Chapter 2

When I returned to the estate, Victoria was waiting for me in the living room.

The moment she saw me, she hurried over.

"Ashton, you're back!"

"You went to the hospital for your check-up today, right? Did the results come out? I noticed you haven't had much of an appetite lately. Are you feeling unwell?"

I lowered my gaze, forcing a calm lie:

"I'm fine, Victoria."

"The doctor said it's just some minor indigestion and stomach sensitivity. Nothing to worry about."

Victoria had always been incredibly kind to me.

Since I had already decided to divorce Selene, there was no need to make this gentle older woman worry about my health.

The anxiety on Victoria's face softened, and her tone remained warm:

"Oh... thank goodness. Your health is the most important thing. I'll have Maria brew some herbal tea to soothe your stomach. Drink it before bed, okay?"

"Thank you, Victoria."

Victoria seemed to have more to say, but the heavy front doors of the villa were suddenly pushed open.

Was Selene back?

Didn't she say she wasn't coming home tonight?

A pair of polished black leather shoes stepped into the foyer, followed by a smug, handsome face.

It was Hunter.

"Good evening, Victoria. Hey, Ashton."

"Selene brought me over for dinner. I hope you don't mind."

The smile on Victoria's face instantly froze. She whipped her head around, glaring at Selene with sheer fury.

No matter how wild Selene acted outside, Victoria could turn a blind eye as long as it wasn't brought into the open. But bringing her side-piece into our family home was a direct slap to my face.

"Selene, how dare you—"

I quickly stepped forward, gently rubbing Victoria's back to soothe her.

"Victoria, please calm down. Remember what the doctor said about your high blood pressure. Anger is bad for your heart."

"It's just dinner."

Then, I turned around to face Selene and Hunter.

I offered them a polite, empty smile.

"I don't mind at all."

"Maria, please set two more plates. Dinner is ready. You two can wash up and join us."

Perhaps my reaction was too peaceful.

Selene raised an eyebrow in surprise, searching my face as if trying to figure out what kind of mind game I was playing.

At the dining table, Hunter was radiant. He constantly used his fork to pile Selene's favorite dishes onto her plate, his voice dripping with artificial sweetness:

"Selene, try this. You've been working so hard lately, you need to eat more."

Selene didn't reject his advances.

Instead, she smiled, picked up a piece of perfectly deboned fish, and held it to Hunter's lips.

"You should eat too, babe."

Hunter giggled, taking it from her fork.

As he chewed, his eyes darted toward me, flashing a triumphant, mocking look.

Victoria’s face turned completely pale. Unable to tolerate the disrespect any longer, she slammed her bowl onto the table with a loud *clack*.

"I'm done."

She got up and left the dining room in a hurry.

I didn't raise my head. I just kept chewing my food slowly and methodically.

The doctor had told me this morning that because it was early-stage stomach cancer, we had caught it just in time. But I had to eat properly to prepare my body, or I wouldn't even survive the surgery next week.

Selene found my dead-silent reaction incredibly boring.

Seeing that Victoria had left the table, she leaned into Hunter's chest and said loudly, deliberately aiming her words at me:

"Oh, by the way, Ashton. Don't sleep in the master bedroom tonight."

"Hunter and I are using it."

"Go sleep in the guest room on the third floor."

Hunter let out a soft, performative laugh, wrapping his arm tightly around her waist.

"Oh, Selene... don't say things like that in public. It's so embarrassing..."

Only then did I look up, my voice steady:

"Sure."

I stood up from my chair.

"I'm finished. Enjoy your dinner."

The master bedroom or the guest room made no difference to me. I wasn't picky about where I slept.

For a cancer patient, getting enough sleep was my only priority.

But my total indifference seemed to light a sudden, inexplicable fire in Selene's chest. She abruptly shoved Hunter away, stood up, and blocked my path in three large strides.

She grabbed my wrist with bruising force, her voice laced with sudden rage:

"Stop right there!"

"Ashton, who the hell do you think you're giving attitude to?"

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