Chapter 53 Ex-reconnect

<Mia>

"Yeah, we can make a garden outside. A dining area with a view of fireworks every weekend. It can be for family bonding and for couples' date setups," the foreign guy suggested again.

"Eww! Your location is so boring," I countered, so everyone looked at me. "I mean, it would be much better if there's a beach nearby," I quickly added as an excuse.

They didn't pay attention to me, and it seemed like they had come to an agreement. I felt like dust in the air.

Phew! They're so boring! I don't like this company; everyone here seems to be skilled and professional. I decided to go grocery shopping for now. I looked at my phone's screen again.

"Wife, I'll be working overtime. My driver will pick you up; don't wait for me. Sleep early," his text was dry, so I deleted it and blocked him. He's too busy and has replaced me. My heart feels tight.

He's working overtime again. What's keeping him so busy? Is he still with Fairy? What are they doing? Is he getting closer to that stick girl?

I couldn't focus on work anymore. I'm not in the mood to look for a taxi; I'll just walk for a while.

Tears welled up, and I felt a heavy feeling in my chest. I wiped my tears and mucus with my hand. I came to the grocery store to relax and distract myself. I couldn't call Lorena because she's busy, and she hasn't been replying to me; I wanted to ask for her help. I'm upset with Ethan; he's been like this for days.

"Miss, maybe you'd like some lipstick?" The saleslady offered.

"I have plenty of those." I replied rudely and walked past her. I passed by the gadgets section, and so many people were calling me and approaching. I didn't want to make eye contact with them; they'll offer all sorts of things. Ugh! They're annoying!

I went to the supermarket to buy water and head home. I was about to pay when I noticed the old lady still following me. I hugged my bag tightly. She avoided eye contact when I looked at her. I had noticed earlier that she was following me.

"You're so slow!" I complained to the cashier when she took so long to give me my change. I was already annoyed and not in the mood!

She seemed surprised, but I ignored her. I don't care about her; I just took my change and hurriedly left. That weird old lady was really following me.

I got home feeling uneasy. She kept staring at me until I got into the taxi. Who is she? Does she have something against me? And who is she? Does she want to kidnap me? Is she mad at my parents? Maybe she wants to say something to me and is my real mother. That would be so dramatic.

She looked like she belonged to a cult earlier.

"Is Ethan home yet?" I asked as I looked for them inside the house. They were all relaxing.

"He's not here yet, madam," Pina replied.

He won't be coming home. I was annoyed, so I called him. Why should I keep my anger and annoyance to myself? If he wants to break up, he should tell me! He shouldn't make excuses about working overtime! I have no patience, and I'm not a good person! If I find out he's playing games with me, I'll get even with him. Then he'll try to win me back, and I'll be vulnerable and we'll get back together. Then, I'll leave, and he'll find out later that I'm pregnant. I'll keep our child hidden from him because of all the drama he'll cause to try to take our child away. Hiding the doctor's heir.

"Wife..." he sounded surprised when I called him.

Note: Some words were inferred in the original text due to unclear or missing context. If there are any specific terms that need clarification, feel free to ask.

"Where are you, you idiot?!" I asked him in frustration.

"Hey, why are you mad?" He asked me with a frown, and I bet his forehead was wrinkled.

"Sir! Madam is no longer here – oh, sorry..." I heard his driver say.

Where is this guy?

"Did you go home alone again? I told you to wait for my driver." He lectured me.

I heard his footsteps, and he closed the door. Door? Maybe he's in a hotel with Fairy, and they just finished doing some miracle. I feel like crying at the thought. I've been anxious for days, unfocused, and my mind is all over the place. I can't even calm down. He is making my life confusing!

"Where are you?! You're always working overtime! Are you fooling around, huh?!" I yelled at him and started pacing around the living room. I went grocery shopping to catch him at home.

"I'll go home after this. I already texted you not to wait for me. Didn't you receive my text?" He asked calmly, sighing at the end... he sounded exhausted and stressed. He deserves it!

"Don't bother coming home! Just stay there! Live there!" I yelled at him and hung up the call.

I don't know why I'm so paranoid, maybe I've gotten used to him always having free time for me. Now he's acting this way with me.

If I find out that he's with Fairy and doing something fishy, I'll confront both of them. I'm confrontational! I won't hold back! I'm seething with anger.

"What are you looking at?" I shouted at Pina.

She apologized to me, and then she left. I'm annoyed with Lorena too! She's so flirty! She's probably flirting with Kieffer downstairs again.

The housemaids here are so nosy! Where did Ethan pick them up from?

I passed by the two of them talking and I know they're discussing me. I headed to our room.

I won't let that guy get away with hurting me. If he hurts me, I'll hurt him back; I won't let myself be the one at a disadvantage in our relationship.

I decided to scroll through social media and stalk various people in this world.

If he hurts me, I'll hurt him back.

I saw Dashie online. I initiated the conversation.

"Hi."

"How are you?"

I scrolled for a moment because I know he's bitter towards me, and he won't reply. He ghosted me, that animal. Whatever! I can't even remember what happened between us; that was a long time ago.

"Hey, I'm okay. How about you?"

I saw his message to me, and I replied right away.

"How's your love life?" I deleted my first message; it sounded ugly to start with.

"I'm doing good too. You look more handsome. I hope everyone glows up." I added a smiley to make it sound friendly and not awkward.

"It's not like that. You're the one who's glowing up. It's different when your partner suits you." He teased.

And that's how our conversation started. We ended up talking for a long time and had a lot to discuss. We even joked around with each other. I found myself smiling more.

"Can we meet?" He suddenly asked. I said yes without thinking. There's only one thing on my mind, and that's to annoy Ethan.

Let's see if he'll still be working overtime after what I'm planning to do. I'll meet up with my ex.

Several hours passed, and I didn't realize that Ethan had already come home.

"Wife..." he called me to his attention. He caught me smiling widely while facing my phone's screen. I deleted our conversation, just in case he saw it.

I looked at the clock, and it was past ten. He said he'd be home by ten. He's late because of his mistress.

His hair was messy, and he looked tired and sleepy. His black long-sleeved shirt was crumpled up to his elbows, and his black slacks. He took off his shoes. I like his after-work smell. He looks so good even when he's at the door.

"Didn't I tell you not to come home? Just stay there!" I scolded him and raised an eyebrow.

"I'll just take a bath." He said wearily, and I heard him sigh. He headed to his closet and grabbed a white towel. I just watched him go into the bathroom.

I looked at the screen of my phone and breathed a sigh of relief that Dashie hadn't messaged me. It's good to see him cooperating.

He finished quickly. He dried his hair first before lying down beside me. I also liked his after-bath smell. He wasn't wearing clothes, just boxers.

"Let's talk about why you're mad at me," he said as he moved closer to me.

I ignored him and tried to focus on what I was watching. His scent was strong, smelling like sandalwood. He really wasn't used to not showering before getting into bed. I discreetly smelled my armpits. I smell good, too.

He took the remote control from my hand and turned off our large flat-screen TV, a one hundred-inch expensive one. I was the one who chose that TV.

"Can you not fight with me?" he said in a low voice and suddenly hugged me around the waist.

He smelled so good. His scent distracted me. This man always looks and smells fresh. He's close to smelling like a baby, for me.

"Didn't I tell you not to come home and just stay there?" I repeated what I told him earlier.

"Wife, can we not fight? I feel tired," he pleaded with me.

I could hear the exhaustion in his voice, and his eyes were starting to look tired.

I just let him hug me.

"We haven't talked yet about what you did again. You escaped my driver," his face buried in my neck. I slightly tilted my head to avoid both of us from getting stiff necks.

"He took too long, and I got bored, so I went to the supermarket. It's not my fault to feel thirsty and hungry," I reasoned with him.

"You're good at reasoning," he groaned.

"Didn't I tell you not to come home? And besides, can you not hug me?"

He looked at me with a slight smile.

"Don't be upset. I'm sorry; we had too many meetings today." He tried to soothe me and quickly kissed me on the lips.

He adjusted our position and laid his head on my chest while holding me tight. He seemed comfortable in his position.

"I'm not upset." I couldn't help but sound bitter.

I was taken aback when he suddenly slapped my arm. His palms were warm.

I immediately slapped his arm back, which surprised him, "what the fuck?!" he reacted.

I wanted to scream at him that he's cheating on me, I wanted him to confess, but the way he's being affectionate now is softening my anger and irritation. The rehearsed sentences I memorized suddenly slipped my mind. My plan to confront him disappeared.

"Wife..." he called out in the midst of the silence. I was still thinking of ways to fight with him.