Everyone turned toward the sound. The champagne tower had collapsed in a thunderous heap, glass and liquid spraying everywhere.

Samuel and Gavin hit the floor amid the wreckage, their arms shredded by shards of glass, blood mixing with spilled wine.

"Sam!" I shouted, pushing past Vanessa without a second thought. I also shoved her elbow up, dumping the wine she held all over her own face.

While she screamed, I ran to Samuel and helped him up. A shallow cut crisscrossed the back of his hand. Seeing the blood on him made my eyes sting.

I ignored Gavin, who had a much deeper gash on his arms. Samuel's face had gone pale, but he forced out a weak, forgiving smile. "I'm okay, Clara. It's just a small cut.

"Mr. Hart didn't do it on purpose. Don't blame him," Samuel added.

Hearing that only made my anger burn hotter. I looked at Gavin with pure fury and disappointment.

"Gavin, is that al

The reaper, ever the gossip, couldn't resist sneaking off to watch Gavin's reaction.

He vanished in a blur before I could even remind him that the house had surveillance cameras.

Gavin sat on the living room couch. His injured arm was already bandaged.

His phone screen glowed, displaying Samuel's latest post—two plane tickets to the coast, and a photo of a hand with a cartoon bandage stuck over a small cut.

The air around Gavin turned heavy, the pressure in the room dropping like a storm about to break.

The phone hit the marble floor, shattering into pieces.

Vanessa screamed and threw herself into his arms. Her voice turned syrupy as her fingers traced the edge of his wrapped arm. "Gavin, don't be angry. I told you a long time ago—She's not the kind of woman you can control."

Her lips brushed close to his ear, her breath warm. "Does it hurt? Let me make it better… Just like before

I stepped forward and gave Samuel's chest a light slap. 

"This suit looks a bit tight. Have you been hitting the gym again? I'll have the tailor adjust it later."

I then took a watch from my bag and slipped it onto his wrist.

Gavin froze. He recognized it instantly. It was the watch I'd given him as a wedding gift. His hand jerked away from Vanessa's arm as he stormed toward us, grabbing me and yanking me away from Samuel.

"Why the hell is my suit on him? And what's with the watch?"

The force of his pull made me stumble, but Samuel's arm shot out just in time to steady me.

Once I regained my balance, I said calmly, as though it were the most reasonable thing in the world, "I gave it to him as compensation. You spilled wine on Samuel's custom suit the other night and refused to apologize, so as your wife, I did it for you.

"As for the watch," I continued, "Samuel's attending an event soon and needed one. You never wear it, anyway, so I gave it to him. It's just a suit and a watch, Gavin. Don't tell me you're that petty."

He stood there, his expression shifting between anger and embarrassment.

His eyes fixed on me like he was seeing me for the first time.

I, however, acted perfectly unbothered and suggested cheerfully, "Why don't we all grab dinner?"

Throughout the meal, Samuel and I laughed and talked easily while Gavin sat in silence, his expression turning greener by the minute.

Later, I was reapplying lipstick in the restroom when Vanessa walked in.

She crossed her arms and smirked. "Clara, do you really think bringing another man into this little show will make Gavin love you again? You'll never mean as much to him as I do. We've known each other for over a decade."

I unhurriedly adjusted my hair in the mirror. "Really? Then why didn't he marry you?"

"He'll divorce you sooner or later!"

I smiled faintly. "With the way he's been jealous lately, maybe in the next life."

Vanessa's jaw clenched. "Don't be too proud. You'll see."

On the drive home, Gavin started and stopped several times before finally saying, "Clara, can we talk?"

I rubbed my temples and gave a soft, non-committal reply.

"Could you stop seeing Samuel? He—"

Ah, so now he wanted to play nice. Funny how that never happened in our past life, when I was the one begging for a scrap of affection.

I copied the tone he used to use on me, frowning slightly. 

"Not this again. Why are you always picking flights with Samuel? What has he ever done to you?"

Gavin pressed his lips together, trying to hold himself steady.

"I'm your husband. Watching you meet him every day drives me insane. You should at least think about how I—"

I cut him off, my patience snapping. "Gavin, I married you, not sold myself to you! Am I not even allowed normal social contact with others now?"

I looked out the window, my voice cold. "If I really had something going on with Samuel, our kid would be in preschool by now. You think I'd still be here listening to you lose your mind?"

That did it. Gavin exploded, his voice shaking with anger.

"Yes, I'm petty! I'm unreasonable! But tell me, Clara—look at yourself since Samuel came back. 

"Do you even see me anymore? You humiliated me in public, gave me a freebie for a birthday gift, and handed him my wedding watch and suit. What's next? Are you planning to give yourself to him, too?

"Clara, after all these years, have I ever refused you anything? Tell me, what have you ever wanted that I didn't give?

"Yes, Vanessa and I are close, but it's a friendship, nothing more. Do you really have to take revenge like this?

"I'm telling you now, my patience has limits! If this keeps up, we—"

He kept going, unloading all his frustration, anger, and wounded pride in a desperate attempt to shake me back into submission.

But I said nothing. When he finally turned to me with his bloodshot eyes, he froze.

I had fallen asleep while he was breaking apart in agony.

His gaze bored into my face, burning holes into me, but I didn't move a muscle. I played the part of a peacefully sleeping woman to perfection.

The reaper murmured beside me, "He looks completely deranged. Angry, confused, and questioning his life choices. Honestly, this is better than arguing."

I wasn't sure if Gavin had actually lost his mind, but I knew one thing—I felt amazing.

After a long silence, the car door opened, then slammed shut. Once I was certain he'd walked away, I finally opened my eyes.

Soon, it was the Hart Corporation's annual gala.

Vanessa approached me with a wine glass in hand, a fake smile plastered across her face.

"Clara, Gavin invited me for the first dance this year," she said sweetly. "How much longer do you think you can keep that Mrs. Hart title?"

I shrugged. "No idea how long I'll keep it. But you? You've had years to try and still haven't gotten past being just his friend. Guess that says it all."

A flicker of shrewdness crossed her eyes at the jab.

"Let's find out, then," she said softly. "Let's see who really matters more to him—his wife or his best friend."

I could already tell where this was going.

Sure enough, she grabbed my hand, the one holding the wine glass, and yanked it toward herself.

The wine splashed all over her dress. She barely had time to fake a scream before a loud crash and a chorus of gasps erupted behind us.

Everyone turned toward the sound. The champagne tower had collapsed in a thunderous heap, glass and liquid spraying everywhere.

Samuel and Gavin hit the floor amid the wreckage, their arms shredded by shards of glass, blood mixing with spilled wine.

"Sam!" I shouted, pushing past Vanessa without a second thought. I also shoved her elbow up, dumping the wine she held all over her own face.

While she screamed, I ran to Samuel and helped him up. A shallow cut crisscrossed the back of his hand. Seeing the blood on him made my eyes sting.

I ignored Gavin, who had a much deeper gash on his arms. Samuel's face had gone pale, but he forced out a weak, forgiving smile. "I'm okay, Clara. It's just a small cut.

"Mr. Hart didn't do it on purpose. Don't blame him," Samuel added.

Hearing that only made my anger burn hotter. I looked at Gavin with pure fury and disappointment.

"Gavin, is that all you're capable of? If you've got a problem, take it out on me! What kind of man hurts someone else

Chapter 5