But among the flood of comments, some voices of dissent emerged.
[Hank is married, isn’t he? Why does he get to flirt with another woman? Disgusting.]
[Her husband and son both turned on her, even gave away her hard–earned reward, if it were me, I wouldn’t stop at divorce. I’d slap them both senseless!]
[Suzanne’s fans must be brainless. This whole thing is making me sick.]
Still, those sympathetic voices were drowned by the masses.
Under the watchful eyes of countless viewers, Hank suddenly smiled.
Chapter 6
Hank smiled gently, his tone laced with playful reproach. “Adrienne, there are so many people watching. Don’t make a scene.”
But I could see it clearly. There wasn’t even a flicker of warmth in his eyes. All that remained was disdain for my mention of divorce.
He didn’t believe I would ever leave him.
After all, I had been the one who proposed marriage. I humbled myself, promising that no matter what happened; I would never initiate a divorce.
7:14 PM
<
He never doubted my love for him.
I could go three sleepless days in a row and still show up on set with bloodshot eyes just because he had said, “I miss you.“”
I had canceled an award ceremony I had longed to attend when he had a fever.
Our mutual friends often patted his shoulder with admiration. “Hank, you’re one lucky guy. Adrienne is such a devoted wife.”
Whenever he heard that he would smile confidently, never refuting it, because he couldn’t.
So now, he thought I was childish, throwing a tantrum.
When I remained silent, he sneered. “You’re really divorcing me? And what about the son you worked so hard to raise? Are you going to abandon him too?”
His words dripped with scorn, his eyes brimming with contempt.
I let out a bitter laugh and thought, “Oh, so he does remember that I am the one who raised Alex?”
“Abandon him? Let him get as far away from me as possible.” My words cut without mercy.
Seeing that I refused to back down, Hank finally left Suzanne’s side and walked toward me.
He reached out, tousling my hair with a gentle touch, his tone soft. “Alright, Adrienne, stop it now.”
This was our unspoken signal to let things go, the cue that would usually calm me.
In the past, a mere trace of affection from him would have made my heart flutter, prompting instant forgiveness.
He leaned in and kissed my cheek without giving me a chance to dodge.
He was somewhat impatient, yet pretended to be affectionate as he said, “There are children here. Won’t you be embarrassed if they see this?”
But this time, his fleeting affection stirred no joy in me.
I stepped back abruptly, as if allergic to his touch, and wiped my cheek hard where his lips had been.
My voice turned to ice. “Don’t touch me. If you refuse to agree, then sue me for divorce!”
My sudden recoil left him momentarily stunned, his hand grasping at the air.
Once, I would have clung to him, desperate to bury myself in the warmth of his embrace.
But now, his arms felt cold, too cold to endure.
Whether he believed me or not, I picked up my suitcase and headed for House No. 6.
Before I could get far, a hand reached out and took the luggage from me.
It was Aaron, who had been quietly standing in the corner all along.
Chapter 7
His deep, soothing voice had a rich, magnetic quality. “Ms. Cooper, let me help you.”
At the same time, Jesse grabbed my hand. “Ms. Cooper, my brother says you’re allergic to mosquito bites. Let’s trade rooms!”
His baby face, slightly curly hair, and bright eyes made him look like an adorable puppy as he patted his chest proudly. “My brother and I are strong! We’re not afraid of mosquitoes!”
I couldn’t help but smile
<
I couldn’t help but smile at his cuteness, momentarily setting aside my curiosity about how Aaron knew about my allergy.
Having seen the state of House No. 6, I knew my health wouldn’t hold up there for long. So I nodded in agreement.
Jesse beamed and swayed my hand excitedly.
“Ms. Cooper, he whispered like he was sharing a secret, leaning close to my ear, “the buffalo wings you made were amazing! Alex was lying when he said they were bad.”
A genuine smile spread across my face for the first time since the show had started.
I ruffled his hair, warmth spreading through my chest. “Thank you, Jesse. That means a lot.”
Compared to the cute and lively Jesse, Aaron is much quieter and more reserved.
If it weren’t for the undeniable sense of attention I always feel from him, I would really forget about his existence.
We walked away without looking back, so I didn’t see the dark, stormy expressions on Hank and Alex’s faces.
Late that night, the door to my room suddenly opened. It was Hank.
Without a word of warning, he stepped in, leaned close, and kissed my forehead as though bestowing a reward.
He murmured softly, “Adrienne, you’re staying in House No. 6 too. There’s no need to stay mad.”
He reached out to stroke my face as if there had never been a rift between us.
I recoiled sharply, slapping his hand away. My voice dripped with revulsion. “Don’t touch me. You disgust me.”
It had been a long time since we had shared any intimacy.
The longing was real, but every time I brought it up, Hank would frown.
“Adrienne, I’m too tired. I don’t have time for this.”
And yet, the tabloids had caught him slipping into a hotel late at night with Suzanne, her neck flaunting a brazen red mark the next morning.
Hank’s smile faltered, his face going pale.
He closed his eyes for a moment, barely holding back his frustration. “I came to you, didn’t I? How long are you going to keep this up?”
Seeing the irritation in his expression, a playful impulse stirred within me.
I chuckled coldly. “If you stay with me tonight, I’ll forgive you.”
“Of course, I will.”
He nodded without hesitation, his smile softening with what seemed like sincerity. “That’s better. Adrienne, I love you. Stop making things difficult.”
A wave of nausea rolled through me as I stood up, intending to leave for the bathroom.
Just then, his phone buzzed. It was Suzanne calling.
Chapter 8
Under my mocking and playful gaze, Hank still answered the phone.
Suzanne’s voice came through, sweet but tinged with dissatisfaction, “Hank, where did you go? I’m feeling a bit unwell, come back and keep me company.”
Hank looked at me, silent and still, but eventually stood up.
7:14 PM
<
I reached out and grabbed his sleeve, feigning to stop him. “Hank, didn’t you just say something?”
My gaze was intense, fixed on him.
