Chapter 420
Chapter 420
“Thanks, they seem to really take a shine to you,” I said, feeling a tad awkward.
From the corner, Ariana piped up again, “Yeah, Mr. Whitmore seems to be a real hit with kids. My son adores him too, even though they’ve only met a couple of times. He’s always going on
about Mr. Whitmore.”
As Ariana said that, she shot Neil a soft, almost coquettish glance.
Why did it feel like she looked at every man that way? Gentle yet tantalizing, but certainly not the case when she looked at Stella and me.
Yet Neil’s reaction was different from Mitch’s. He seemed not to hear Ariana’s praise, just turned and walked back into the living room.
Ariana looked even more uncomfortable.
I had just scolded her, and then she was being ignored by Neil. Talk about losing dignity.
I didn’t bother with her. I just scooped up Serena and Brandon and carried them to the bedroom for some sleep.
Ariana left tactfully, probably off to actually find the restroom she’d been searching for.
I closed the door softly.
Stella’s child gradually fell asleep. Once she had settled her child, she suddenly said, “Rena, I’m thinking about getting a divorce.”
“What?” Her words took me aback.
Sure, Mitch might have had some issues, but it surely hadn’t gotten to the point of divorce.
“I said I want a divorce. I can’t stand this situation any longer,” Stella said, looking at the sleeping children. Her face reflected a mix of reluctance and determination. “You see me happy and content, but this suspicious and oppressive state has been going on for a while now. I’m mentally exhausted. It’s too much.”
As Stella spoke, her voice choked up, and my heart ached.
The more straightforward a person is, the less likely others are to notice their inner turmoil.
Stella had not mentioned her struggles to our close friends, probably not wanting to worry us.
But at that point, she must have reached her breaking point to disclose that finally,
She had only been speculating before, hearing Ariana’s name from Mitch’s mouth. Having witnessed it today, she felt she couldn’t bear it.
Even though Mitch and Ariana hadn’t done anything inappropriate, it was hard to eradicate the seeds of doubt once they took root in her mind.
“Stella, are you sure there’s actual inappropriate behavior between Mitch and Ariana?” I asked.”
“No, but I can’t stand it. Not even a hint of flirtation. It disgusts me,” Stella said, her voice filled with bitterness.
She had always been a person who couldn’t tolerate even the smallest bit of dissatisfaction, let alone when it came to her husband.
As an outsider, I was naturally furious at Mitch for hurting Stella. But in the absence of any actual wrongdoing, I couldn’t rashly encourage Stella to divorce. That would have been too impulsive.
Moreover, they had three children.
“Stella, calm down. Let’s figure everything out before making a decision. Don’t say things you might regret in e heat of the moment,” I tried to soothe Stella.
“I’m not being impulsive. I’ve thought about this many times, especially when I saw their chat records, I t betrayed, even though they never used any flirtatious words. I just couldn’t accept it mentally,” Stella sobbed. She used to take love lightly, but now she was very dedicated and deeply in love with Mitch.
I handed her a tissue, comforting her softly, “All right, if he really did something wrong, then get a divorce. I’ve been through it too. It’s not a big deal. Besides, we can surely afford to raise
the children.”
“Okay,” Stella said, her eyes brimming with tears.
I couldn’t help but hug her, patting her head gently.
She had always been loyal when it came to her friends’ matters but tended to tough it out when it came to her own. If I had argued against her getting a divorce, she probably wouldn’t have slept a wink that night.
Someone knocked on the door, and then Mitch’s voice floated through, “Honey, do you want to come out and eat something?”
“I’m not hungry. Rena, you go eat. It’d be a shame to come all this way and leave on an empty stomach,” Stella said to me. She didn’t want to see Mitch at the moment.
“All right, I’ll bring you something later so you don’t have to see anyone who might spoil your appetite,” I replied.
Stella just nodded.
When I stepped outside, Mitch looked anxious as I closed the door.
“Where’s my wife?”
“Do you even remember she’s your wife?” I was fuming.
What in the world was going on? Mitch used to be decent. How did he end up like that over a woman like Ariana, who was much older, a divorcee with a kid, and causing problems with Stella?
“Of course I do. I’ve never forgotten,” Mitch said, purposely loud enough for Stella to hear, indirectly stating that his heart hadn’t changed.
But at that time, Stella needed more than a simple sentence to be pacified.
I rolled my eyes at Mitch and headed directly into the living room.
Neil was engrossed in a card game with Ariana and the other person.
I didn’t know whose idea it was, but Neil usually wasn’t into those games. I’d only seen him play a few times with Mitch.
“Sorry, Mr. Whitmore, I’ve got you beat!” Ariana flipped her card with a triumphant smile. “Pay up.”
She then pulled out her phone. “Mr. Whitmore, let’s just add each other’s contact for easier transfers. Besides, it’ll make work-related communication easier.”
I sat quietly on the couch. My intuition told me that Ariana was a cunning woman, and her sights were set on more than just Mitch. Neil was likely another target.
If
f Neil added Ariana, it would have probably been Karina’s turn to worry next.
“You’re on Mitch’s team. Any issues you have should be communicated directly to him. There’s no need to bypass the chain of command,” Neil’s thin lips barely moved, his tone as cold as a gust of winter wind. It was hard to tell where it came from, but it had the ability to seep into one’s skin, making one shiver.
Ariana was taken aback, her smile faltering just a tad.
I couldn’t help but let out a snort of laughter. Was that not a classic case of a gold-digger’s plan going awry?
I had to admit that Neil was quite sharp when he put his mind to it, hitting the nail right on the head. But the person who should be pleased about that wasn’t me; it was Karina.
You’re right. Mr. Whitmore is a man of high stature. I, a mere minion, certainly shouldn’t bother him unnecessarily,” Ariana’s self-deprecating humor was spot-on and quite natural.
