Chapter 379: Not Sure
"Corrine..." Todd took his coat back from Wendy.
His face crumpled a little at her tone. He knew she was angry at him. She had walked off and he followed her, wanting to explain himself.
However, Wendy was obviously walking faster than usual. Todd took a couple of steps after her before slowing down.
With a small sigh, Todd watched as Wendy disappeared into her building before turning around and returning to his car, coat in hand.
At this moment, Michael was stewing in misery in the backseat of the cab.
The driver could not help but speak up to try to lighten the oppressive atmosphere in the cab Trying to be nice, he consoled Michael, "Sir, you don’t look like you’re from around here. Did you come all the way here after that woman? I guess you’re crazy about her, huh?"
The cabby glanced at Michael in the rear view mirror and saw him with his head hanging down, looking listless and dejected.
When Michael did not reply, the driver continued, "You don’t have to be so upset over a woman. You’re so good looking, I’m sure you have no shortage of women wanting you. Forget her and start anew. Love is overrated.
"I saw how she treated you. Furthermore, the woman you like has another man.
There’s no need for you to debase yourself like that in front of her.
"Some women like toying with men’s feelings. They hook you up, reel you in, then leave you alone and pining when they move on.
"I knew a woman like that once. She cheated of my money and when she knew there was no more, she simply upped and left. She never took the initiative to contact me but never rejected me when I went to her. Whenever there was an anniversary or any other major holiday, she would expect a gift, an expensive one to boot. I was miserable for a long time after she left me. However, that’s all in the past. My wife now..." "Are you done?" Michael finally spoke.
It was just a quiet sentence, but the cold way it was delivered made the driver shudder.
"I was just trying to make you feel better..." the driver muttered.
"Are you done?" repeated Michael coldly. "Stop the car!"
"Sir, I can’t stop here. Besides, didn’t you say you wanted to go to the airport?"
asked the driver, perplexed.
"I said, stop the car!" Michael refused to stay in the car for a second more.
The cabby was shocked when he noticed Michael reaching for the door handle and quickly tried to placate him, "Okay, okay, I will stop, but only after this junction.
Please wait a while more!"
The cab soon passed the junction and Michael alighted the moment it stopped.
He stood still outside for a moment before striding to the cab driver’s window. His voice icy, he said, "You don’t know the details, please keep your opinions to yourself!"
The relationship between Michael and Wendy was complicated. Besides, Michael was the one who did her wrong in the first place.
Even if Michael could no longer be with Wendy, he would not allow anyone to speak ill of her in his presence. Strangers were not exempted from that.
"What?" the driver was taken aback, and finally said, "Okay..." Micheal ignored him and turned to flag another cab.
Looking at Michael’s back, the cabby shook his head sympathetically. "It seems he’s in too deep. He’s still defending the woman even at this point!"
As far as the cab driver was concerned, Michael was a fool. One who had come all the way to Rheinsville City from wherever he was from, and who was still defending the woman he loved even though he knew she already had another man by her side.
...
It was still quite early in the night when Wendy got home that day. The children had not gone to bed yet.
Jake and Leah were overjoyed to see their mother home so early. It was rare that she returned before their bedtime. Both of them huddled around her, one on each side, massaging her arms and shoulders.
Wendy was upset because of what happened with Michael earlier but cheered up when she saw their happy smiling faces.
"Mummy, you got home before our bedtime for once!" Leah chirped happily as she pounded her little fists on Wendy’s thighs, massaging them. "Mummy, can I sleep with you in your room tonight?"
"You’re a big girl now, are you sure you want to sleep with Mummy like a little baby?" Jake teased Leah.
Jake had started sleeping in his own bed two years ago. However, he knew Leah was more timid then he was and liked being physically close to their mother.
"Okay, Leah. Jake, what about you?" asked Wendy, "Do you want to sleep with us?"
His mother’s question had Jake shaking his head vehemently. "No. Leah can sleep with you. I’m almost a man and I want to be independent!"
Wendy burst out laughing when she heard her little five-year-old referring to himself as "almost a man". However, she did not insist that Jake sleep with them either.
She had not been spending a lot of time with the children lately, and the feelings of guilt had been building up. Thoughts of Michael came unbidden to her mind.
Since he had come to Rheinsville City, why had he not visited the children before leaving? In the past, he would always call at the apartment and insist that he wanted to visit Jake and Leah.
When she thought about the look in Michael’s eyes as he left, the light in Wendy’s eyes flickered.
"Mummy..." Leah had called Wendy a few times but she had not replied, so she called out louder.
"Oh?" Wendy finally heard her over the din of her own thoughts. "Yes?"
"These are our test papers. Will you take a look at them, Mummy?" Leah held out a test with each hand.
Smiling, Wendy took the papers from Leah. Jake had gotten full marks, as usual.
What was surprising, however, was that Leah had gotten full marks this time too.
Elated, Wendy gave Leah a big kiss. "Leah did well!"
"Mummy, what were you thinking about earlier?" asked Leah who was sprawled across her mother’s lap.
"I was thinking about..." shaking her head, Wendy laughed and continued, "about work."
Michael did the right thing by not visiting the children this time. Jake was angry with Michael now and Leah missed her father, but his visits were always short. Leah would be happy while he was here but would remain sad for a few days after he left.
Wendy would rather Michael not visit at all and spare Leah the pain of missing her daddy after his visits.
"Is Mummy very tired lately?" asked Leah with a concerned expression. "Mummy, let’s go to bed early today. Don’t stay up late working again. Why does Grandpa make you work so late everyday? When we meet Grandpa again, I will ask him nicely to get someone else to work late instead."
"That’s because I am the best at what I do. No one else can do my work." Picking Leah up, Wendy said, "Come, let’s go brush your teeth."
"Really? I knew it. Mummy is definitely the best!" Leah had been easily sidetracked by Wendy’s reply. A moment ago, she was still harping on about getting her grandfather to replace Wendy with someone else!
...
Early the next morning, Todd arrived at Wendy’s place as usual to send her to work.
He had wanted to make her breakfast, but did not as he was afraid that she would get annoyed.
She was obviously very angry the night before. Todd needed to make sure he kept his distance from her for the time being.
That day, he did not go up to her apartment as he always did, but instead waited patiently downstairs for her to appear.
After they had breakfast, Zess sent the two children to school. Wendy and Zen intended to go to work together.
After they left the apartment, Wendy turned to lock the door. When they were in the elevator on the way down, Zen remembered that Todd had answered Wendy’s cellphone.
She chewed on her lower lip with her head bowed. Zen had thought about it and felt that it didn’t seem right to hide that incident from Wendy.
She was here because Christian had instructed her to remain by Wendy’s side and report her activities to him.
However, the incident had nothing at all to do with Christian. Between Todd and Wendy, Zen was closer to Wendy. Unless she had no other choice, she did not want to betray Wendy’s trust.
Before Wendy had reached home the night before, Zen had already decided that she would tell Wendy about Todd picking up her cellphone. She did not get a chance to though, as Wendy had spent the entire night with the children and ended the day going to bed with Leah.
Now that there were just the two of them in the elevator, it was a perfect time to tell Wendy about that phone call.
"Wendy, what do you think about Todd?" Zen had given it some thought and decided to start with a tentative question.
It seemed a little too straightforward to tell Wendy directly that Todd had answered her cellphone. After all, they were in a relationship now and Zen did not want her friend to think she was trying to stir things up between her and Todd.
"Why are you suddenly asking that?" Wendy replied with a question of her own.
In the past, Wendy would have answered her without hesitation. She used to think Todd was nice. However, after the way he had behaved the day before, Wendy had some reservations about him.
He had behaved too overtly intimate with her yesterday, even when there were other people around. It wasn’t that Wendy had forgiven Michael, she just felt that Todd had gone overboard.
"You and Todd have been going out for a while and I was just concerned about you," replied Zen with a chuckle.
Wendy noticed that Zen’s laugh seemed a little forced. Just then, the elevator dinged and the door opened.
Wendy stepped out first. "Me and him... we’re getting along pretty well."
She knew long ago that Zen’s loyalty lay with Christian and would not tell her the truth. Whatever she told Zen would end up being reported to Christian.
In front of Zen, Wendy had to pretend that she and Todd were deeply in love.
"Wendy, there’s something I’m not sure if I should tell you..." Zen hesitated, chewing on her lip.
If Wendy had said that she was not getting along too well with Todd, Zen would have told her straight out.
However, Wendy had said they were getting along pretty well. Zen was conflicted.
It would be awkward if the relationship between the two fell apart because of her meddling. She couldn’t not tell Wendy either, as she felt that it would be wrong.
"Is there anything we can’t talk about?" Wendy put her arm around Zen’s shoulders and smiled. "Just speak your mind."
"Yesterday, I..." just as Zen was about to tell Wendy, she saw Todd approaching them.
