding anniversary.
It even had her face registered.
Rachel offered a self-mocking smile. So it wasn't two phones, but two WhatsApp accounts.
She opened Instagram, searched for the ID mentioned in the text, and found the same profile picture. There were 26 posts.
The updates were infrequent, coming every few weeks or months.
The latest post was a Cartier bracelet with the caption: [The best gift is never a thing, but unexpected warmth and surprise.]
It was posted just a few days ago, on Rachel and Steven's third wedding anniversary.
Rachel's mind went blank for a moment, her breath catching.
The shell necklace he gave her that day was also from Cartier.
Her nails dug into her palms, her heart feeling like it had been pierced again, bleeding profusely. Compared to this pain, the pain in her palms was nothing.
As she scrolled down, there was a photo of Nancy leaning against a white BMW, the car still without plates.
It was posted last month.
She remembered the text saying Steven had given Nancy a BMW last month, and it must be this one.
Nancy wore a pink Chanel suit, holding a white Gucci handbag, her pure and pretty face beaming with happiness.
The caption was simple: [A gift from hubby.]
They already considered themselves a couple in private?
Did that make her, the legal wife, a bigger joke?
The other posts were mostly luxury bags and fancy restaurant photos, each caption filled with words like 'hubby' and 'baby.'
The first post was a photo of her holding hands with a man, his fingers long and slender, wearing an Audemars Piguet black diamond watch.
The watch's clasp had initials: RD.
Rachel's initials.
Because they had bought that watch last year on their second wedding anniversary abroad.
Her watch had Steven's initials.
There were two more photos, one with Steven holding her waist, and another with Nancy kissing his chin.
Nancy's caption: [Our first day together, may we last forever.]
This was the only post with Steven's full face, the second was three months into their relationship, his back facing a window while on the phone.
Caption: [Hubby's back looks more handsome every day.]
As Rachel scrolled through every post Nancy made, she felt utterly heartbroken.
They had been together since last June.
Over a year now.
If not for the text, she would have continued being in the dark, played for a fool by them.