Chapter 3

A cool pair of arms wrapped around me, snapping me out of my thoughts.

Jordan buried his face in the crook of my neck, inhaling deeply. "What are you daydreaming about so intensely, my beautiful Joy?"

I ran my fingers through his hair. He pulled me closer into his embrace, pressing dense, breathless kisses down on my lips and neck.

In the hazy haze of passion, my nose caught the faintest trace of an unfamiliar perfume.

Afterward, he held me close, gently patting my back to lull me to sleep.

"Jordan... I was made principal dancer tonight."

"Mm..." he mumbled groggily against my shoulder, offering nothing more.

I didn't say another word, letting sleep claim me.

The next morning over breakfast, Jordan noticed the bouquet sitting on the living room table.

After a night without water, the petals had wilted slightly.

"Did a fan send you flowers?" A jealous edge crept into his tone.

"The company gave them to me. After the curtain came down last night, Director Miller officially announced my promotion to principal."

"You made principal dancer?! I knew it! My Joy is simply the best!"

He swept me up in a bear hug, planting a loud, sloppy kiss on my cheek, grinning like a massive, overgrown puppy.

I gave him a playful, sidelong glare and patted his hand where it rested on my waist.

"Finish your breakfast."

Martha slammed her forks onto the table with a sharp clatter. "Can we eat a proper meal in peace, or are you two going to disgust me with this mushy nonsense at the table?"

Jordan smiled and placed a fried egg on her plate.

"Mom, Joy just achieved something huge! Your daughter-in-law is a principal dancer now—the very top tier!" He gave a huge thumbs up. "I'm so proud of her, I can hardly sit still. Let's go out for a celebratory dinner tonight."

Saying this, he reached across the table to hold my hand. The warmth and affection in his eyes seemed undeniably genuine.

"Hmph. The only thing that would make me happy is if your wife gave me a chubby grandson," Martha grumbled sourly.

"Mom, come on, eat your food."

After breakfast, Martha went out to play cards with her friends. Jordan cuddled with me on the sofa, watching TV while browsing restaurants on his phone to make a reservation.

"Buzz. Buzz. Buzz."

His phone vibrated. I glanced casually at the screen. The caller ID read: "Marie".

His assistant.

"I'm so sorry, Joy. Something urgent just blew up at the office. Can we push our dinner to tomorrow?" His face darkened immediately after hanging up.

"It’s Saturday," I said, watching him hastily throw on his jacket. "You have to go into the office on a weekend?"

"That's the burden of being the boss. A founder never truly gets a weekend off. Go to sleep early tonight, don't wait up for me."

With that, he leaned down, pressed a kiss to my cheek, grabbed his car keys and phone, and rushed out the door.

The apartment fell utterly silent, feeling oddly hollow.

I pulled out my phone and messaged my best friend, Lexi, sharing the news of my promotion on SnapChat.

[Well, well! Principal Dancer Joy, you definitely owe me a fancy dinner for this!]

[Why wait? Let's do it today.]

[Wait, isn't it Saturday? Your clingy husband actually let you off his leash?] Lexi teased.

[He had an emergency at work. Overtime.]

[No wonder! Get dressed and come out. It’s rare enough that he isn't glued to your side.]

My cheeks warmed slightly. With my exhausting schedule of daily rehearsals and frequent tours, Jordan usually smothered me with affection whenever I had a day off.

[Where are we eating?] Lexi asked.

[How about The Glass House? Jordan was just about to book a table there before he had to leave.]

[Deal! All hail Principal Dancer Reynolds!]

I didn't have The Glass House’s reservation line, so I decided to drive over early and put our names on the walk-in waitlist.

After finding a parking spot in a remote corner of the underground garage, I was just about to unbuckle my seatbelt when a familiar figure stepped out of an SUV parked diagonally across from me.

It was Jordan.

Before I could even wonder why he was here instead of working overtime at his office, the passenger door swung open.

A young woman stepped out.

She walked right up to him, looped her arms tightly around his neck, and pulled him down into a passionate, breathless kiss right in front of the car.

I stared in absolute, paralyzing disbelief.

The very man who, only hours ago, had showered me with love and promises was now wrapped around another woman in a dim parking garage, kissing her with unrestrained hunger.

All the blood in my body rushed backward. My heart seized violently, and a sharp cramp tore through my stomach, making me gag.

With trembling fingers, I raised my phone and hit record.

The agony in my gut forced me to curl forward, gasping for air, desperately trying to swallow down the suffocation crushing my lungs.

When I finally managed to straighten my spine, I felt as if a part of me had died right there. My limbs were completely drained of strength; even the simple act of breathing sent stabbing pains radiating through my chest.

I sat in the driver's seat, numb and entirely lost.

My phone chimed—Lexi's incoming call. "Hey, I'm almost there. Where are you parked?"

"Lexi..." My voice was barely a whisper. "I'm down in the underground garage... Can you please come get me?"