hapter 3
Clatter! The glass door swung open.
Kaiden stepped out, wearing an apron and holding two dishes in his hands.
With the light behind him, I could barely see his face, but his tone was soft and kind.
“What are you doing just standing there? Come eat.”
I didn’t respond.
My eyes suddenly burned, so I turned away and headed for the bathroom. “You go ahead. I’ll wash my hands first.”
When I came back, he was still sitting there, not touching his food.
He gave me a concerned look and asked, “What took you so long? Are you okay?”
I shook my head and told him I was fine.
We ate in an unusual silence that night.
Normally, after work, I would talk non–stop, telling him everything that happened, good or bad.
If he ever got annoyed, he’d stuff my mouth with food just to shut me
- up.
I’d playfully hit him back.
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And then we’d both end up laughing, filling the whole place with joy.
After we ate, I immediately sat down on the sofa, while Kaiden took the initiative to clear the table and wash the dishes.
I turned my head and glanced toward the kitchen.
Because of the way I was positioned, I couldn’t see Kaiden, but I could hear the sound of water running.
The esteemed heir of the Xavier family must have grown up with every privilege, yet here, in my home, he was just another househusband.
Not only did he handle the cooking and dishwashing, but he also took care of all the household chores, including cleaning the bathroom daily.
As I recalled those moments, I couldn’t help but smile slightly.
But soon, a wave of sadness washed over me.
Seven years, Kaiden. What were you thinking when you lied to me?
Did you think I was that stupid?
With Hanna’s help, I finally finished the project, became well–known in the company, and earned a generous bonus.
I stared at the large sum of money in my account.
I should have been overjoyed, unsure of what to do with all this happiness.
But in that moment, I was filled with conflicting emotions.
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I had even found a place I wanted, waiting for my bonus to arrive so I could make the down payment and settle in the city with Kaiden.
But now, everything had changed.
I drove to the real estate office.
I stood outside for a long time, still unable to bring myself to go inside.
On the way back, I passed a crossroads.
That’s when I remembered Kaiden mentioning that his office was nearby.
For some reason, I turned onto that road.
Before long, I arrived at Kaiden’s workplace, which turned out to be a real estate agency.
As I walked in, a staff member quickly approached and asked if I
needed assistance.
I asked, “Excuse me, is there an employee named Kaiden here?”
The staff member appeared puzzled, paused for a moment, and shook their head. “Sorry, Ma’am. I don’t know anyone by that name.”
Although I had expected this answer, my heart still dropped.
Of course.
If even his identity was fake, how could his job be real?
I pulled out a photo of Kaiden and asked, “Do you recognize this person?”
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The staff member glanced at the photo, then their expression changed.
“Ah, I know him now.”
The staff explained, “This gentleman is a VIP guest. He left a set of car keys with us. The car is parked in the garage next door. He comes every weekday morning to pick it up and leaves, then returns it in the evening.”
I was at a loss for words.
I can’t quite express how I feel right now.
It’s like the autumn wind blowing through fallen leaves, empty and desolate.
I forced a smile at the staff and said, “Thank you for your help.”
As I got into the car to leave, I took one last glance at the agency.
It was small and run–down.
Compared to the Xavier Group, it was like comparing an ant to an elephant.
I remembered how Kaiden would wake up early every weekday to make breakfast, then head to work on time.
Sometimes, when I accompanied him, I would drop him off at the
office.
After he got out of the car, he would walk around to the driver’s side.
I’d roll down the window and he would lean in to kiss me.
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We would smile at each other, ready to start a new day.
These beautiful images are still vivid, but they’re all fake.
It’s just a mere illusion, nothing more.
I gazed up at the sky and let out a deep sigh.
Kaiden, the rich heir adored by everyone, really went to extreme measures to fool me.
Just like Kaiden’s friend said.
For a regular girl like me, I should feel privileged by this, shouldn’t I?
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