Chapter 7


    On the generous sectional in our living room, Jan was entertaining our youngest son, Carl, as Zora


    leaned naturally against him.


    It felt like a perfect picture of our life years ago when we first had Monique, our oldest daughter. The


    scene was a picturesque representation of a happy family, everything just seemed so harmonious and


    united.


    Suddenly, the bowl of medicinal I was holding slipped from my grasp, shattering on the tiled floor.


    All three people on the couch turned their attention towards me. Zora was quick to react, hurriedly


    running over to me. "Ma''am, why did youe down? I was about to get the bowl... be careful, don''t


    step on the shards!"


    Her reaction was so nonchnt, as if the intimate scene I''d walked in on was just a casual interaction


    among a couple. I was at a loss for words.


    Had our family be this harmonious?


    Jan also rose from the couch, holding Carl, and rushed towards me. "Allie, don''t move! Zora, what


    are you waiting for? Clean it up!"


    He looked panicked, shouting orders at Zora while constantly checking the floor for shards, worried I


    might step on one.


    Was the scene I just witnessed a figment of my imagination? Or had their rtionship really be so


    casual?


    Zora went to fetch a broom and carefully swept up the broken pieces around my feet, constantly


    apologizing and looking rather sheepish.


    I stood frozen on the spot, trying to digest the scene I had just witnessed.


    It wasn''t until Zora had cleared away the shards and Jan had put his arms around me that I snapped


    back to reality, looking at him in a daze.


    My longing to see him, my dependency, and the anxiety I felt had all evaporated, reced with a


    N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    burning question: weren''t they supposed to exin their behavior to me?


    Jan held me, who was stunned and motionless, as he handed Carl to Zora. Carl immediately clung


    to her, rubbing his little face against hers.


    Pushing Jan away, I took Carl from Zora''s arms, thinking to myself, "This is my child, not yours."


    Zora looked flustered. "Ma''am, I..."


    I had the urge to smack her across the face, but looking at Carl in my arms, I held back, reminding


    myself to stay calm.


    "Prepare dinner," I told Zora coldly. She nodded and headed towards the kitchen.


    Then I turned to Jan, asking him casually, "Honey, don''t you have a trade show to attend this


    afternoon? Weren''t you supposed to be back only in the evening?"


    Jan, acting as if nothing had happened, didn''t pay any special attention to Zora. He didn''t even


    nce at her as he sat down on the couch, wrapping his arms around me.


    Had he not noticed Zora''s closeness earlier? Or had he mistaken her for me?


    Ignoring my questioning gaze, he calmly responded, "Yeah, I was passing by after picking up some


    samples, so I thought I''d stop by and check on you, maybe grab a bite. You know, the moment I walked


    in, this little guytched onto me."


    His exnation was usible, and he didn''t mention the earlier incident, pretending as if it never


    happened.


    Was I overreacting, or had these close encounters be routine while I was unwell?


    Carl squirmed in my arms, reaching out for Jan and calling out for ''Mommy''.


    Jan took him from me, saying, "Let me take him. He''s getting heavy!"


    I felt upset. Carl was calling for Zora, not me.


    Ever since his birth, I had been sick, sleeping most of the time, and when I was awake, I would be


    disoriented. I had no strength to take care of him, so Zora had been his primary caregiver.


    After I fell ill, Monique was sent to a boarding school and our second child, Probert, was taken care of


    by his grandmother. Only Carl was still with us.


    As I watched Jan interact with our son, a horrible thought urred to me: Had Zora tampered with


    my medicine? What was her intention? Coveting my husband was bad enough, but was she also trying


    to take my children?


    This woman was a threat. I was terrified by the thought of her ulterior motives.


    She had to go. I couldn''t give her any more opportunities to wreak havoc in our family.


    With this resolution in mind, I put my thoughts aside and looked at Jan. He was deeply engrossed in


    ying with Carl, his love for Carl evident in every gesture.


    Watching their interaction, I felt somewhat guilty. A husband like Jan would never stoop so low as to


    have an affair with a nanny.


    However, Zora''s intentions were clear. This issue had to be resolved as soon as possible to prevent


    further damage.


    With my mind made up, I decided to test Jan. I started to speak, "Honey..."