Shawn panicked, and he ran to Noelle's side of the car. "What's wrong, Elle?" he asked frantically.

She kept puking, the nausea refusing to subside for the longest time.

She couldn't understand. Why had Shawn cheated when he loved her so? Wasn't he afraid of her finding out? Or did he think he was perfectly capable of keeping this from her forever because he'd done such a good job of hiding it?

Eventually, the cool night breeze helped to clear her mind.

"Are you okay, Elle?" Shawn asked. "I'll take you to the hospital now if you're feeling ill."

"No, it's okay. It's probably something I ate for dinner."

"Come to my office tomorrow, then. We can have dinner together."

Noelle sneered inwardly. Did he want her to go to his office and watch him and Jessica get it on?

Suddenly, she wanted to be nasty. "Sure. I'll go to work with you tomorrow and stay by your side as you work. Then, we can have dinner together before going home."

Shawn didn't expect her to agree at all. His expression turned a little stiff. "I've been quite busy lately, though. I might not be able to be by your side the whole day."

"That's okay. You can do what you need. I'll wait for you in your office."

"…Alright, then."

When they got home, Shawn offered to draw Noelle a bath. He went to the bathroom but shut the door, which wasn't like him.

Meanwhile, Noelle went downstairs and got back inside the car. After starting it, she saw Shawn's conversation with Jessica on the screen again.

Shawn: "Change of plans. We can't do it in the office tomorrow."

Insatiable Jess: "What? I'm so disappointed."

Shawn: "Don't be, babe. I'll take you to the rooftop. It'll be more exciting there."

Insatiable Jess: "You're the best, babe."

Shawn came out of the bathroom just as Noelle returned to the bedroom. "Your bath is ready, Elle. Go ahead and take a soak."

"No, it's okay. I just want to go to bed."

"Alright, then. You should rest if you're tired," he said. "Can I open the gift you left on the table now?"

Noelle shook her head. "Open it in a week."

"Why do I have to wait for a week? I want to see what you've prepared for me right now."

"Because…" Because she would leave him forever in a week. "Because… it'll only be meaningful if you open it in a week."

Shawn kissed her forehead. "Okay, then. I'll do as you say."

…

The following morning, Shawn's phone started ringing when it was just past 6:00 am. He rejected the call and turned over to hold Noelle. "Ignore it. Let's sleep for a while longer."

But his phone started ringing again. He frowned. "It's not time for work yet, but they're already urging me to head to the office. One of these days, I'll fire these useless people."

He rejected the call again.

When it rang a third time, Shawn huffily got out of bed. "You go back to sleep, Elle. I'll ask them what exactly is so urgent that they keep calling."

She murmured in acknowledgment and turned away from him.

He left the bedroom with his phone and soon appeared outside the house. A delivery guy stood outside and handed him something. He took it but was empty-handed when he returned to the bedroom.

Noelle asked, "Is there a problem at work?"

"No, it's nothing. You don't need to worry about anything, Elle. I'll go make you breakfast."

Noelle didn't know whether it was out of guilt or genuine concern that the food yesterday had affected her, but Shawn prepared a feast for breakfast. There was milk, eggs, bread, jam, and her favorite oatmeal.

"You can't eat whatever you want from now on. Also, I think I'll hire someone to come over to cook for you daily," Shawn said.

"That's not necessary."

"Be good, Elle, or I'll worry about you when I'm working."

"Can I ask you something, Shawn?"

"Of course."

Noelle set her cutlery down and asked, "Do you think it's true that couples will get an itch to be with someone else after being married for a number of years?"

Shawn's expression turned contemptuous. "That's just an excuse men make to explain why they've fallen for someone else. I'm not like them—you're the only one I'll love in this lifetime."

"Really? You'll love only me?"

"Yeah."

"What will happen if you do fall for someone else, then?"

"Then, I'll get struck by lightning and die a horrible death."

Noelle smiled mockingly. "Aren't you afraid it'll really happen?"

"I'm telling the truth. Why should I be afraid?"

She picked up her cutlery again and started spreading jam on her bread.

"You have to trust me, Elle," Shawn said earnestly.

All she said was, "Eat your breakfast."

"Do you not believe me?"

"Your staff are waiting for you at the company. You don't want to be late."

This made Shawn relax. He sat across from her and said, "Let them wait. They're useless, anyway. I'll fire them sooner or later."

"Can you bear to fire her?" Noelle asked. She'd used "her", not "them".

She didn't know whether he noticed. All he said was, "I can bear to lose everything but you."

Noelle and Shawn headed to the company after breakfast. However, she insisted on sitting in the backseat because the thought of sitting in the front passenger seat revolted her.

"I have motion sickness," she explained. "I'll be more comfortable in the backseat because I can lower the window and enjoy the wind."

Shawn didn't force her to move to the front. "Alright, then. I'll drive as smoothly as possible."

When they arrived at the company, he jogged to her side of the car to open the door for her. It was peak hour, so most of the employees were arriving at the same time. They watched as she got out of the car.

A few senior executives even ran over and said sycophantically, "You're here, Mrs. Pitt. Mr. Pitt talks about this milk tea that you like almost every day. I'll go get you one right now."

Another said, "I'll go get snacks, then. I know you like pastries."

Shawn laughed and said, "Stop feeding her. She's already put on some weight and can't wear her wedding ring anymore."

"That's where you're wrong, Mr. Pitt," one executive countered. "Mrs. Pitt looks so slim that it must be the ring's fault if she can't wear it anymore. I bet it's shrunk!"

"Come on now. It's fine if you want to flatter Mrs. Pitt, but don't you think that's a bit over the top? Silver can't shrink!"

"You don't know what you're talking about. Mr. Pitt loves Mrs. Pitt so much that he'll be happy when she is. Life will be better for all of us!"

Shawn laughed and said amicably, "Alright, alright. You guys know what my weak spot is."

Everyone laughed.

Noelle was surrounded by an entourage as she headed to Shawn's office. She had fruits, snacks, and milk tea—everything she could possibly need.

Shawn even streamed a show for her on his laptop. "I have to get to work, Elle. You can have fun here, alright? Call Wilson if you need anything. He's right outside."

She deliberately asked, "What about Jessica, your personal assistant? Why haven't I seen her around?"

"I'm not sure," he answered. "I'll have HR call her to check on her."

Before leaving, he caressed her head affectionately. "Wait for me, okay? We can have lunch together."

Shawn left, and the senior executives left with him. That was when Noelle noticed his phone on the desk. She hurried after them when she heard the senior executives whispering among themselves.

"…The rooftop? Mr. Pitt and Jessica are getting up to all sorts of tricks now."

"Well, they don't have a choice, do they? Mrs. Pitt is here today. They have to go somewhere else."

"Do we still need to bring condoms to him, then?"

"Nah. I saw him put several boxes into his pocket before heading upstairs earlier."

"Heh. Mr. Pitt is quite the man—how did he manage to buy condoms under Mrs. Pitt's nose?"

"He ordered a delivery. You know how convenient these things are nowadays. They can buy whatever you want."

It all clicked into place. The calls that morning had been from the delivery guy. Shawn had placed the order early in the morning for the delivery guy to get him the condoms. It looked like he was very excited for his rooftop rendezvous, seeing as he'd started preparing for it so early in advance.

"I wonder whether a few boxes are enough. He and Jessica went at it in the car for a day and night, and she was walking funny the next day."

"We can always bring him more if he runs out. We're his employees, so it's only right for us to keep him happy."

"Didn't you say something earlier about making Mrs. Pitt happy?"

"Tsk. What does she know? She's happy enough with a cup of milk tea and some pastries. Anyway, it's normal for someone of Mr. Pitt's status to have a few mistresses. He's rich and powerful, so it's only expected that he'll fool around behind his wife's back. It's fine as long as she doesn't find out."

"I guess you're right. She looks naive, too. It shouldn't be hard to keep this from her."

Shawn showed up as they were talking. "Don't run your mouths when Elle is around. Do you understand?"

The senior executives nodded quickly. "Of course, Mr. Pitt. We know where to draw the line."

One of them asked, "Why did you bring Mrs. Pitt along today, sir? You and Jessica have to hide at the rooftop, and we have to be careful with our words."

Shawn glared at him. "Noelle is my wife, which means she owns the company as well. She can come if she wants to. What does it have to do with you?"

"Of course, of course, sir…"

He gave the senior executives a warning look. "Take good care of Elle. She had an upset stomach last night, so don't get her anything too aggravating. Also, anyone who lets the cat out of the bag can get lost. Do you hear me?"

The senior executives nodded vigorously, looking ingratiating.

Noelle didn't stick around to hear the rest of the conversation. She hurried back to Shawn's office and placed his phone among the snacks on the desk.

Shortly after, Shawn entered the office, still looking like his usual gentlemanly self. "What is it that you're eating, you insatiable little thing? It looks good."

The way he addressed her made her stomach turn. However, she suppressed her disgust and asked, "Didn't you go for a meeting? Why are you back so suddenly?"

"I left my phone here. Did you see it?"

Noelle shook her head. "No."

He rummaged through the snacks and eventually found it. "Oh, it's here. Enjoy your snacks, then. I'll get going."

Just then, Noelle's phone rang. She answered it.

"Hello, am I speaking to Ms. Aria Byrd?"

"Yes, this is she."

"Good day, Ms. Byrd. You've booked a flight to Neloria for next week. Your ticket has been issued. All you need to do is bring your passport to board the flight."

"Anything else besides the passport?"

"No, that's all."

"Alright."

After she hung up, Shawn gave her a confused look. "Passport? Why do you suddenly need it?"

Noelle said, "A friend lost her passport and asked me how to get a new one."

Shawn hurried forward and held her tightly. "You scared the hell out of me. I thought you were leaving the country without me."

Noelle turned away from him and retched again. She could smell the sickly sweetness on him, mingling with a woman's perfume.

He rubbed her back with a pained expression. "What did they feed you? I already told them to be careful because your stomach's been acting up lately… I'm going to fire them right now!"

She shoved him away with all her strength. "You can fire whoever you want to fire, but don't use me as an excuse for your actions!"

Her sudden anger left him bewildered. "Are you mad at me, Elle? Is it because I've been too busy with work to spend time with you? I'll postpone all the work I have tomorrow so I can be with you. How does that sound?"

She almost wanted to laugh at how ridiculous the situation was. "You'll only be with me?"

"Yes, I will."

She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. "I hope you can keep your word."

That night, it poured. Noelle kept puking since returning home. Shawn wanted to get close to her, but she told him to stay away. "Don't come near me. The smell on you only makes me more nauseous."

He sniffed his sleeve. "Maybe you don't like the smell of my cologne. I'll wear a different one next time."

"You should know very well that it's not about the cologne, Shawn!" she snapped.

"Alright, alright. Don't be mad. I'll stop wearing cologne from now on, okay?"

Noelle washed her face and stared at her reflection in the mirror. She also saw Shawn waiting anxiously for her outside the bathroom, a glass of warm water in his hand.

She still couldn't understand. How could he act like he loved her when he reeked of sickly sweetness and Jessica's perfume? How could he betray their relationship like it meant nothing to him when he seemed like he cared for her so much?

Was he trying to prove that the senior executives were right? That it was fine for men to fool around with other women as long as their wives weren't aware?

Well, he'd read her wrongly. She wasn't that naive and easily fooled, nor would she give up on her principles for him. Since his love was no longer pure and whole, she didn't want any part of it.

The following morning, Shawn brought Noelle to the hospital. After a series of tests, the doctor came to a conclusion. "This appears to be emotional gastroenteritis."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Shawn asked.

"It means the patient has recently experienced significant emotional distress that has substantially impacted her, resulting in gastrointestinal dysfunction and vomiting."

Shawn asked Noelle, "Have you run into any problems lately, Elle? Tell me what's bothering you. Maybe I can help you resolve them."

She turned away from him, avoiding his affection and intimacy. "You can't."

"Why don't you tell me first? There are few things in this world that I can't resolve."

He was right. This truly was an issue that only he could handle. For a split second, Noelle wanted to ask him who he would save first if she and Jessica were to fall into the water at the same time.

Then again, it occurred to her that no one should leave their lives in another person's hands. Relying on others would only lead to devastation if those people let her down.

She could swim, so she could save herself. She didn't need Shawn anymore.

Noelle had applied to an art academy in Neloria under the name Aria Byrd. She'd given up on her dream of going into art when marrying Shawn. In the future, she would only live for herself.

"How about we catch a movie together this afternoon, Elle?" Shawn suggested. "A new comedy has just premiered, and it'll cheer you up."

"This afternoon? Don't you have work?" Noelle asked.

"We agreed that I would spend the day with you today, remember? I'm keeping my word. I don't go back on any of my promises."

Just then, his phone rang. He wanted to reject the call but hesitated after glancing at the caller ID. She watched as his expression went from annoyance to conflicted.

She smiled. "Answer it. Work is more important."

"I'll be right back, okay? Give me five minutes."

"Okay."

He was about to leave with his phone, but she stopped him. "Answer it here. It's not like I can understand your business jargon, anyway. I won't leak any secrets."

He froze, looking awkward. After a few seconds, he answered the call, pretending to look angry. "Didn't I already tell you not to call me today? What's going on?"

Noelle didn't know what Jessica said, but she vaguely heard weeping. Shawn's tone turned cautious as she watched. "Alright, got it. Give me a second."

He hung up and said a little apologetically, "I need to sign an urgent document, Elle. A manager has brought it to the hospital—he's downstairs. I'll be right back after signing it, okay? I'll be back in half an hour, at most."

She nodded, and he practically ran out of the room.

The doctor chuckled and said, "Mr. Pitt really loves you, Mrs. Pitt. He was willing to throw his work aside for you."

"Is that so?" Noelle curled her lip. "Excuse me. I need to use the restroom."

"Of course."

She left the room and saw Shawn run to the emergency stairwell because he was too impatient to wait for the elevator. He hadn't lied—he'd indeed gone downstairs.

However, the department downstairs was the gynecology department.

Just then, her phone vibrated. It was a message from Jessica. "Sorry about this, Ms. Anderson, but he might not be able to spend the rest of the day with you. You should've seen how he rushed to me after I called him, right?"