Chapter 418


    Chapter 418


    “Are you telling me…” began, my forehead crinkling with worry, “that you’re certain he’s seeing


    someone else?”


    Ste paused, inhaling deeply before she spoke, “Not exactly certain. Just…there’s this woman. I saw


    their chats on Mitch’s phone.”


    It felt like a punch to the gut. Thest person I would have expected to stray was Mitch. He’d always


    imed he was done ying the field, that no woman could lure him away.


    I’d always thought Ste had found the perfect partner in him.


    But now, it seemed like every marriage had its own set of troubles, and none were as perfect as they


    seemed on the outside.


    Ste ryed the contents of the chats between Mitch and the other woman. They seemed harmless,


    with no obvious flirtation. But something about them felt off.


    And what really got me was that the woman in question was older than Ste, divorced, with two kids.


    What kind of mess was that?


    “She’s on Mitch’s project team?” I asked, my brows knitting together in confusion, “Have you met her?”


    “No, but she’s likely to show up soon,” Ste replied, shaking her head.


    I felt like I was going to explode.


    Was Mitch really going to throw everything away?


    Good thing I was here today. I was curious to see what kind of woman could have possibly stolen


    Mitch’s attention.


    Just then, Serena started crying from her stroller. It sounded like she was hungry, so l’hurried off to


    prepare a bottle of form.


    Inside, Mitch sat in silence while Neil smoked by the doorway. I wondered if they had had a chance to


    talk.


    Neil wasn’t the type to approve of Mitch’s actions, was he?


    “Need a hand?” Mitch offered as I stepped out of the room.


    “Where’s the water?” I asked.


    Mitch got up and led me to the kitchen. Usually a cheerful guy, he seemed unusually solemn at that


    time. He turned to me, “How is she? Is she crying?”


    There was regret in Mitch’s voice, a hint of remorse.


    I could tell he still cared for Ste.


    “What do you think?” I scoffed, skillfully mixing the form, “Ste can be bossy, I know that much as


    her friend. But right now, her whole world revolves around you and the kids. After the way you snapped


    at her, how do you think she feels?”


    Mitch’s face turned a shade darker. He sighed, “Look, I didn’t mean to. She just got on my nerves. I


    invited my colleagues over for a work-rted discussion and chose to do it at home so Ste wouldn’t


    worry. But we still ended up fighting…”


    “So, Ariana’sing too?” I asked bluntly.


    At the mention of Ariana, Mitch froze, a flicker of guilt shing across his face before he regained his


    composure. “Yes. Ste just misunderstood our rtionship.” “I don’t think it’s a misunderstanding. I


    can’t make sense of it either.” I said, taking the bottles of form and heading back to the living room to


    feed Serena.


    Mitch followed me, insisting, “It’s really just a professional rtionship!”


    “Men lie as easily as they breathe,” I retorted, “If you really saw her as just a colleague, why did you


    offer her a ride home after the office party?”


    “She was drunk!” Mitch blurted out.


    “Were you the only one with a car? The only one sober?” I countered, “It was a team gathering, wasn’t


    it? Neil was there, too, right? Why didn’t you ask him to take her home? You’re a married man, after


    all.”


    I pointed at Neil.


    Neil, who was silently observing the exchange, looked taken aback at being dragged into the


    conversation.


    “What’s this got to do with me?” he grumbled.


    I wouldn’t normally engage with Neil, but this was about Ste.


    “Can’t you say something to him? Aren’t you guys friends? Don’t you care about your friend’s


    happiness?” I pressed on.


    Neil scowled, “How would you know…”


    He trailed off, ncing at Mitch, whose face was a kaleidoscope of emotions, betraying his guilt and


    unease.


    Ifinally understood why Ste was so upset. If I were in her shoes, I would have felt the same way.


    “Forget it. I don’t want to talk about it.” Neil gave up, reaching for another cigarette.


    I stopped him, “Either go outside or don’t smoke. There are kids in the house.”


    Neil put the cigarette back, choosing to sit down on the couch instead.


    Suddenly, Brandon started coughing in his stroller. He’d choked on his milk, his face turning a scary


    shade of red.


    “Brandon!” I scooped him up, patting his back to help him breathe.


    Neil took Brandon from me, gently patting his back while holding his belly down on his arm.


    Soon, Brandon spat up, some of itnding on Neil’s pants.


    “Wipe his mouth.” Neil instructed.


    I quickly got some wipes and cleaned the milk off Brandon’s mouth.


    Once he’d spat it all out, Brandon seemed to feel better.


    I held him, softly cooing to him. The incident scared me.


    That was the first time either of Serena and Brandon had choked on their milk.


    I’d read up on parenting, but in the heat of the moment, I’d panicked.


    Neil had really helped out this time.


    I muttered a small “Thanks.”


    Neil didn’t respond, simply cleaning his dirty pants with a tissue.


    I handed him a wet wipe, “Use this. It’ll clean it better.”


    “Okay.” Neil took the wipe, continuing to clean his pants.


    At that moment, Ste emerged from the house, probably hearing Brandon’s cries of


    She was holding the baby, her eyes red-rimmed with worry.


    Upon seeing that, Mitch immediately went over, reaching out to take the baby.


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    But Ste skillfully dodged his attempt without a second thought.


    The atmosphere became incredibly awkward.


    “Mitch, we’ve arrived!” A woman’s gentle voice echoed.


    I turned around and saw her, the legendary Ariana.