Getting Back His ‘Dead’ Wife novel Chapter 2

Chapter 2

That night, we slept in separate rooms.

It was the first argument where I hadn’t been the first to cave.

Cole seemed thrown off by it. The next morning, he looked at me with disbelief. “You didn’t make breakfast?”

I nodded, my tone flat. “I have work too. I don’t have time to cook for two.”

He stared at me for a long moment, then gave a short, derisive laugh. “Fine, Wendy. Keep acting out.”

When he slammed the door on his way out, a wave of perfume wafted in after him.

It was so cloying it ruined my appetite.

In five years together, he’d never worn cologne.

Today, he must have had a particularly important appointment to keep.

I forced down my curiosity and went to the office, where I submitted the paperwork for my three-day business trip. My colleagues, buzzing with excitement, insisted on a team dinner to celebrate my promotion

and the upcoming assignment.

Midway through the meal, a text from Cole lit up my phone. Working late tonight. Don’t wait up.

I didn’t reply.

Drying my hands in the restroom, I was about to head back to our private room when a burst of raucous cheering erupted from the neighboring booth.

“I can’t believe we’re seeing Cole and Mia in the same frame again after five years! My heart!”

My steps faltered. Peering through the gap in the door, I felt the blood drain from my face.

There they were. Cole and Mia, sitting side by side, smiles on their faces-a kind of ease and happiness I’d

never seen from him in all our time together.

Mia’s soft, delicate voice floated out. “Oh, don’t say things like that. His fiancée will get upset if she hears.” She turned slightly, her expression one of faux concern. “Cole, does she know you’re out with us tonight?

Why didn’t she come?”

Before Cole could answer, one of his friends scoffed loudly. “What ‘fiancée’? If it we picking her out, she’d never have had a chance!”

“Mia, Cole’s been waiting for you all this time, you know.”

Cole’s mom

“You think he’s been grinding at work all these years for what? To break free from his mom’s control so he can finally marry the one he really wants!”

I blinked rapidly, forcing back the stinging prickle behind my eyes. I saw Cole then-not denying it, not

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protesting. Just smiling faintly, tacitly agreeing.

There had been times during his cold spells when I’d considered leaving. Once, after a few drinks, he’d pulled me close, his eyes red-rimmed, and swore, “Everything I’m doing now, all this hard work, it’s to build a better

life for you.”

Lost in the painful memory, I didn’t notice the door swinging open until it was too late.

Mia stood there, wearing a perfectly practiced look of surprise. A knowing smile played on her lips. “Oh! Are you with the waitstaff? We don’t need anything at the moment~”

Silence fell for a beat inside the room, then erupted into raucous laughter.

“Hahaha, Mia, you’re too much! That’s Cole’s fiancée!”

“Honestly, though, Mia’s not wrong. Isn’t Wendy basically the Bennetts’ live-in help?”

Any pretense of respect was gone. They mocked me openly now, their laughter sharp and cruel.

In their eyes, I was just the woman who’d connived her way into Cole’s life by sucking up to his mother.

I dug my nails into my palms, the pain grounding me, stopping me from turning and fleeing.

Mia offered an apologetic little smile. “Wendy… did you come because you saw my video?”

I frowned, confused. “What video?”

She pulled out her phone, tapped a few times, and held up her profile. The latest post was a picture of her

d Cole, smiling together.

haven’t seen that-” I began.

But she wasn’t finished. With another tap, she brought up the viral video from last night-the one about the

streaming subscription.

She blinked, her eyes wide with feigned innocence.

“Wendy, last night… I set that video to ‘Visible to You Only.’ Isn’t that funny?

In just one night, the views went from 100,000 to 110,000. You must have been watching it on repeat all

night. I hope it didn’t keep you up~”

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