Page 12 of His Infatuated Wife

If I say sorry, I might as well confirm what's obviously on everyone's mind.

To help her is to do nothing, and it kills me to realize how powerless I am.

I'm sorry, Riri.

All I can do is act like I didn't hear a fucking word, and when everyone else follows suit, I know they're doing it for Riri as well.

Why the hell did it have to be this way?

I hope she knows the last thing I want to do is hurt her. But since I'm also responsible for bringing Eva here, can I blame Riri for thinking otherwise?

The cast stays behind for a performance review when rehearsals end, and I turn to Eva as soon as we're out of the auditorium.

"Why the hell did you have to say that?"

"I can't help what I notice."

The sheer absence of remorse in her tone disgusts me.

"Everyone can see she was being unprofessional---"

"She's just a kid---"

Eva's lip curls. "We both know you don't see her as a kid, Jacques. But what you also don't see is the fact that she's a gold-digging harlot---"

"Eva!" I've never heard my friend speak with such spite, and I stare at her in disbelief. "What the hell's gotten into you?"

"Shouldn't I be the one asking that?" Eva snaps back."From the very start, you should have put her in her place---"

"Enough."

I've finally lost patience, and Eva flinches at the way my tone has turned ominously soft.

"This is the last time you'll say or do anything that will cause Riri embarrassment."

Eva's lips tighten in annoyance, but I don't give a damn.

"Do we have an understanding, Eva?"

"If it matters that much to you---"

"It does."

"Then go ahead," Eva flings angrily at me, "and baby her all you want. But I'm warning you, Jacques. This isn't how we should deal with people like her. But I guess you'll just have to learn that the hard way."

Riri

I'm one of the last persons to arrive at the faculty hall, and all eyes are on me as soon as I enter.

Has something happened again?

I head over to the refreshments table, and that's when my gaze accidentally falls on a strikingly familiar figure. It's Jacques, of course, but without Eva by his side.

"She's gone."

It's Sierah who murmurs this sotto voceas she comes up next to me and takes one of the pastel-colored macarons from the tray.

I don't even bother pretending ignorance. "Did she say why?"

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