"Jewelry?"
I slightly frown, raising my voice to Richard who has just entered the bathroom, "Richard, sister Bianca is here, I'll go downstairs and see her."
Almost the next second, Richard strides out, with a cold expression I've never seen before.
"I can go, you don't need to worry.
Go and clean up." he said.
This man, who is usually calm and restrained in front of me, seemed to carry a mixed emotion in his voice, as if he was irritated, but also nervous.
I felt a bit strange, "I already cleaned up, I even squeezed the toothpaste for you, remember?"
"Alright, let's go together then, so as not to keep the guest waiting."
I held his hand and walked downstairs.
The stairs were designed in a curve, halfway down, I could see Bianca Lincoln wearing a plain white dress, sitting elegantly on the couch.
She also looks up at the sound, her smile peaceful.
When her gaze fell on the intertwined hands of me and Richard, her cup trembled, spilling a bit of tea.
"Ah..." It must have been a little hot, she made a soft sound in the midst of her hurry.
Richard suddenly pulled away his hand, ran downstairs anxiously, took the cup from her hand, "How can you be so clumsy, can't even hold a cup securely?"
His tone was stern and strict, but he unwaveringly led Bianca Lincoln to the sink, washing her hand in cold water without objection.
Bianca was helpless, tried to pull her hand back,
"I'm okay, you're making a fuss over nothing."
"Shut up.
If you don't take care of burns, they'll scar, you know?" Richard coldly rebuked, without letting go.
I stood on the stairs in a daze, watching this scene, a bit stupefied.
A memory rushed into my mind.
It was when we just got married.
Upon learning that Richard had a weak stomach, I started learning how to cook.
Even though we had Aunt Sandra at home, her food didn't really suit his taste.
Being new to cooking, I often ended up cutting my hand or burning myself.
Once, I accidentally knocked over a pan, and the boiling oil rolled all over my stomach following my movements.
My clothes got entirely wet, and the burn made me grimace in pain.
Hearing the noise, Richard came over. His demeanor as gentle as ever, "Are you okay? You go take care of it, I can finish the cooking."
He was gentle and considerate, yet plain and unexciting.
Occasionally, I had a vague sense that something seemed off.
But I had secretly loved him for many years, countless emotions scattered throughout my diary pages were about him.
Marrying him was already more than I could ask for.
I just thought, he was naturally reserved and introverted. ...
"Miss Bianca was served lemon water by me," Sandra's auntie's murmur distracted me from my thoughts.
My eyes blurred unknowingly, my heart felt like it was being clutched tightly by an invisible hand, making me breathless.
Look.
The cup that was clearly taken from Bianca's hand by him, due to his chaotic emotions, he even lost the ability to tell whether the water was hot or cold.
Taking a deep breath, I slowly walked downstairs with a half-hearted smile, "Honey, auntie Sandra served Lemon water to sister Bianca, it's cold, unable to cause burns.
What if you worry that she might get frostbite from the cold?"
I tried to hold back, but I still let out a sarcastic remark.
Richard stiffened, then let her hand go, avoiding my gaze whilst lashing out at Bianca,
"Are you shrieking at cold water? You're the only one that is delicate."
Bianca shot him a grumpy look, then turned to me with a gentle smile,
"He's always been an overthinker, don't mind him."
When she finished speaking, she walked to the coffee table, picked up a velvet gift box with a workmanship obviously having a high value, and handed it over.
She smiled softly, "This belongs to you."
I took it, opened it for a glance; my nails sharply dug into my palm.
A storm of shocks surged inward.
Is the woman in the video, Bianca? When I looked up again, I hid my emotions, wanting to laugh, but I couldn't.
Last night, I had hard-pressed Richard take back the necklace, and now, the necklace is in my hands, yet I can't muster any sense of relief.
I looked at Richard with probing eyes, and his gaze was unfathomably deep before he pulled me into his arms.
"Do you like it? If you do, then keep it. If you don't, do as you wish with it.
It's just a worthless trinket after all. I can buy a new gift for you."
"Fine." I pursed my lips, sparing Bianca a little dignity in front of me.
Or perhaps, I was the one who wanted to save face.
For a moment, I couldn't quite discern the purpose of Bianca's visit here today.
Was she sincerely feeling that she shouldn't have accepted this necklace? Or was she declaring something? Upon seeing this, some emotion flashed across Bianca's face too quickly to capture.
She laughed lightly, "I was afraid this necklace might cause some misunderstanding between the two of you.
It seems that it hasn't, so I will take my leave."
Aunt Sandra saw her out.
The moment the door closed, I disentangled myself from Richard's arm,
"Didn't you say you bought it for Henry? Besides, isn't Sister Bianca married?
When did she also become one of Henry's...mmph!" Cutting off my remaining words, he abruptly kissed me.
He forcefully took control of me, fiercely and desperately, as if venting something.
When it became hard for me even to breathe, he broke away slightly, gently caressing my head and admitting guilt.
"I lied to you."
He pulled me closer, "She's divorced now, and I was afraid she would do something foolish, so I gave her a gift."
I froze, now comprehending the meaning of his words in the video, "Congratulations on your new beginning."
I bit my lip, half skeptical, half hopeful, "Is that all?"
"Yes, that's all."
He replied with conviction, his voice warm and smooth, explaining patiently, "You should know that her mother sacrificed herself to save me.
I could not just sit by idle."
I remember Aunt Sandra mentioning something about this.
His biological mother died of childbirth complications, and when Richard was five years old, his father remarried, this time to the mother of Bianca.
Despite being his stepmother, she treated Richard exceptionally well, just like her own child.
She even risked her life to save Richard when he was in danger and has been in a vegetative state ever since, lying in bed for many years.
If that's the reason, it makes sense.
I felt a sudden relief, but I couldn't help reminding him gently, "Richard, I believe that you're only trying to repay her kindness, and you only see her as a sister." ...
That necklace, I eventually threw it into the storage room.
Maybe, my suspicions did not completely dissolve.
They were merely suppressed temporarily, and they could easily resurface one day after being repressed over and over.
Overwhelmingly.
Unexpectedly, that day came sooner than I imagined.
I majored in clothing design in college and interned at the Lincoln Corporation's Design Department.
Being married to Richard Lincoln didn't affect my career planning.
Four years down the line, I was already the assistant director of the design department. "Director Steph, having lunch without me?"
That day, I was having lunch in the office cafeteria when my college roommate Amelia, carrying her food tray and swaying her slim waist, flirting sat down across from me.
"I will rush back to draw up the design draft after finishing my meal."
Seeing her wink at me provocatively, I helplessly asked,
"What's up?"
"I heard from the HR department this morning that the new director of the design department has been decided!"
An ecstatic smile spread across her pretty face, "I bet it's you.
Isn't this why I came to congratulate you on your promotion in advance? If one prospers, all will prosper."
"Before the official appointment letter comes down, who can be certain?
Lower your voice." The department director resigned at some point this month, and everyone says the position is most likely going to be mine.
I have some confidence in myself, but I'm also afraid of any unexpected changes.
"How could it be uncertain? Not to mention that you are the president's wife,
" She lowered her voice at the end of the sentence, because my marriage to Richard was not public.
The outside world only knew Richard favored his wife, but they didn't know his wife was me.
Later, she went on to boast about me unabashedly: "Your achievements since joining the company are there for all to see.
Balancing brand design and private customization, how many companies are covertly dreaming of poaching you!
Why wouldn't the Lincoln family promote you?"
Just as Amelia finished speaking, both our phones rang at the same time.
The official appointment letter.
Her eyes lit up when she saw those big characters in the email, she was excited at first glance, but then her brow furrowed with some annoyance.
" Bianca Lincoln, who's that?"