Chapter 119
Sullivan gazed at Megan’s serene face, glowing in the twilight’s gentle embrace, her beauty a soft whisper in th
He couldn’t help himself and leaned in close, his breath warm against her ear as he whispered something saucy–a playful jest te would be innocent enough between loving spouses, but to Megan, it was repulsive.
Behind Sullivan, a maid peeked around the corner, curiosity etched on her face.
Megan’s voice was a gentle reminder, “Isn’t it time for dinner?”
Sullivan caught her slender wrist, chatting casually as they walked towards the dining room. He mentioned the evening’s special–crab, freshly delivered that afternoon.
“Isn’t that your favorite? Make sure you have an extra serving or two,” he said with a lighthearted nudge.
Megan offered a faint smile in return.
At dinner, she didn’t let her discontent show, nor did she confront her husband about his behavior.
When he played the doting lover, she played along.
Later that night, when Sullivan sought intimacy, Megan did not refuse. But just when the moment was upon them, her hands trembling, she reached into the bedside drawer and pulled out a small box, asking him to wear protection,
Sullivan paused, taken aback.
Truth be told, he didn’t like to use it, and perhaps neither did Megan,
He kissed her softly, murmuring his longing for a child, mentioning how he was nearing thirty and many of his childhood friends were already blessed with families…
Megan looked up at him, her fingers tenderly tracing the lines of his handsome face.
So dashing!
No wonder he was confident in swiftly winning her over, reigniting the spark she felt for him, Sullivan definitely had the charm to do so.
She concealed the emotions in her eyes, her voice gentle, “It’s too soon, Sullivan. We still need to find our rhythm, and besides, aren’t you swamped with work? I’d want you to have the energy to care for a child when the time comes.”
Sullivan propped himself up, gazing down at her.
After a moment, he agreed with a lingering kiss.
Post tender moments, Megan followed her usual routine of a relaxing bath and skincare.
Meanwhile, Sullivan retreated to his study.
A wife often knows if her husband’s heart lies elsewhere. Though Megan bore his touch, she was acutely aware that Sullivan’s affections were spent on another.
During their intimate moment, his eyes had drifted
moment of release.
Megan suspected it had something to do with Cressida.
Recently, Cora had been telling her that what goes around comes around. Cressida’s misfortune with her medication was her karma.
After her beauty routine, with Sullivan still absent, Megan decided to sort through his discarded clothes in the laundry room. While emptying his pockets, she found an invitation to a private soiree, clearly in the handwriting Luke. However, the invite was addressed to Cressida.
A bitter smile crossed Megan’s lips. She returned Sullivan’s coat to its place and stepped out onto the balcony.
The night was cool as she wrapped her arms around herself.
Three years of a cold marriage, and she still harbored hopes for his affection?
She
ridiculed herself inwardly, “Megan, you’re dreaming!”
O & F F G D E G S C
She put the invitation back in the coat pocket and left everything as it was. She afforded Sullivan his dignity and, in doing so, preserved her own, even as her heart was punctured anew.
She lay in bed, dimming the bedside lamp to its lowest setting.
Sullivan still hadn’t returned to their bedroom.
Perhaps he was in his study, pouring his heart out to his mistress, engaged in his own version of a platonic love affair.
In the study, enveloped in a haze of smoke, Sullivan was indeed thinking of Cressida, but Megan was on his mind, too.
1/2
10:46
Chapter
Leaning back on the sofa, a cigarette dangling from his fingers, he held a medical report from the experts at the Lowry Hospital. After multiple consultations, it was clear that Cressida was facing kidney failure.
Two years, that was the optimistic estimate.
More likely, she had just one year left to live.
