After attending a meeting in the area, Andrew headed towards their office building when something caught his attention. He noticed his long-time best friend, Chester Reed, who had never been in a relationship before, acting affectionate with someone in a coffee shop.
Chester's charismatic and outgoing personality had always attracted women, but he had never shown any romantic interest before. Andrew couldn't help but wonder who this mysterious girl could be. Intrigued, he approached the coffee shop, and as he got closer, he noticed a striking resemblance from behind. To his disbelief, it was his own wife, Andrea.
Caught off guard, Andrew found himself at a loss for words, unsure of how to process the whirlwind of emotions swirling within him.
In that moment, he made a conscious choice to simply walk past Chester and Andrea, feigning obliviousness to the scene that had unfolded before him. Yet, deep down, the conflicting emotions continued to surge, leaving him grappling with an important question: Should he confront them? And if so, what would be the underlying motivation? After all, he had already initiated the process of divorcing his wife, driven by his own infidelity.
In light of this, Andrew couldn't help but question whether it was his place to intervene in his wife's affairs, especially when it involved his best friend, whom he genuinely wished nothing but happiness for.
I let out a disappointed sigh as Andrew walked past us, my gaze following his retreating figure.
Chester, catching on to what had just happened, wore a faint smile as he spoke up, breaking the silence. "Is this what it's all about?" he asked, his tone laced with a mix of curiosity and understanding.
Regret filled my voice as I replied, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to use you. A colleague suggested that if I make Andrew jealous, he might finally pay attention to me."
Chester's response surprised me; his support was unwavering. "No worries. I'm up for it!" he exclaimed, a reassuring smile gracing his lips. "You can use me anytime you want," he added, his words offering comfort in an unexpected way.
I couldn't help but feel a wave of embarrassment wash over me, realizing the lengths I had gone to and the impact it had on Chester. But his understanding and willingness to be there for me in that moment eased my unease.
"Sometimes, a man only recognizes the true worth of a woman when she has already discovered happiness in someone else," Chester added, his words resonating with wisdom and perspective.
"Who has dampened your spirits?" Penelope inquired, her eyes immediately catching Andrew's cold expression. He walked with determination towards the elevator.
"Andrew," she interlocked her arm with his, playfully teasing, "If you're feeling tired, I can bring some happiness into your day." She rested her head on his shoulder.
He swiftly removed himself from her embrace as the elevator doors opened. Stepping inside, Penelope followed closely behind. "Did you have a disagreement with your wife?" she asked, her words laced with a proactive intention to sow seeds of doubt.
Andrew looked at her, puzzled as to how she had come to such a conclusion.
"I saw her driving Chester to the office," she continued, ensuring that he would misinterpret her words. "Do you truly know her that well?" she pressed further.
"Why should I care?" he responded with a stern expression. Penelope burst into hearty laughter. "You're absolutely right, honey. After all, it's not such a terrible thing to hand her over to your best friend, is it?" As the elevator halted on the 11th floor, Penelope exited, waving goodbye with a mischievous smile on her face.
"Who are you?" Kelly rolled down the car window and removed her sunglasses, her eyes scanning the young lady from head to toe. She appeared youthful and beautiful, resembling a high school student. Her medium-length hair, with a few bangs accentuating her face, caught Kelly's attention. On her back rested a guitar bag. Dressed in shorts, a plain white shirt, and rubber shoes, she had the potential to be quite captivating with a little refinement.
"I'm looking for Drew," the young lady replied.
"Why are you looking for my husband?" Kelly shouted as she stepped out of her car. "Are you his mistress?" Her finger pointed accusingly at the girl, noticing the suitcase she carried.
"I-I'm not..." the girl stammered, stepping back in fear of what might come next.
Aunt Rosemary emerged from the gate upon hearing the commotion. The other household staff members gathered behind the butler.
"So, you're here to seduce him, are you?" Kelly's voice grew louder, her eyes glaring.
"I-I don't know what you're talking about," the girl said, tears welling up in her eyes.
Aunt Rosemary intervened. "Miss, do you know someone in this house?"
"My... sister," she managed to catch her breath, her voice trembling. "Drew is living here."
"Clarify yourself, you bitch!" Kelly was ready to push her, but Aunt Rosemary stepped in to block her.
"What's the name of your sister?" Aunt Rosemary asked firmly.
"Andrea Hart," the girl replied softly.
"Hello, Mom. Why did you send my sister to our house?" I questioned urgently as soon as she answered the phone.
"We're going on vacation, and there's no one to take care of her while we're away," she offered as her excuse.
"Enough of this nonsense, Mom!" I said, feeling impatient as I drove towards home. I could hear some background noises on the call.
"I sent her to seduce your husband!" Grandma abruptly grabbed the phone from my mother.
"How could you... This is unbelievable!" I exclaimed, shocked by her revelation.
"Your husband has a preference for younger women. If he develops an interest in your sister, it could benefit us even more!" Grandma's words left me speechless.
As I opened the front door, I spotted Alyssa seated on the sofa. An empty tea cup sat on the table, indicating that Aunt Rosemary had taken care of her in my absence.
"Sis," Alyssa stood up and embraced me tightly. I could feel the fear in her trembling embrace.
"What happened?" I asked, concern evident in my voice. She proceeded to recount how Kelly had treated her upon her arrival. I gently patted her back, reassuring her that everything would be alright.
Aunt Rosemary descended the stairs and addressed us, "Young madam, I have prepared the guest room for your sister." I smiled gratefully and thanked her for her thoughtfulness.
"Where is that sound coming from?" Andrew asked Rosemary as soon as he heard the strumming of the guitar.
"Young master," Aunt Rosemary explained about Alyssa's arrival. "Have you had dinner?"
"Not yet," he replied, removing his suit. "I want to eat here. Is Kelly home?" he inquired.
"No, she has not arrived," she responded, making her way to the kitchen. Andrew followed her and took a seat at the dining table. "Did the rest of you eat?" he asked, hinting at the sisters.
"The young madam cooked dinner for her sister, and they had already eaten before you arrived. She is resting in your room," Aunt Rosemary explained.
"Who cares about her?" Andrew said with a stern expression, taking a bite and swiftly finishing his dinner.
"Why are you here?" I quickly covered myself with a towel as soon as I saw my husband enter the master bedroom. I had just finished my bath and was about to change my clothes.
"I've already seen that," he said nonchalantly.
I raised my eyebrows, waiting for his explanation.
"I promised to make love to you every night, didn't I?" he stated, removing his clothes and heading towards the bathroom. "Have you had yourself checked? Are you sure you don't have any issues with fertility?"
"I already did that before we got married! I am not infertile. I am completely healthy. If we don't have a child, the problem lies with you!" I raised my voice, frustration evident in my tone.
"This feels awkward," I said softly, staring at the ceiling with my hands clutching the blanket that covered my whole body. We found ourselves in bed, and the atmosphere was filled with tension.
"Why? Do you want to sleep with someone else now?" he smirked, leaning against the headrest while scanning his phone. The soft light from the lampshade added a sense of quietness to the air.
"I think I lost all of my feelings for you the moment you asked me for a divorce," I confessed, turning my head to face him. I could hear his sigh, clearly irritated by my words.
"Do we need feelings for this? You just needed a child, right?" he turned off his phone and lay down on the bed. His words hurt me deeply. "The clock is ticking. We need to hurry up so we can find our own happiness."
He turned off the lampshade, creating darkness in the room. He cupped my face and started to kiss me, his kisses soft and seductive. In an instant, I found myself responding to his kisses. He held me in his arms, and I felt an unexplainable sensation. The night was long and passionate. I could always deny my feelings, but my body wouldn't cooperate.
"Where has everyone gone?" Andrew wondered aloud, noticing the unusual quietness of the house, especially for a lunchtime on a weekend.
"The young madam just left for the gate. She and her sister are planning to have a picnic at the park," she relayed to him.
Curious, Andrew strolled to the front door and saw a car he recognized pulling into the driveway. As he stepped outside, he identified Chester, who was assisting the sisters in loading their picnic supplies into the car's trunk. Andrea had taken the front seat, while Alyssa was already seated in the back. Catching sight of Andrew, Chester waved at him, to which he responded with a slightly confused nod.
"You know how to play the guitar?" Chester inquired Alyssa, as they relished the serene ambiance of the park. He picked up the guitar and began to play a few chords.
"Yes," she confirmed with a nod. "My sister taught me."
"Really? She seems to be good at everything she sets her mind to," he admired.
Handing them each a can of soda, I couldn't help but brag, "You've always known about my talents."
Chester chuckled, "Indeed, you even tried out to be our lead singer in the school band," he recalled, teasing me a bit.
"I wasn't aware of that, sis," Alyssa responded, cracking open her soda can and taking a sip, looking forward to hearing more about my past.
"I did try out. But they chose the school bell over me," I retorted, rolling my eyes. "I was sure Andrew would have objected to me being in your band."
Pretending to be oblivious, Chester looked away, "We didn't pick you because you were already occupied with so many school activities. It was like you were a part of every club," he chuckled.
We spent a tranquil day at the park, filled with songs and laughter. As dusk settled, Chester lit the candles on the birthday cake. I closed my eyes, making a wish for a brighter and more joyous future.
As part of his birthday surprise, Chester gently clasped a necklace around my neck. It was a simple piece, featuring a delicate heart pendant, symbolizing his warm wishes for my birthday. Alyssa, knowing my interests well, gifted me a magazine focused on interior design. It was the perfect end to celebrating the day.
We enjoyed a lovely dinner at a charming restaurant, and Chester kindly offered to buy me a drink. We decided to send Alyssa back home first before we drove to a bar for a little more fun.
"Brother," Alyssa greeted Andrew, finding him lying on the sofa. He nodded in response and asked, "Why are you alone?"
"Drew and Chester went out for a drink," she replied nervously.
"Okay," he simply acknowledged.
"Today is my sister's birthday," she announced before making her way to her room.
Andrew was taken aback, realizing that he didn't even know his own wife's birthday. A wave of unexpected guilt washed over him as he processed this realization. He felt a strong urge to go out and search for his wife, to make up for his lack of knowledge. As he reached for the car keys, a conflicting thought crossed his mind. Why should he go look for her? After all, his wife was enjoying her birthday with his trusted friend, Chester. He should be happy for them, right? Why was he suddenly acting like he cared? He had been pushing her away and rejecting her for some time now. He had already found the love of his life, or so he believed. Why complicate things further?
Pausing for a moment, Andrew's mind started to change. He questioned his initial decision and reconsidered his actions. Aunt Rosemary observed him closely, sensing his emotional turmoil and assessing his state of mind.
Chester lifted me onto his shoulders as I stumbled out of the car, clearly having had too much to drink. I couldn't even stand up on my own, but I couldn't stop laughing. It had been such a fun day. Aunt Rosemary opened the door, her expression filled with concern as she took in my disheveled appearance.
"Come this way," she guided Chester towards the staircase, keeping a watchful eye on me to prevent any falls. My laughter echoed through the mansion, catching the attention of my sister, Alyssa, who emerged from her room to check on me. As we reached the upstairs landing, I was greeted by a cold and unreadable expression on Andrew's face.
"My husband!" I exclaimed, trying to reach out to him. "My beloved husband, Andrew Collins!" I continued, my voice filled with affection. However, he seemed unable to comprehend my state.
"I'm sorry, bro, I couldn't stop her," Chester apologized, feeling responsible for the situation.
Aunt Rosemary opened the door to the master bedroom, ready to let Chester in. But suddenly, Andrew stepped forward, blocking the entrance and locking eyes with Chester. His voice was firm as he declared, "I'll take over."
"I don't want you!" I responded to Andrew, my words slurred as I struggled to maintain my balance. I moved and stumbled until I eventually fell from Chester's shoulders. He quickly lifted me up and assisted me in standing, as I couldn't support myself. I clung to him, wrapping my arms around his neck for support.
Chester stood frozen, not expecting my sudden embrace. I jumped into his arms, hugging him tightly, almost suffocating him. "Drew," he gently patted my head and ran his fingers through my hair. "Be good," he whispered into my ear. I turned my head towards him and kissed his cheeks.
Everyone's eyes widened in surprise, and Andrew's expression grew darker, filled with a mix of emotions.