Chapter 3

I fell asleep in the living room without realizing it. When I opened my eyes again, it was already bright outside. I suddenly felt dizzy and congested, probably from the cold night air.

Emma suddenly opened the door, happily talking on the phone, "Yes, yes, follow the location I sent. Four people for cleaning, as soon as possible. Yes, I have relatives arriving this morning. I can pay extra."

I looked at Emma confused. Relatives? Most of her relatives were estranged, and my side of the family had cut ties.

A bad feeling rose in my heart.

I shook my head. It couldn't be. She said yesterday that the blonde man wouldn't come to China.

She promised me it wouldn't disturb our life.

Seeing Emma bustling about happily, I couldn't help but ask, "Emma, who's coming?"

Emma seemed to just remember my presence.

She smiled awkwardly, came over, and said softly, "James, I'm sorry. Hamilton suddenly decided to bring the kids overnight. He only told me after they were already on the plane. I couldn't stop them."

"Hamilton is impulsive and emotional. Please don't be angry."

She hugged me briefly, patting my back, "Don't worry, they'll only stay for two days at most. I'll send them back right away, okay?"

"Don't be upset. Look, I still need to prepare the room and get things ready for the kids. There's so much to do..."

"Oh, right, Hamilton mentioned wanting to try some Chinese specialty liquors. Could you go to the supermarket and buy a few kinds? He also wants to try some local specialties. Please buy those too. I'm too busy to go myself. For pajamas and toiletries, just choose the best ones."

As Emma spoke, she started directing the cleaners to tidy our bedroom, changing the sheets and carpet.

Watching her instruct the cleaners to move my things to the downstairs guest room, I couldn't hold back my anger anymore and shouted, "Emma, what do you mean? Letting him stay in our bedroom?"

Emma didn't even pause, "You can sleep anywhere. The master bedroom is spacious, and Hamilton is bringing two children. They'll be more comfortable there."

I asked coldly, "You mean I should sleep downstairs while my wife accompanies her lover and illegitimate children right above me?"

Emma froze for a moment, then angrily retorted, "James, how can a grown man be so petty? What do you mean by lover and illegitimate children? I've told you, they are my family too. Hamilton flew all the way here overnight. He's accepted you."

"He's not even jealous about you being here. Why are you fussing over a room? When did you become so narrow-minded and small?"

I was stunned for a moment. So this is how she saw me. Two men, and she couldn't distinguish between us.

So when her lover comes, I should be considerate and buy food and drinks for him, otherwise I'm narrow-minded and small?

Anger erupted. I smashed the vase on the coffee table, "Emma, you're cheating on me and calling me narrow-minded? Then tell me, what's not narrow-minded?"

"A threesome? He takes the first half of the night, I take the second? Or I get odd days, he gets even days, and you flip a coin on Sundays?"

Seeing me red-faced and furiously pointing at her, Emma threw down the towel in her hand, equally enraged, "James, you're despicable. How did you become so filthy and dirty-minded? I work hard for this family, and all you can think about is that kind of thing? Are you even human?"

We erupted into our first fierce argument since marriage, arguing as if the sky was falling.