76 Missed Calls, And He Still Chose Her Dog Chapter 03

76 Missed Calls, And He Still Chose Her Dog Chapter 03

When I pushed open the glass door of Paws & Pearls Pet Boutique, I saw Adrian and Madison eating cake with the same spoon.

Adrian had severe germophobia.

At home, his utensils had to be disinfected and stored separately.

When we ate, every dish had to come with a serving spoon.

Once, after cleaning the house all day, I was exhausted and thirsty.

I casually took a sip of water from his glass.

He didn’t say anything then.

That night, the glass appeared in the trash.

Later, he explained that it was a surgeon’s professional habit.

Now it seemed germophobia depended on the person.

When Madison saw me, she arched a brow.

Her smile was light, but her tone cut deep.

“Lydia, you’re here?”

“Adrian and I have always been this close. Don’t read into it.”

“Adrian, I told you she wouldn’t really divorce you.”

“After all, how is a woman with a stalled career who lives off her husband supposed to support a child without you?”

“How would she take care of her parents?”

“See? She chased you all the way here.”

“Some people really know how to cling to a marriage.”

“Compared with that, I guess a woman like me, running my own store, is still too thin-skinned.”

Adrian pinched the tip of her nose with indulgence.

“You’re the clever one.”

“Always playing little tricks since we were kids.”

Then he looked at me.

His gaze was like a patient adult tolerating a difficult child.

“That’s enough, Lydia.”

“Since you came here to make peace, I’ll pretend I never heard the divorce talk.”

“Go home and clean up the house.”

“The puppies were just born, and they’re still unstable.”

“I need to stay with Madison and watch them for a few more days.”

Listening to them play off each other, I only found it absurd.

One of them stood in the position of an affair partner and still acted righteous.

The other wrapped betrayal in responsibility and care.

I looked at Madison and smiled.

“Miss Blake, if you’re so independent, why do you need to take another woman’s man and another woman’s clothes?”

“Is your businesswoman act certified by the homewrecker industry?”

The faces of several customers browsing pet supplies changed instantly.

Someone looked at Madison.

“Wait. You two aren’t a couple?”

“You were eating cake with the same spoon just now. I thought you were together.”

“I said you made a cute pair, and you didn’t deny it.”

“He has a wife?”

Madison’s face flushed bright red.

The customers put down the items they had picked out and left with frowns.

Madison’s eyes reddened, and she turned to Adrian.

“Adrian, Lydia came here on purpose to ruin my business.”

“I just thought the sweater was soft and warm. It was perfect for the puppies.”

“She spends so much of your money. It’s not like she doesn’t have clothes.”

“Why is she smearing me like this?”

“Those were regular customers.”

“How are they supposed to look at me now? How am I supposed to keep my store open?”

Adrian wiped her tears with obvious pain in his eyes.

Then he turned to me, his gaze full of anger.

“Lydia, I took the sweater. Why are you taking it out on Madison?”

“It’s just a sweater.”

“It wasn’t even that expensive.”

“When did you get so petty?”

“You wouldn’t be able to wear it once you got bigger anyway.”

“Just have your mother knit you another one.”

“It’s not some couture piece. Why are you acting like it’s priceless?”

I looked at his superior expression.

I looked at the undisguised contempt in his eyes.

At last, I couldn’t hold back anymore.

I slapped him hard across the face.

“Yes, the sweater my mother knitted was priceless.”

“Because she’ll never knit me another one.”

“While you and Madison were here guarding a litter of puppies and refusing to answer my calls.”

“My parents died.”

Adrian’s eyes widened sharply.

He let go of Madison without thinking.

“What did you say?”

“How could your parents…”

Before he could finish, Madison suddenly shoved me hard.

“What gives you the right to hit him?”

“It’s just one ratty piece of clothing.”

“Who cares?”

“Fine. Take it back!”

She yanked the dog sweaters off the puppies.

Then she threw them straight into the litter box an employee was about to carry out.

“You said your parents died?”

“I saw them at the supermarket this morning.”

“I hate women like you. You get pregnant and start lying for sympathy so you can tie your husband down.”

“You’re an embarrassment to all women.”

The litter box hadn’t been cleaned yet.

Clumps of filth stuck to the sweater, giving off a sharp, foul smell.

The last bit of love my mother left me had been ruined beyond recognition.

The employee froze under my stare.

“I didn’t mean to.”

“I didn’t know she would throw it in there…”

Anger and hatred burned through my organs like fire.

I turned and raised my hand toward Madison.

But before the slap could land, Adrian slapped me first.

The sharp sound cracked through the store.

I stumbled back a step.

My right cheek burned.

My ears rang.

I looked up at him in disbelief.

Adrian seemed shocked by his own action too.

For a moment, his eyes went blank.

But when he saw Madison’s reddened eyes, that shock quickly turned into disappointment and disgust.

“Lydia Morgan, who are you to touch Madison?”

“Just because she exposed your lie?”

“You used to be a reporter.”

“Didn’t you care about the truth more than anything?”

“Now you’re making up stories about your own parents?”

“Aren’t you afraid of karma?”

“Think about the child you’re carrying too.”

“Either apologize.”

“Or take your things and leave.”

“If you keep making a scene, I’ll call the police.”