Valentine's Day, three o'clock in the afternoon.
Sharon Gardiner was sitting in a charming, romantic themed restaurant, wrapped snugly in a black trench coat with sunglasses shielding half her face, exuding an air of both peculiarity and mystery.
On such a romantic holiday, her solo appearance in this place seemed a bit out of place.
But she didn't care.
Nesting in a corner, Sharon was perfectly hidden by a lush potted plant next to her. Through the dense foliage, her gaze fell on a man and woman sitting five tables away.
They looked so sweet together.
The man was tall and handsome, while the woman was lovely and alluring. Anyone who glanced their way would see a couple meant for each other and genuinely wish them well.
But to Sharon, they were utterly disgusting.
Because that man was her husband, Benjamin Gardiner, and the woman was his mistress, Mia Collins.
Yesterday, Mia sent her a series of photos and chat logs telling that her husband was cheating on her.
Sharon was unwilling to accept the truth; she was reluctant to believe it. Yet now, having witnessed it firsthand, she found no justification for her disbelief. The man she cherished most had not only broken her trust but also betrayed their marriage.
And she herself, as vulnerable as an ostrich, chose to hide in the shadows rather than stepping into the spotlight to confront them.
When a waiter came to take her order, he couldn't help but take a second glance at the lady because of her peculiar behavior.
Sharon raised her head, removed her sunglasses, and, with her gaze still fixed on her husband not far away, asked as if nothing happened, 'What did they order? It looks delicious."
The waiter followed her gaze and looked past to see a man carefully helping a woman beside him cut her steak piece by piece. He smiled and said, "They ordered the Couples Set Meal C. Our couples courses are quite famous. Would you like to order one?"
Sharon found the comment highly ironic. She let out a cold snort and replied, "I am by myself. How do you know they are a couple?"
The waiter looked a bit puzzled, "Aren't all the people here today couples? Just look at how nice the gentleman is to his lover; he's even helping her cut her steak."
At this, Sharon felt a chill seep through her. She furrowed her brow, stifled the bitterness rising in her throat, and said in a low voice, "I'll have a single serving, please."
Sensing something amiss in her tone, the waiter coughed discreetly before responding politely, "Certainly, please wait a moment."
"Thank you," Sharon replied as she reached for her phone, which had been set aside, and dialed her husband's number.
She hid behind a plant, watching him pick up the phone and stare blankly at it before making a 'shush' gesture toward his mistress. Only then did he answer the call. "Hello, what's wrong?"
Listening to the deliberately hushed voice on the phone, Sharon found it ridiculous—both for Benjamin, and for herself.
Taking a deep breath, Sharon tried to sound as normal as possible. "I was just having dinner and thought I'd call to see if you got a decent meal at the office."
Sitting opposite him, Mia mouthed words to Benjamin. Although Sharon was a distance away, she could still make out her asking, "Is that your old lady?"
Benjamin nodded in her direction and slid a bowl of sweet soup toward her. He answered the phone with a hint of impatience, "I'm really busy, you know that. I've told you repeatedly not to call me during work hours. If there’s anything, we can talk about it when I get home."
