He Used A Lottery Cup To Avoid Me, Only For Me To Mirror His Cruelty Chapter 03

He Used A Lottery Cup To Avoid Me, Only For Me To Mirror His Cruelty Chapter 03

“Fern, I’m asking you one last time.”

“I don’t care what kind of anger or resentment you’re holding. No matter how wronged you feel, if you want to stay with me, you’ll swallow all of it.”

“We can go back to how things were when we first married. I’ve already promised not to see Hadley again. Stop trying to get revenge.”

“Or do you want us to torture each other for the rest of our lives?”

I stared at his bloodshot eyes for a few seconds.

I didn’t understand what he was so pained about. I was the victim here.

When I stayed silent, Dexter spoke again, his tone softer, offering me an out.

“Our anniversary is the day after tomorrow. You’ve always wanted to go to Milan, right? I’ll take you.”

I’d always wanted to go to Milan.

Every time I’d brought it up, Dexter would pull out the lottery jar.

“Hadley wants to go too, so let’s draw sticks. That way my indecision won’t act up.”

I looked at him now, frowning and sighing.

“But I’m so torn. I really don’t know how to choose. You want to take me to Milan, but Jasper wants to take me to Milan too.”

“I guess we should leave it to luck.”

I pulled out the lottery jar and once again drew Jasper’s name.

“Oops. Didn’t get you.”

Dexter stared at me, his eyes rimmed red.

After a long silence, he suddenly calmed down and let out a faint laugh.

“If this is what you want, then fine.”

“We’ll just torture each other for the rest of our lives. I don’t care anymore.”

Dexter stopped playing the perfect husband.

He abandoned the cooking and cleaning act, and he stayed out every night.

Troy texted me several times, telling me to stop being stubborn. I didn’t respond.

The next day, a college friend hosted a sip-and-see party for her new baby. I didn’t want to go, but the woman had helped me with the patent issue, so I couldn’t refuse.

By the time I arrived, Hadley was already seated next to Dexter.

“Oh, Fern, want me to give up my seat?”

Hadley smiled at me but didn’t move.

Dexter said flatly, “Stay right there. Nobody’s kicking you out.”

Everyone in the room knew about the entanglement between Dexter and Hadley.

They also knew Dexter had supposedly chosen to return to our marriage.

And they knew how possessive I used to be about him.

The whole room held its breath, waiting for me to explode.

I didn’t.

I smiled calmly and sat in a corner, texting Jasper.

When I didn’t blow up, the mood relaxed.

Someone got drunk and jokingly asked Dexter if he had any regrets about watching Hadley marry someone else.

“Some people are the burning passion you never forget. Some are the quiet memory you hold close. And some are just the one you settled for because they were there.”

“Marriage is about daily life, isn’t it? There’s no need for so much emotion.”

“The woman you truly love should never have to be worn down by life.”

Dexter’s words made Hadley blush, her eyes filling with nostalgic longing.

“Some moments don’t last long, but they’re worth remembering for a lifetime.”

Dexter smiled, then suddenly turned to me.

“Fern, what do you think?”

I nodded absently without responding.

Dexter let out a scoff and turned back to Hadley.

“You’re getting married next week. I can’t make it to the wedding, but I’ve prepared a little something for you. Two hundred thousand in cash and a few gifts.”

“Fern, you don’t mind, do you? It’s our shared marital assets, so I should get your approval.”

Hadley paused, then gave his chest a playful smack.

“I know you’re worried about me, but two hundred thousand is too much. Maybe you shouldn’t—”

“It’s too little,” I said seriously. “She’s marrying into a top family. What’s two hundred thousand to her? You should sell our house and give her five or six hundred thousand.”

The more generous Dexter looked, the more ammunition Simon would have.

And the stronger my divorce case would become.

The guests exchanged awkward looks and tried to smooth things over.

“Selling your house isn’t appropriate. Fern, don’t say things in anger.”

“Right, Dexter was just joking. He wouldn’t sell your home.”

Dexter, however, just smiled.

“I’ll consider it.”

I nodded. “I wasn’t angry.”

It wasn’t my event, and I didn’t want to make a scene.

But after a few drinks, Hadley turned to me with a grin.