Chapter 2 Be Sensible

Kyla returned home, a luxurious villa perched atop Mount Harppek, feeling as empty as an elegant yet lifeless mansion.

She didn't turn on the lights, allowing herself to sink into the soft sofa in the living room, where the darkness completely enveloped her.

The coldness of the spilled wine on her dress seeped into her skin, but it was nothing compared to the chill in her heart.

It wasn't until midnight that she heard the sound of the keypad unlocking at the entrance.

Gerald was back. He switched on the lights, and the sudden brightness made Kyla squint involuntarily.

The scent of the evening's party still clung to him, along with a faint perfume that didn't belong to Kyla but Aubrey.

"Why are you sitting here in the dark?" he asked casually, loosening his tie, his tone indifferent and devoid of emotion.

Kyla remained motionless, simply watching him from the shadows.

Gerald seemed somewhat tired. He tossed his suit jacket onto the sofa carelessly and headed straight for the bar counter to pour himself a glass of water.

Just then, his phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID, and the fatigue in his eyes gave way to a gentler expression.

"Hello, Aubrey." His voice was as tender as when he comforted Aubrey, reminding Kyla of a spring breeze. "I'm home. Everything's fine. Don't overthink, just get some rest."

Whatever Aubrey said on the other end made Gerald chuckle. "How could it be your fault, silly girl? You know how she is. Don't take it to heart. I'll see you at the lab tomorrow."

After hanging up, Gerald took a sip of water, as if he'd just remembered Kyla's presence. He turned to look at her, the warmth on his face vanishing, replaced by his usual calm detachment.

"What was that about at the party tonight?" he asked, his tone now carrying a hint of accusation. "You left without saying goodbye. Do you realize how much that humiliated me in front of everyone?"

A sharp pain stabbed at Kyla's heart again. She pulled out her phone and quickly typed a line with her cold fingers, showing it to him.

"She spilled the wine on me deliberately and said in public that I was mute."

Gerald glanced at the screen, his brows furrowing deeper, displaying a look Kyla knew all too well. It was called impatience.

"Aubrey is young and innocent. She wouldn't do it on purpose. You weren't like this before. When did you become so sensitive and suspicious?"

Innocent?

Kyla chuckled bitterly, her fingers trembling with anger while she was typing.

"I know better than you whether she's innocent. Gerald, I'm a lawyer. I've never misjudged anyone."

Her words seemed to hit a nerve with Gerald.

The impatience on his face turned to cold indifference, even tinged with a hint of mockery. "A lawyer? Kyla, you haven't been to court in five years. Stop bringing up the past. You don't need to remind me repeatedly about how you defended me back then, either."

Every mention of that case five years before seemed to provoke an overreaction from Gerald.

It got to the point where even bringing up anything related to law would trigger his anger.

Kyla felt a lump in her throat. Just as she was about to type another message, Gerald interrupted her, "Besides, even if Aubrey said something wrong, she apologized. Do you have to keep holding it against her and give me the cold shoulder?"

He took a step closer, looking down at her. "Weren't you always the most understanding and considerate of me?"

Understanding. Considerate.

Those words were like two hot needles piercing Kyla's heart.

For him, she had given up her pride, ruined the future in her career, and learned to be a silent, obedient, and understanding woman.

Kyla had thought that was their bond, but in the end, it became a weapon for him to accuse her of being "unreasonable".

Kyla averted her gaze, deleted her words with grievances from the phone, and typed a new line. "I'm tired. I'm going to bed."

She didn't want to argue any longer.

In the face of favoritism, all reasoning seemed futile.

She had to admit that she had lost. From the moment Gerald chose to defend Aubrey, she had lost completely.

Kyla pushed herself off the sofa and prepared to go upstairs. As she passed by Gerald, he seized her wrist with a force that hurt. Kyla turned back in confusion.

Gerald's eyes filled with a mix of frustration, scrutiny, and a trace of emotion that she couldn't quite decipher.

He gazed at her for a few seconds before speaking in a low voice, "Do you think that I don't need you anymore, as I've become successful?"

Kyla was taken aback.

Gerald seemed to attribute all her actions to an irrational lack of security.

"Kyla." He leaned closer, his warm breath brushing her ear, his tone softening as if soothing a disobedient pet. "Stop this. You know how I treat you. For five years, I've been providing a life of comfort and luxury. Isn't that enough?"

A life of comfort and luxury.

All her sacrifices, in his eyes, were worth only those words.

Kyla abruptly shook off his hand with all her strength. She gazed at him, the spark in her eyes faded, leaving only a cold disappointment.

She responded with nothing, just gave Gerald one last glance as if he were a stranger, then turned decisively and went upstairs, leaving him far behind.

As she closed the door, Kyla leaned against it, slowly sliding to the floor.

Overwhelmed by a sense of grievance and helplessness, she hugged herself, but felt no warmth.

She finally understood that some people's hearts could never be warmed, especially when they wanted to give warmth to someone else.