The Charming Ex-Wife by Gwendolyn

Chapter 9

One would wonder if it was due to trust or candor, but Josiah’s phone was not password-protected. Does he believe that I’ll never check his phone? In reality, Lysander didn’t have the habit of checking his phone. Firstly, because he had been an exemplary husband in recent years and there was nothing worth checking; secondly, Lysander also respected personal privacy. Although they were husband and wife, everyone had their own secrets. However, the phone kept buzzing and prevented her from sleeping. So she picked up the phone and replied, ‘This is Lysander. Josiah is in the shower, and his phone is with me. I’ll ask him to respond to you when he returns.’ After sending this message, the phone immediately quieted down. When Josiah emerged from the bathroom, he noticed that Lysander appeared to have fallen asleep with a slight frown on her forehead as if she had experienced a bad dream. He approached her quietly and picked up the phone from the pillow. After browsing through it for a while, he tiptoed to the balcony. Lysander who was sleeping with her back to the balcony slowly opened her eyes. Her sleep was always light, especially when someone approached her. Just as Josiah retrieved the phone from the pillow and began to browse through it, she woke up. Suddenly, a faint smell of tobacco came from the balcony. It reminded her that Josiah smoked and used to do it a lot as well However, he had never smoked once during the last three years. There wasn’t even an ashtray at home. But since Lysanne returned, she had already caught him smoking three times in the last few days. Soon, she heard a faint voice coming from the balcony. It was Josiah talking to Lysanne, “I really was just taking a shower. I just saw your message.” “You’re overthinking it. Lysander didn’t mean to show off to you.” “No, she wouldn’t do that. She’s actually a good person. Although she doesn’t talk much, she has a good heart.” “Okay. Okay. I believe you. Is that not enough? Please don’t cry, okay? It’s not good for the baby if you cry.” “Alright, wait a moment. I’ll change my clothes and come down.” He hung up the phone, returned to the bedroom, and was startled to see Lysander sitting by, “Did I wake you up?” She shook her head. “I felt a little cold.” “Oh, I forgot to close the balcony door just now. Sorry.” “Why did you go to the balcony? Hasn’t the smell of alcohol dissipated yet?” Josiah tightened his fingers holding the phone and said, “I received a call from the company. I was afraid of waking you up, so I went to the balcony. Have you… been awake for a long time?” “I just woke up and saw you come back. IsBelonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

everything okay with the company?” Lysander asked. “It’s fine,” he said. “Go back to sleep. I’ll go out for a bit.” “Josiah.” “Yes?” Lysander raised her head and merely looked into his eyes silently. He felt a bit awkward under her gaze and asked with an awkward chuckle. “What’s wrong?” She withdrew her gaze and said lightly, “Miss Thorne seems to have something to tell you. I promised her to pass on the message.” Josiah was taken aback for a moment before nodding. “Okay. I got it.” “Aren’t you going to call her back?” He hesitated for a moment and didn’t answer directly but said, “Get some rest. You’ve been too tired lately. I’ll give you a shoulder massage when I have the chance.” She smiled at that. “Okay.” He watched as she lay down and closed her eyes before gently tucking her in. Then, he changed his clothes and went downstairs. After a few minutes, the sound of a woman sobbing downstairs could be heard, followed by the sound of a car leaving. Lysander stood by the floor-to-ceiling window upstairs and watched the taillights of the white Cayenne car as it headed toward the old house until it disappeared from view. “You’re letting them leave just like that?” Daphne’s voice almost burst her eardrums over the phone. “Why didn’t you confront them right then and there?!” Lysander leaned against the bed frame while smiling bitterly. “How should I confront them? He’s just going to comfort his ‘best friend,’ not meet a mistress. What would I even confront them about?” Daphne was so angry she gritted her teeth. “And you believe that she’s just a friend? Who calls an opposite-sex friend in the middle of the night to go stargazing? And her name…” When it came to their names, Lysander was not naive. As things had already progressed to that point, what couldn’t she figure out? When Miles had asked her if she believed in pure friendship between men and women, she would answer him yes in the past. She had many good male doctor friends in the department, but they maintained a friendly yet non-flirtatious relationship. They helped each other with family matters, occasionally had meals together during department outings, and exchanged holiday greetings, but that was the extent of it. There was a certain boundary in their interactions. But for someone like Josiah and Lysanne, she felt it couldn’t be just friendship, but it shouldn’t be considered cheating either. It felt like Josiah was carrying the torch for someone. It was as if a woman had said she wanted to be forever good friends, and the man could only bury his love deep in his heart and just stay as a friend. Lysanne had gotten married and settled abroad. So he could only continue on his own life path by going on blind dates, getting

married, and living a normal life. In fact, with Josiah’s family background and his capabilities, he could have easily married a wealthy woman with a similar background, but he chose someone from an ordinary family like Lysander. Before that, Lysander thought that Josiah chose her because she was attractive, had a good job, and had a generous personality. They got along well, which made her a good candidate for marriage. But now she suddenly realized that it didn’t matter who she was. What mattered was that her name was like Lysanne’s. Lysander couldn’t help but shiver. In those passionate nights before, he would lovingly whisper in her ear. Was he calling her, or was he calling the person in his heart? She walked to the window and looked at the night sky. The weather was indeed good, with a bright moon and stars scattered across the sky, shining like diamonds painting a dreamy sky. Where will they go to watch the stars? Will they be like Romeo and Juliet and watch the stars and the moon while discussing poetry and life ideals? Ignorant young people who fell in love at first sight. Together, they became part of a tangled and sentimental love story. Then what does that make me? I’m entangled in this love story. “Lysander, what about… getting a divorce?” Daphne suggested, “They have had a love-hate relationship for over twenty years when you have only known Josiah for a few years. It’s better to end it quickly. Just let go.” She had thought about it, but… “Daphne, I’m pregnant.”