Page 3

The silence broke with the sharp buzz of his phone. He pulled it out, checking the screen, then looked back at Krystal. She stood still, her hands clenched and her expression unreadable, those big eyes looking up at him.

He answered the call without a second thought.

“Esther?”

The room was so quiet that the voice on the other end came through loud and clear.

“Lorenzo, my head is killing me. I think it’s another flare-up. Can you please come? I’m scared…”

His shoulders tensed immediately. “I’ll be there soon,” he said and ended the call.

Lines of worry creased his face—rare for a man who never let emotions show. Without wasting another second, he turned to leave.

But Krystal grabbed his hand from behind, stopping him.

“Eat something before you go,” she said quickly, concern in her voice.

He didn’t even look at her.

“Don’t bother me.”

He yanked his hand away and walked out, disappearing without turning back.

“Baby,” she called out, her voice tight with worry, but the door shut behind him before she could even finish the word.

She stood still for a moment, staring at the door.

Then, her shoulders dropped. Her body relaxed, and the sweet, delicate expression vanished. A smirk slowly pulled at her lips as she rolled her eyes.

She walked back to the table, placing lids on the containers and packing everything back into the lunchbox.

“Don’t bother me,” she mocked in his voice, scoffing. “As if I’m dying to. You think I’m actually in love with you? Please!”

She huffed, bitterness dripping from every word. “I’ve been playing the doting wife just to stay close to you, you arrogant prick. You really think you're some kind of irreplaceable Prince Charming, don’t you?”

She let out a small laugh, amused with herself. Just then, footsteps echoed behind her.

Her body stiffened.

‘Wait—didn’t that Cactus already leave?!’ she panicked. ‘Was I speaking too loud? Did he hear everything?’

She spun around, her heart racing, only to see a tall figure entering through the glass door.

The man wasn’t Lorenzo.

It was Xander—his secretary.

She exhaled sharply, one hand going to her chest. “Holy crap, he scared me…” she muttered, trying to calm her heartbeat.

Quickly, she turned back to packing the lunchbox. Her hands were still shaking slightly.

‘If that Cactus ever finds out I’ve been lying to him for two years, he’ll skin me alive and feed me to the crows. Not even my bones would be left behind,’ she thought, only half-joking.

Xander stepped further into the room, watching her closely. He saw the tremble in her fingers, the stiffness in her shoulders.

Krystal tried to compose herself. She adjusted her dress, smoothed her hair, and wiped the stress from her face, putting on her usual calm front.

Xander's eyes softened. ‘Mrs. Moretti really loves Mr. Moretti,’ he thought, pity curling in his chest. ‘After hearing he wants a divorce, she must be heartbroken.’