Chapter 4

I didn't rush in immediately. Instead, I leaned slightly toward the lapel mic and whispered:

"They just walked inside. I begged him to take me to this exact restaurant last month. He told me he hated the place."

"Turns out, he didn't hate the restaurant. He just hated the person asking to go with him."

My voice choked up with just the right amount of sorrow, but my eyes remained completely dry.

"Now, I'm going in. I want to ask him to his face if Miss Chloe is his most important 'client' tonight."

I pushed open the heavy brass doors of the restaurant.

The maître d' stepped forward with a polished smile. I gave Ryan's name.

"My husband made a reservation. Ryan Mitchell."

The host checked the tablet, his eyebrows twitching slightly.

"Mr. Mitchell has a table for two by the window, ma'am. And you are...?"

"I'm his wife," I gave him a radiant smile. "I'm here to give him a little anniversary surprise."

The host hesitated for a fraction of a second before gesturing, "Right this way, Mrs. Mitchell."

Ryan was the first to spot me. The smug, playful smile on his face instantly froze.

A flash of panic darted across Chloe's eyes, but she quickly masked it, her chin lifting slightly in subtle defiance.

Live comments:

[LMAO LOOK AT HIS FACE! He looks like he just saw the Grim Reaper!]

[The side chick is smirking?! Where does she get the audacity?!]

[Hold your ground, Nora! Destroy them!]

Ryan shot up from his seat, his face turning a furious shade of red.

"Nora?! What the hell are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here?" I echoed his words, my voice chillingly calm.

"On our wedding anniversary, I couldn't reach my husband. My GPS told me you were at The Grandview, and then I followed your car all the way here."

"Ryan, don't you think you owe me an explanation?"

Nearby diners began glancing over, hushed murmurs rippling through the elegant dining room.

Ryan lowered his voice, his teeth clenched in anger.

"Did you stalk me? Have you lost your damn mind? Whatever this is, we talk about it at home!"

"Home?" I chuckled softly.

"Which home? Our townhouse, or your love nest at The Grandview?"

Chloe stood up then, instantly slipping into her victim persona, wide-eyed and innocent.

"Nora, please, you've got this all wrong."

"Mr. Mitchell and I are just celebrating a closed deal. Our project went through today, so he offered to buy me dinner as a reward."

"We were only—"

"Do you normally wrap your arms around your boss's bicep to discuss business?" I interrupted, my gaze slicing down to her manicured hand, which was still resting on Ryan's forearm.

Chloe's face flushed from pale to crimson.

Ryan violently shook her hand off and lunged to grab my wrist.

"Nora, stop making a scene! You're humiliating us!"

"Chloe is just my assistant! We are literally talking about work! Stop acting crazy!"

"Acting crazy?" I pulled up my phone, pointing the camera straight at his sweating face.

"Ryan! Today is our third wedding anniversary!"

"I cooked, booked a table, and waited for you! You said you were busy!"

"I tried so hard to be the supportive wife, understanding your stress! Meanwhile, you were busy leaving your penthouse love nest with another woman for a candlelit dinner!"

"Is this your anniversary gift to me?!"