Chapter 4
When Zoe heard Adrian mention that Isis was thinking about divorcing him, her instincts kicked in immediately.
nell by Isis’s face that this wasn’t some emotional outburst–it had to be something serious that pushed her to this point.
She could tell
But a divorce right now? That’s not the smartest move. Zoe thought to herself, surprisingly calm.
Instead of arguing with Isis, she just turned and walked off. ‘It’s just a meal, right? I don’t even need to lift a finger, and I still make her pay:
Back at the hall, Zoe didn’t waste any time cooking. Instead, she ordered a ridiculously expensive meal from Sans City’s top Regal Hotel. Foie gras, lobster, rib–eye weak, caviar–the whole nine yards
She wasn’t a VIP, so she couldn’t just get delivery, but Zoe knew how to work her connections, and a call to Hannah Whise in her circle had it all arranged.
Zoe wasn’t shy about spending money, though. In her mind, the bill was definitely going to land on Isis’s lap.
Thinking that his would be the one footing the bill, Zor cheerfully asked Adrian to invite her to join them for dinner. But Isis, consumed by thoughts of divorce, wasn’t in the mood to share a meal with them.
Still, noticing the vibe in the Anderson household, she realized that tonight wasn’t the right time to bring up the divorce. So, she decided to get the lay of the land, see exactly how her soon–to–be–ex and his mistress were secretly working together.
As she came downstairs. Isis spotted Layla sitting next to Zoe, both of them chatting and getting along like old pals.
When Adrian and Isis walked down, Layla froze.
Isis was dressed simply in white loungewear, her long hair flowing like seaweed, and her face was fresh and naturally stunning, Adrian, in equally casual clothes, walked beside her, and they looked every bit like the perfect couple.
Layla’s face went ghostly white, even worse than when she’d used a ton of foundation to hide her imperfections. She’d worn a pretty dress and ages perfecting her makeup. hoping to steal the spotlight from his.
But to her surprise. Isis looked effortlessly beautiful, with not a single drop of makeup.
spent
And the thing was. Isis’s beauty came so naturally, she gave off this undeniable “I belong here” energy. Layla, on the other hand, despite all her prep. looked like a guest crashing the party.
Frustration bubbled up in Layla
“Adrian. Isis, you’re here! Come sit come sit!” Zoe bearned at them, practically glowing with excitement.
Layla quickly snapped out of it and greeted them in a sweet voice, “Adrian, Isis”
She and Isis had seen each other a few times before, and Layla always used that same friendly tone. But this time, Isis caught the subtle chill in her voice and couldn’t help but smile a little too smugly.
Instead of getting upset, Isis just
is just smiled an
and said, “You’re Adrian’s colleague, right? Well, we’re not exactly close, so you can call me Mrs. Anderson
Since they weren’t officially divorced yet, Isis had no problem playing the role of Adrian’s wife and throwing in a liute jab at Layla
As expected. Layla’s face went even paler, and her smile froze in place. The word “Mrs. Anderson” felt like a lump stuck in her throat, making her feel downright disgusted.
Adrian’s face also darkened, but given his situation with Isis, he knew he couldn’t argue with that, so he stayed quiet.
Layla stood frozen, her lip caught between her teeth, eyes burning with a mix of humiliation and anger as she stared at Adrian.
Adran met her gaze, regret washing over him. The whole situation felt like a tragedy unfolding between two lovers doomed by face, and it tugged at the hearts of anyone witnessing it
The tension in the air was thick, almost unbearable. Zoe, sensing the heavy silence, jumped in to break it. “Alright, enough standing around. Let’s sit down and rat‘
She didn’t say “Mrs. Anderson“—but I
Isis wasn’t looking for that kind of acknowledgment. Her goal was clean make Layla squirm.
As the dinner table, William took the head of the table, with Zoe beside him. Layla sat next to Zoe. Isis, taking her seat directly across from Layla, was technically supposed to sit beside Adrian, but he wasn’t having any of it.
1136 AM
Chapter 1
Without hesitation, Adrian slid into the seat next to Layla, his expression softening just a touch. Layla’s eyes flickered with a momentary satisfaction, but it was gone in an instant. Isis, ever sharp, caught i
Isis glanced up, her eyes unreadable, taking in the scene with a glance. Without a word, she stood and moved to Adrian’s usual spot, silently making her point that he wasn’t taking it–he could lower his own status if he wanted to.
Willam and Zoe caught the shift. They exchanged a look, both noticing how Adrian and Layla were chatting like no one else mattered
They shook their heads, unimpressed. This kid’s got no clue, William thought. He’s the head of the family and Isis’s husband–how the hell does:
he think it’s fine to sit next to another woman!
Clearing his throat, William nudged Adrian. “Adrian, you and Layla can talk shop after dinner. Sit here, let’s eat”
“Huh?” Adrian looked up, confused.
It wasn’t until he saw his dad keep pointing at the empty seat next to Isis that it finally clicked–right, he was still married to her. He was supposed
To next to her.
Frustrationbubbled up in Adrian. This family dynamic shit was a nightmare to him. He could feel his parents‘ disapproval radiating from across the table, so he reluctantly got up and moved next to Isis.
“Great Layla’s gonna be pissed again, he thought, letting out a frustrated sigh
William had hoped his son would sit next to him, but with Isis already having made a move, they weren’t about to push it further.
Layla’s smagness quickly evaporated, replaced by a bitter sting. Watching Adrian sit next to Isis made her blood boil.
Especially when she took a closer look at Isis. Her skin was flawless–like porcelain, so delicate it looked like it might break if touched. Layla couldn’t help but feel a jolt of jealousy. She was stunning, no denying it.
As dinner began, Iis eyed the spread Zoe had put together. “Wow, this is a feast, she thought. The lobster and beef–definitely from Regal Hotel’s chefs–showed the Andersons weren’t cutting corners.
Isis remembered the holiday meals when she and Adrian were together–nothing close to this. The difference in status was glaring. Zoe, sensing an opportunity, showered Layla with attention, piling her plate high and chatting like they were mother and daughter.
li ate quietly, her gaze observing the whole performance with calm detachment.
William turned to Lay. “So. I hear you’re the chief physician at St. Stephen’s now?”
Layla similed modestly. “Sort of I’m acting chief for now, but I’ll be confirmed in six months”
William smiled back, clearly impressed. “That’s pretty impressive!” He seemed to be imagining all the perks of having a chief physician in the family for their business.
Adrian, hearing the praise for Layla, straightened up. “Layla studied abroad. Her medical skills are top–tier–better than most of the chief physicians at St. Stephen’s!” His admiration was obvious.
Back in school, Layla had been the top student, and Adrian had fallen for her the moment he laid eyes on her. Since then, she’d always been “the
William and Zoe couldn’t stop showering Layla with praise. “Dr. Wilson, you’re seriously impressive”
In their minds, with a daughter–in–law like her, the Anderson family’s future looked damn bright
Compared to Isis, who seemed more and more useless to them, Layla was a powerhouse–smart, successful, and a perfect fit for their son. “This isn’t even her best skill” Adrian added, his eyes lighting up. “Layla’s biggest talent is in Stream Cut–it’s an incredibly advanced technique. Only a handful of doctors in the world can do it. She’s a medical prodigy
Oner again, William and Zoe were all smiles, nodding like proud parents.
But when has heard “Stream Cut her eyes narrowed. ‘Stream Cut? Layla knows how to do that?
She was taken aback. She’d never heard of it before. Thinking back to her past life, she realized she’d been too caught up in running the kitchen that night to carch wind of this
Forcing herself to keep it together, his feigned curiosity. “Stream Cut! Sound’s pretty impressive. Where did you learn it, Dr. Wilson?“
23
11:36 AM
Chapter 4
Layla shot her a look full of disdain. “Didn’t know you were into medical techniques. Isis. Did you study anything even remotely related to medicine in college?”
Adnan scoffed “Hell, she didn’t even go to college, let alone study medicine”
like she was shocked. “Wait, Isis didn’t make it into college?”
Layla acted like
In this day and age, people still don’t go to college? No wonder she ended up just a housewife, Layla thought to herself, looking down on Isis with alem judgment
bus wasn’t fazed in the slightest, sipping her coffer like she couldn’t care less. “I told you, just call me Mrs. Anderson Why are you still calling me by my first name. Dr. Wilsond
Layla, who had been basking in a sense of superiority, immediately felt awkward when she heard those words.
Isis a comment was a cold reminder that, no matter how useless she seemed, she was still at the end of
of the day, Adrian’s wife.
Adrian, clearly pissed off, shot back coldly. “Well considering Layla’s about to be my bow, I think you can forget the whole Mrs. Anderson” thing”
Iss let out a dry laugh. They couldn’t even be bothered to take it for a second. In her past life, she had been so blind, stupidly thinking their “friendship” was just that–nothing more.
Right then, Alice, who’d been quietly eating, chimed in “iss you still haven’t paid me for my tuition
AD
