Chapter 31
I’ll go with my friends. Ricky’s birthday is today and we promised to celebrate it together. What’s weird? My friends and I always celebrate each other’s birthdays or other important days together, Lizzy chattered, answering me like a machine
gun
I was stunned to hear Lizzy’s high tone of voice. Leora had never raised her voice to me even when she was angry or upset
with me.
I just asked about the message that came into her phone, when she came back to get her phone that she had left behind. The strange message that I saw made me feel uneasy.
“Why are you so angry?” I asked in annoyance. “I just asked and think it’s a reasonable question, considering that message sounds like a couple’s datel
Lizzy’s face turned stiff, “Are you suspecting me? Do you think n cheating on you?”
“Oh, Lizzy, you’re the one who makes me think like that now,” I snapped impatiently. “You’re so weird!”
Lizzy snorted sarcastically and handed me the car keys, then she sat on the dining chair with her arms erossed.
I looked at her, confused about what she was thinking and why she was acting like that.
“What is this?” I asked while looking at the car keys in my hand.
My car keys, Lizzy answered lightly. “You’re fussing just because you didn’t make any plans at home today, while I already made a promise with my friends. It just so happened that I left my phone behind and you used that as an excuse to stop me from going?”
1 took a deep breath. “Lizzy, that’s not what I meant. But, the message that came in made me–
“Then, quickly change into appropriate clothes and come with me. You should know what I usually do when I’m with my friends so that you don’t keep suspecting me!” Lizzy said firmly
“You mean, you still want to go, but I have to come with you?” I asked confusedly.
“Yes. Quickly change your clothes, I’ll take you to Ricky’s party, so you’ll stop being suspicious of me,” Lizzy answered quickly.
I felt strange, but curiosity also made me think quickly. Maybe, by getting to know Lizzy’s friends directly, I would know what her world was like and if Lizzy did something wrong, I could also find out from their movements.
I quickly changed clothes, trying to match the clothes Lizzy was wearing-
She sneered when she saw that I was ready and observed my appearance.
“You’re so old–fashioned, Peter. My friends might think you’re from another era,” Lizzy said. She grabbed Eva’s Jean jacket from the hanger behind the door. “Wear this. At least it will make you look a little trendy”
I really felt like my heart was being pinched by an invisible hand. Lizzy really had to learn to watch her unpleasant words.
We drove for an hour towards the outskirts of the city and Lizzy kept me quiet the whole way. She turned the radio up to a loud rock music channel and I knew she did it on purpose because she knew I didn’t like it.
Theld back my irritation and gripped the steering wheel tightly. Lizzy was pregnant, her attitude must be due to unstable hormones, that’s what I told myself over and over again.
We arrived at a very luxurious villa. Six of Lizzy’s friends greeted us. I guess, to be exact, welcomed Lizzy. They smiled at
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Chapter 31
me, but with looks that made me feel annoyed.
Lizzy introduced me as her future husband, thank goodness she still respected me by saying something like that,
“Oh, so this is the man you’ve been talking about, Liz?” asked Isabel, a short–haired woman with earrings on all elements of her face. “Handsome, although his appearance needs to be upgraded
Everyone laughed, including Lizzy. It seemed like that was the kind of joke they usually told each other.
“Are you a businessman, Peter?” asked Alan, one of Lizzy’s male friends who looked messy like a punk. He looked strange, but his handsome face helped. “You must be rich. Lizzy said you’re a future director.”
“It suits your appearance, Peter,” Ersy said. She gave me a thumbs up. “You look mature and established. That’s good for the wild and unruly Lizzy.”
Ersy’s words felt the most friendly to me. I looked at the man named Ricky who had sent a sweet message to Lizzy earlier.
He was very handsome, with smooth butter–colored skin, an athletic body, although not too tall, and a boyish haircut. He didn’t comment on anything, just stared at me carefully as if he was judging. I didn’t like the way he looked at me. He was trying to intimidate me
Suddenly I remembered Leora again. I once brought her to an office party and I asked her not to dress up too much because I was worried she would attract a lot of attention.
Sure enough, many of my friends commented, regretting her ordinary appearance, even though her face was beautiful They teased that I was not good at dressing up my wife so she looked unattractive.
Leora seemed uncomfortable at the party, because she heard my friends‘ comments, which I cheerfully responded to to make them happy.
After returning from the party, Leora cried for a long time and was finally scolded by my mother because she was considered to have embarrassed me, after I told her why she was crying. Since then, she always refused when I invited her to parties.
Now, being in the midst of Lizzy’s friends, I understand what Leora felt at that time. I felt uncomfortable. This was not a comfortable place for me and seeing Lizzy respond to her friends‘ comments, seeing her laugh with them, laughing at me made me hurt.
“Don’t be mad.” Lizzy said, nudging my arm, when I finally went to the garden beside the villa, with a drink in my hand. Lizzy followed me while lighting a cigarette. I looked at her in surprise and quickly pulled the cigarette out of Lizzy’s lips.
“Are you crazy? You’re pregnant, Lizzy!” I snapped angrily. “You have to take care of yourself because there’s a life growing inside you.”
Lizzy stared at the cigarette that I threw on the ground and fell apart under my shoes. She frowned in annoyance.
“I don’t smoke like a train. This is my first cigarette in a week, Lizzy grumbled. “You’re so talkative
“Let’s just go home.” I said, grabbing Lizzy’s hand. “Your circle of friends is really unhealthy!”
Lizzy snatched her hand from my grip. “What the heck. Ricky’s birthday party hasn’t even started yet. If you want to go, go by yourself. Just call a taxi. I can go home by myself later.”
Of course I wouldn’t let Lizzy go home alone. The party hadn’t started yet but she had already started smoking. Who knows what she’ll drink when the party starts. Even though it’s annoying. I’ll stay here and watch her.
Lizzy walked inside with jerky steps, I sighed and sat on a chair by the edge of the swimming pool whose water was a bit dirty, probably because it wasn’t maintained properly.
Chapter 31
De, wel
“You made Lizzy upser said,a voice behind me.
I turned around and saw a man named Ricky, the birthday boy, walking towards me.
“I just worried about her. She’s pregnant,” I said in a flat tone. Ah, sorry, how much longer are we going to have your birthday party? I want to take Lizzy home soon.”
Ricky chuckled. “You’re very different from Marteen.”
My eyebrows are automatically raised. “Marteen? Who is he?”
“Lizzy didn’t tell you?” this time I caught a hint of surprise in Ricky’s voice.
“No. Is he someone important to Lizzy?” I asked, becoming curious.
“Of course. He is Lizzy’s ex–husband. The man who made Lizzy crazy to the point that she would do anything for him,” Ricky answered calmly.
ras
I was shocked to hear Ricky’s words. As far as I could remember, Lizzy had only ever said that she and her husband were not married for long because she couldn’t stand living with him and left him and then divorced not long after they separated.
Ricky said, Lizzy was crazy about that man?
What the hell!