Not too long ago, during a business meeting. Alastor had consumed an excessive amount of alcohol. It was Felicia who had taken on the responsibility of getting him home. Moreover, she took the initiative to add Anastasia on WhatsApp. She introduced herself as a recently hired secretary for Alastor, expressing eagerness to interact with Anastasia in the days ahead.
âWhat an ironic twist. Alastor openly hired his exâgirlfriend to join his company,â Anastasia thought to herself with a hint of Sarcasm.
Subsequently, Anastasia discovered the reason behind Alastorâs excessive drinking that day. It had been prompted by the presence of his collaboratorâs female secretary who had joined them for drinks during the meeting, and this secretary was none other than Felicia.
Felicia, who had been abroad for four years, had returned.
However, Alastor was already married.
Alastor was a domineering man. Thus, he stubbornly poached Felicia from her former company and offered her a position as a secretary in his own company.
His reason was that the collaboratorâs boss was disreputable and widely known to be morally reprehensible, with at reputation as a pervert within their industry.
On the other hand, Alastor himself played the role of the knight in shining armor.
Alastor didnât return home until nine oâclock the following morning. Upon stepping into the house, he was met with the sight of Anastasia sitting in the dining room, her complexion pale.
âHave you had something to eat?â Alastorâs tone held a touch of weariness, his voice maintaining its characteristic low register. He continued, âIâll go take a shower.â
He put on an act of casualness, believing his facade to be flawless, hence he didnât feel the need to offer any explanations.
Unbeknownst to him, Felicia had already divulged the entire situation on his behalf.
Anastasia took a deep breath and rose from her seat, proceeding in her usual manner to pick up the suit that Alastor had discarded.
However, Anastasiaâs fingers momentarily stiffened. She found the situation oddly amusing.
Felicia didnât let any opportunity slip by to provoke Anastasia. In the latterâs opinion, the lipstick smudge on the collar of Alastorâs shirt seemed rather juvenile.
âIâve placed your clothes outside, Alastor. Anastasiaâs voice was gentle, devoid of any revealing emotions, much like his own demeanor.
Alastor embraced Anastasia and pressed a kiss to her forehead. âI wasnât there for you on Christmas Eve, but Iâll make it up to you today. What would you like as a gift?â
Anastasiaâs smile appeared strained when she heard his words, and Alastorâs touch now brought a sense of repulsion.
She thought, âHe only has his first crush in his heart. Why did he entangle himself with me? This isnât fair to meâ¦â
âLetâs go to the beach for a walk this afternoon,â Anastasia suggested.
Anastasia was a foolish woman. She had refrained from utilizing much of Alastorâs wealth throughout their fourâyear marriage. Moreover, she harbored an aversion to what society deemed luxurious possessions.
In essence, she resembled an ornament meticulously chosen by Alastor to fulfill the role of his wife.
However, Felicia stood in stark contrast. She exuded an air of someone inherently meant to be pampered by men.
âAre you saving money for me?â Alastor arched his eyebrows, leaning his chin on Anastasiaâs shoulder.
He resembled a weary bird returning to its nest, finally finding solace.
Anastasia speculated that Alastor had grown accustomed to her presence, seeing her as an integral aspect of his âhome.â Nonetheless, she recognized that she occupied the role of a wife rather than a lover.
Approaching noon. Anastasia came across another instance of Felicia flaunting her lifestyle on Instagram.
Felicia had shared a picture of a handbag boasting the latest design. Despite being just a bag, its price tag was in the tens of thousands of dollars.
The caption read: [He always told me that true love is demonstrated when men are willing to spend on women. What can I say? I adore it.]
Anastasia discreetly captured a screenshot of the post. Subsequently, she set her phone aside with an air of detachment, anticipating Alastorâs company for their trip to the beach.