Third Person's POV
Edmond’s face lit up at Leigh’s innocent words. He leaned over to kiss her cheek and said, “When you grow up, Leigh, make sure to look carefully. I doubt anyone in the world could love their wife more than Daddy loves Mommy.”
Haven glanced at Edmond and her chest tightened at his confident smile. Sure, his love for her hadn’t faded yet, but he still sought the excitement of fresh, younger bodies outside.
She couldn’t help but wonder, 'Edmond, do you really think that as long as you love me, it excuses everything else you do?'
The devoted, earnest man she’d married was gone, replaced by someone she barely recognized.
Soon, their warm family dinner was cut short by a phone call.
Edmond had been laughing with Leigh when the phone vibrated on the table. He paused briefly, not even glancing at the screen. Instead, his eyes flicked instinctively to Haven.
She already knew who it was. There was no need to check. Still, she acted as if she hadn’t noticed anything and asked casually. “Aren’t you going to answer it?”
“It’s probably work, " Edmond lied, and then excused himself, "You two keep eating.”
Without saying anything, Haven just gave a small nod.
As such, Edmond picked up the phone and lowered the volume. “Hello?”
From the other end, Hattie’s playful voice purred, “The custom kitty outfit I ordered just arrived.”
Edmond’s breath hitched. He reached for his glass of iced water, gulping it down to suppress the heat rising in his chest.
Then Hattie’s tone turned even more seductive. “This lonely little kitty is all curled up in bed alone. So boring.”
Edmond’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “I’ll be there soon.”
After ending the call, he turned to his wife and daughter, his expression calm. “Something came up at work. I… might need to head back for a bit.”
Haven’s eyes locked onto him. She didn’t say a word, but her gaze was steady, unflinching, as though peeling back the layers of his facade.
Her silence made Edmond uneasy. “Haven? Why are you looking at me like that? If you don’t want me to go, I won’t. You and Leigh mean more to me than anything else.”
Finally, she broke the silence, her voice even. “It’s fine. Go handle your work. Leigh and I will head home on our own later.”
Edmond hesitated but then shook his head. “No need. I’ll drop you off first.”
On their way home, Haven noticed Edmond kept checking his watch while they were stuck in the traffic.
Soon, when they finally reached home, Edmond immediately rushed out the door as soon as the two stepped inside.
Seeing the rush of his husband, Haven decided to follow him. After entrusting Leigh to their housekeeper, she picked up her keys and used the car’s tracking system to trace Edmond’s location.
When she finally arrived, she saw Edmond had just pulled up to a house.
From her car, Haven watched as Hattie appeared at the doorway, kneeling down, dressed in cat ears, paw gloves, and a tail. The latter looked exactly like a playful, seductive feline that came to life.
Being reserved, Haven had never played games like this—never thought she needed to. But clearly, Edmond enjoyed it as he hurriedly pulled Hattie off the ground and pushed her against the stone pillar by the door. Unable to contain his urge any longer, he kissed her passionately right there and then without any care in the world.
Hattie laughed softly, pretending to resist, but then kissed him back, her hands sliding over his chest. “You’re so impatient,” she teased. “But I’ve got something even more fun waiting inside.”
Edmond grinned, gripping her by the tail. “You little minx.”
Hattie tugged on his tie, her smoldering gaze locking onto his. Step by step, she led him into the house.
Meanwhile, Haven sat frozen in her car, watching everything unfold. Edmond’s anticipation, the way he looked at Hattie—it was like a knife twisting in her chest.
The tears came slowly at first, then all at once. She collapsed against the steering wheel, sobbing for the love that had once been so pure and genuine, now reduced to a cruel joke.
Once, just holding each other's hand made Edmond blush and his heart race.
Back then, Haven had once asked him, “Do you think I’m too cold and reserved? Does it make you feel like I lack passion?”
Third Person's POV
What Edmond had replied was, “I love you as a person. Whether you're cool and untouchable or alluring and charming, I love you.”
He had even added, “Sure, there are countless women with charm and beauty in the world, but they're not you. That’s why I will never be moved or even spare them a glance.”
In moments of passion, vows like these felt intoxicating—words crafted to sweep someone off their feet. But no matter how sincere they seemed, love could only go so far against the fickleness of the human heart.
'Edmond, you’ve truly rotted to the core,' Haven spat inwardly.
She didn’t know how long she cried that night, but eventually, she wiped her tears and forced herself to move. Returning home, she began gathering everything tied to her ten years with Edmond.
Every item connected to their memories went into piles—valuable ones for donation to charity, the rest destined for the trash.
When her hand brushed the naming rights document for the asteroid "Haven’s Serenity," she paused. But since the sentimental value of it had long since eroded, she packed it away and contacted the relevant organization to sell the rights.
'I don’t want anything you’ve given me, Edmond—not a single thing. Not even you,' she resolved silently.
Later that evening, Edmond stormed into the house, panic etched across his face. Finding Haven in the middle of her skincare routine, he wrapped his arms around her and buried his face into her pillow like a guilty child seeking solace.
“Haven,” he said, his voice trembling with both fear and grievance, “did I do something wrong? Why are you selling the naming rights to the asteroid?”
That asteroid represented his love for her, so how could she bear to transfer it to someone else?
That was why the moment Edmond heard about it, he was overwhelmed with anxiety.
Haven met his frantic and uneasy gaze with an unshaken calm. “It should go to someone more deserving.”
The asteroid’s name, "Haven’s Serenity," no longer fit their fractured and decaying relationship.
However, Edmond couldn’t accept it. His grip on her hand tightened as his voice rose slightly. “Don’t say that. Our love is the perfect match for that asteroid. We’re soulmates! It’s a symbol of us, and it belongs with us forever.”
Without waiting for her response, he grabbed the transfer papers and tore them apart, the pieces falling to the floor like confetti from a celebration long past.
“Don’t ever do this again,” he said, his voice cracking with emotion. “You have no idea how worried I was when I found out.”
Watching his almost obsessive protectiveness, Haven suppressed the sarcasm bubbling up in her chest and said blandly, “Go take a shower. I’m going to sleep.”
As Edmond retreated to the bathroom, Haven scoffed internally. 'How could he be clean when he just came from someone else’s arms?'
When Edmond emerged, freshly showered, Haven was already lying on the bed, her back turned toward him. Her serene face, even in sleep, felt like an unspoken rejection.
Edmond stood there, staring at her. His eyes overflowed with love so intense it might have overwhelmed her—if only she had been awake to see it.
Just then, a soft knock broke the silence, followed by the housekeeper's low voice. “Mr. Warner, Mr. Reeves and Mr. Cantrell are downstairs. They said they’re here to take you out for drinks. Should I send them away?”
Edmond frowned and crossed to the door, lowering his voice to avoid disturbing Haven. “Send them home. I’m staying in tonight. I don’t have time for their nonsense.”
The housekeeper hesitated, unsure, but before she could act, Walter Reeves and Clifford Cantrell, growing impatient downstairs, called Edmond directly.
Because of that, Haven, a light sleeper, stirred at the sound. Her eyes fluttered open, which Edmond saw.
“I’ll go downstairs and send them off,” he said quickly.
“Okay,” Haven replied indifferently.
Downstairs, Walter and Clifford wasted no time and surrounded Edmond. They draped their arms over his shoulders like rowdy college buddies and urged him to join them for some fun.
However, Edmond brushed off their hands. “You’re not kids anymore. It’s time to settle down, dudes. I'm now married, so I should be home with my wife and daughter at night.”
Walter teased, “Oh, come on, Edmond. That’s no fun. It’s been forever since we hung out! Everyone’s here tonight and we came just for you.”
Third Person's POV
Clifford grinned, “Come on, Edmond, we’re just waiting on you.Getting married doesn’t mean you have to be this tightly managed, right? How about we go talk to your wife instead?”
But Edmond quickly brushed him off with a wave. “She’s already asleep. Don't disturb her.”
Unbeknownst to them, Haven was already up, standing at the top of the staircase. Wrapped in a long coat, she spoke softly, “Go with them, Edmond. They came all this way. You should at least join them for a little while.”
Walter and Clifford’s faces lit up when they saw her.
“Why don’t you come with us, Haven?" Walter asked eagerly. “Let everyone see what the best woman in the world looks like.”
“Exactly!” Clifford chimed in. “Besides, if you don’t come, Edmond probably won’t budge tonight.”
Haven, already set on cutting herself out of Edmond’s life, wasn’t interested in his social circle or their antics. So, she evenly refused, “No need. You all have fun. Edmond, go ahead.”
Edmond, who rarely resisted her wishes, nodded. “Alright, I’ll just change and join you.”
With the latter walking away, Walter and Clifford exchanged a glance and sighed in unison.
“We’ve never seen Edmond this obedient before,” Walter remarked.
Clifford laughed. “Yeah, the guy’s been calling the shots since we were kids. No one tells him what to do.”
Walter added with a grin, “He really loves you, Haven.”
Haven offered a polite smile, but inside, her thoughts were cold. 'If only that were true, he wouldn’t have cheated in the first place.'
When Edmond returned, dressed to go out, he walked over and kissed Haven lightly on the forehead. “You go to bed. I’ll be back soon.”
Haven met his gaze with her usual calm. “Alright.”
Edmond lingered for a moment as if reluctant to leave, clinging to her before finally heading out, treating her like the most precious thing in the world.
But half an hour later, as Haven was about to fall asleep, she received a photo sent by Hattie.
The dimly lit image clearly showed Hattie nestling coquettishly in a man’s arms, the two of them about to drink a toast together.
In the corner of the frame, Haven spotted Walter and Clifford, each holding a seductive woman in their arms.
'This is... a club,' she realized.
Haven stared at the photo for a long time, her expression blank.
'So, even if I don’t go, someone else will keep Edmond company,' she thought bitterly.
Acting on impulse, Haven soon found herself at the same club. She stood at the half-open door of a private room.
Inside, the scene was exactly as she expected.
Hattie, now dressed in a bunny costume, was perched comfortably on Edmond’s lap, feeding him wine. He didn’t push her away. Instead, he leaned back lazily, letting her pour the drink into his mouth. The next moment, he pulled her close, transferring the wine from his lips to hers in an exaggerated kiss.
The room erupted in cheers and then Walter’s voice cut through the noise. “Edmond, you’re a whole different guy when Haven’s not around!”
Clifford laughed. “Right? I mean, as great as Haven is, no proper woman could ever compete with a little vixen like Hattie.”
However, at the mention of Haven’s name, Edmond’s expression darkened. “Haven doesn’t belong in a place like this. Don’t drag her into it.”
The sudden shift in his tone left the room awkwardly silent.
Hattie’s eyes flashed with jealousy, but she quickly masked it, wrapping her arms around Edmond’s neck. “Alright, we won’t bring her up anymore,” she said sweetly. “And to make up to you, I’ll do whatever you want me to.”
Edmond’s expression softened at her words. The tension eased, and the others started teasing again.
“Come on, Edmond! Hattie’s throwing herself at you. What are you waiting for?” Clifford called out.
Edmond glanced down at the seductive woman in his lap and smirked. “What? You want a live performance?”
