Chapter 7

At the other side of the airport, Curtis's car was parked by the roadside, its windows darkened with privacy film, making it impossible for passersby to see inside. But the car rocked back and forth, the frequency growing faster, the movements more erratic. Zoe Roach leaned coyly against Curtis, pouting as she tried to sound sweet. "Are you really going to celebrate that fifth wedding anniversary with her tomorrow? I don’t want you to leave me. Can’t you spend more time with me and the baby?" Curtis pinched her cheek lightly, brushing her off. "Be good. Didn’t you want a bag last time? I’ll transfer the money. Just buy it yourself." Zoe’s eyes lit up. "You’re not lying to me, are you?" "When have I ever lied to you?" Her voice grated on him, Curtis suddenly realized. The noise felt unbearable. To buy himself some peace, he picked up his phone and transferred the money immediately, even adding "voluntary gift" in the payment note, just as she requested. Overjoyed, Zoe hugged him tighter, planting a kiss on his cheek. Even with her warm embrace and soft touch, Curtis felt hollow inside. For some reason, Louise’s earlier words lingered in his mind. She’d said she went to the mountaintop to stargaze. Something about that didn’t sit right with him. Louise was afraid of heights. She couldn’t even look down from the second floor without trembling. Why would she suddenly go stargazing alone on a mountaintop? The more Curtis thought about it, the more unsettled he felt. Zoe, meanwhile, continued to cling to him, her every movement only adding to his irritation. He pushed her away. "Enough. That’s enough. Get off me. If there’s anything else you want, just make a list." Zoe smiled earnestly, knowing the bag was already hers. "Master, I always knew you spoiled me!" Curtis basked in her flattery, offering only a perfunctory smile. Though he wasn’t emotionally invested in Zoe, he appreciated her youthful beauty. She always went along with whatever he wanted, her gaze brimming with admiration, like a flower that understood him perfectly. Whenever he felt tired, she was a source of emotional comfort. But today, something felt different. Maybe six months was enough time for boredom to set in. Curtis shrugged off Zoe’s hand as it slid up to his shoulder, loosening the tie she had tugged at. Yet, the suffocating heaviness in his chest lingered, pressing down harder and harder, until even his heart seemed to ache. It felt as though something vital was being ripped away from him, leaving him raw and exposed. Without another word, Curtis grabbed his car keys and headed for the door. "I need to go home," he said, not bothering to look back. Zoe’s ambitions extended far beyond a few handbags—her target was Mrs. Irwin herself. She quickly followed him, wrapping her arms around his waist from behind. Her hands clung to the edges of his shirt, refusing to let go. Curtis’s chest tightened further, his mood darkening. "Let go," he snapped. "No," Zoe whined. She knew Curtis stayed with her because she offered the gentleness and charm Louise could not. Her fingers trailed down his shirt, stopping at his belt. She tapped it playfully, her tone teasing. "After tomorrow, you’ll have all the time in the world to be with her. But tonight, stay with me." Curtis didn’t reply, and Zoe mistook his silence for acquiescence. Emboldened, she added, "I get so jealous just thinking about you being with another woman. I won’t let you go back to her." Her words were met with a cold laugh. In the past, such declarations would have made Curtis both amused and affectionate, prompting him to shower Zoe with gifts to compensate for her insecurity. But today, she crossed a line by dragging Louise into the conversation. Curtis yanked her hands off him, turning to face her with a stern expression. "She’s not just some other woman. She’s my wife. You have no right to speak about her that way." Louise was his weakness—his untouchable sanctuary. Zoe withdrew her hands reluctantly, muttering under her breath, "I wasn’t even saying anything bad about her. Can’t I be jealous? You weren’t this cold before." "Enough." His voice rose, sharp and authoritative. "Let me remind you of your place. Louise is my wife and the love of my life. No matter what happens, my feelings for her will never change." The irony of his words wasn’t lost on either of them. Zoe silently cursed his hypocrisy, calling him sanctimonious in her mind. But outwardly, she maintained a pitiful demeanor. "Got it," she murmured softly. Curtis acknowledged her response with a curt nod before walking away without hesitation. He didn’t bother to check her reaction—he didn’t think her feelings mattered. If he grew tired of her, a bit of money would send her off. As long as she didn’t cause trouble for Louise, it would suffice. What Curtis didn’t know was that Zoe hadn’t been idle while he walked away. As soon as he left, she pulled out her phone and began typing a message: Mrs. Irwin, I’ve thought it over. Since I’m pregnant and can’t spend too much time with him anyway, I’ll let you have him for a few days. Consider it my gift to you. After all, at your age, if you lose him, you might not find another man willing to marry you. She attached a screenshot of the money Curtis had just transferred to her, adding: Just because he bought me a gift, I’ll lend him to you for a day. After sending the message, she made sure to delete all traces of it from her phone. Meanwhile, Curtis drove home as fast as he could, pushing the car’s speed to its limit while still keeping it safe. When he finally reached the gate of his house, he was struck by an inexplicable wave of unease.