(ARIELLE''S POV)


    I felt Jared''s body tense beside me, his arms freezing in ce. I knew I had said something I couldn''t take back. The question was, how would he respond?


    "Oh, I think I might have used your shampoo identally," Jared spoke up after a while, trying to sound nonchnt.


    I felt a raw searing pain in my chest. I was always painful whenever Jared lied to me, and it hurt even more because I knew he was lying to me.


    The fragrance of the shampoo was vani, and I didn''t use vani shampoo. I usedvender. That fragrance was from no other person but Sofia. He probably got it when she leaned her head on his shoulder.


    "Is anything the matter, Arielle?" Jared asked. His voice was soft.


    What could I say? What was left for us to say? I could almost hear his voice in my mind if I dared to ask him. The soft pleading, the reasoned excuse anything but the truth. I was so tired of his "good friend" routine. Tired of the endless dance we did around everything, pretending there wasn''t a gulf between us that non amount of words could fill.


    Was this what it was like for adults in marriages after years of silence? Just helpless understanding? It felt disgusting.


    "No. Goodnight," I replied in a dismissive tone, not wanting to talk to him anymore.


    Jared leaned over and pecked me on the cheek. "Goodnight."


    *************


    The next morning, I was awakened by the sound of a movement. It was from Jared, he had just stepped out of the bathroom. He smiled at me. "Good morning."


    "Morning," I responded, then I furrowed my brows. "Where are you going, this early?"


    Jaredughed. "Early? It''s past seven love. I guess you don''t intend to go to work because if you do, you should get off the bed, or you''ll bete."


    "Shit! I totally forgot," I eximed and shot out of bed. I had forgotten I was supposed to return to work today. The restaurant management had given me a sick leave after Jared informed them of my hospitalization, and my leave was ending today.


    I sprinted to the bathroom and had a quick bath. By the time I was done, Jared was almost finished dressing. Most men would be done dressing with the time I spent in the bathroom, but not Jared. He was always meticulous with his looks, and that was why he made heads turn whenever he stepped into a room.


    I hurriedly got dressed in a blouse and skirt, packed my hair neatly in a bun, slipped my legs into my ts, and grabbed my handbag. A quick spray of my perfume, and I was done. There was no need for makeup, I was runningte.


    "Are you ready?" Jared asked, picking up his briefcase.


    "After you," I responded, and we walked out the room together.


    We walked down the stairs, and just as we reached the bottom, Sofia appeared with a smile on her face. The smile quickly disappeared when she saw I and Jared.


    "Good morning, Arielle. Good morning, Jared." she chimed, but I knew she was merely greeting me was for formality''s sake. Her eyes were fixed on Jared.


    "Morning," Jared replied, and I mumbled my response too.


    "Are you leaving already?" Sofia asked, taking in his appearance. There was a hint of admiration in her eyes, and I wanted to p it off.


    "Yes, I''m runningte," Jared said, ncing at his watch.


    Sofia''s face fell, and she pouted. "I made breakfast for you, and I was hoping you''d eat before leaving."Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    I snapped my head sharply to look at her, my eyes narrowing. She made breakfast for Jared? Was I non-existent? Why only Jared, if she was keen on showing off her culinary skill?


    "I''m sorry, Sofia, but I have to go," Jared reiterated. "Besides, I have to drop Arielle at the restaurant, and she''s runningte too."


    Sofia sneered. "Didn''t you say you were runningte? Why do you have to drop her first before you go to work?"


    "It''s my responsibility to drive her to work, and I''m notining."


    I saw anger shing in Sofia''s eyes,


    е


    while I watched the exchange in amusement. "On the contrary, I think Arielle is selfish. Letting you drive her to work even when you''re runningte, and alsoing to pick her up after work every day She''s stressing you out, and she should stop and learn to drive herself."


    I lost my cool at this point, and snapped. "Oh, shut up, Sofia! You''re a stranger here, and should have no say in how we run our home."


    "That''s right, Sofia," Jared concurred, his voicecking the usual tenderness it carried whenever he spoke to her. And was it just me? I think Jared was avoiding eye contact with her. Sofia''s face went pale, like she didn''t expect Jared to take sides with me.


    I tugged at Jared''s arm. "We''rete, we should leave."


    Jared nodded. "Have a nice day, Sofia. I''ll call you at noon to check how you''re doing."


    With that, he walked on, and I followed suit. I looked back for a fleeting moment to see Sofia rooted to the spot, her expression that of anger and shock.


    I stifled augh and turned back


    around, walking alongside Jared as


    we made our way outside. We got to the parking lot, and he opened the car door for me and I slid in. He closed the door and walked around to the driver''s side, getting in behind the wheel.


    "Ready?" he asked, starting the engine.


    I nodded, and he drove out of thepound, soon speeding down the highway.


    I couldn''t help but stare at Jared as he drove, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. He was bing increasingly unpredictable, and I couldn''t understand why.


    One minute, he was doting on Sofia, sneaking around with her, and doing her bidding; the next, he was back to his old self, being sweet to me. I wished he would just be his old usual self, without the sudden changes.


    As we approached the restaurant, Jared pulled into the parking lot and turned off the car''s engine. He alighted and opened the door for me, offering his hand to help me out.


    "Have a nice day at work today," he said, pecking me on the cheek. "I''lle pick you up at your closing time."


    "Thank you, Jared," I replied, smiling. "Have a nice day, too."


    He smiled back, and we bid each other goodbye. I turned and made for the restaurant entrance, afterward.


    At the entrance, I met my junior chef, Reba. A huge smile broke out on her face the instant she saw me, and she hurried towards me.


    "Oh my goodness, Ma, it''s so great to see you!" She eximed, spreading her arms for a hug.


    I smiled and hugged her back. "It''s great to see you too, Reba. I''ve missed you."


    "I''m so sorry I didn''t get to visit you in the hospital," Reba said, looking apologetic. "The workload was crazy while you were away, but I''m d you''re back now."


    "Don''t worry about it, Ipletely understand," I replied. "I got your get-well card, thank you so much for that."


    With the pleasantries exchanged, a mischievous glint appeared in Reba''s eyes. "I saw your husband drop you off," she said, winking. "You''re so lucky to have a good and caring man like that. He''s always so attentive and sweet to you." I blushed and tried to brush it off. "It''s too early for gossip, let''s go inside."


    Reba agreed, but as we walked


    into the restaurant, she wouldn''t stop rambling about how I had married one of the few best men in the world. "I mean, seriously, ma, your husband is wonderful. He''s always dropping you off and picking you up, and he looks so handsome while doing it."


    Iughed and tried to change the subject, but Reba was persistent. "I swear, you two are couple goals. I hope my future husband is half as good as yours."


    I smiled and shook my head. If only she knew my marriage wasn''t as perfect as it seemed.