The third wheel

(ARIELLE POV)

Oh well, color me surprised!

I blinked severally to ensure that I was not seeing wrongly. My eyes widened in shock, my mind trying to process the scene before me. My husband, Jared, was standing beside another woman, a pregnant woman who claimed to be his wife, in a restaurant where I worked. The woman's words earlier reverberated in my ears, "my husband will have you fired!" My heart pounded, breathing suddenly becoming difficult.

I felt like I had just been punched in the gut. I took a step forward, my voice raspy and barely a whisper, "Jared?"

Jared met my gaze, his composure unwavering. "Hey, Arielle," he said in a casual tone,, as if being seen in the restaurant his wife worked in with another woman who claimed he was her husband, was a normal occurrence.

My eyes narrowed at him, as I expected him to offer me an explanation.

Before Jared could respond, Sofia stepped forward, her face a mask of surprisement, "Oh, you must be Arielle! I'm so sorry for the confusion. I'm Sofia, Jared's old friend."

Looking at my expressionless face, Sofia continued, her voice syrupy sweet, "Jared's been so kind, helping me get settled in town. I just returned from abroad and I'm going through some tough times. He's been such a wonderful support."

My eyes never left Jared's face, my gaze unnerving. "Support?" I asked, unable to mask the disbelief in my tone.

Jared nodded. "Yes, support. She's pregnant, new in town and almost helpless. She needed someone to talk to and to help her navigate her way around town. I was just being that friend."

Still, I was not convinced, and my eyes shifted to Sofia, who stood there with an air of vulnerability, her eyes pleading for understanding. "And the child?"

became serious, "Of course

to trust my husband. Just then, Sofia cleared her throat to get

of line, you see, being a pregnant woman in a new city alone isn't easy. I needed some support, so I may have exaggerated Jared's role a bit. You understand, don't you?

hers, and even threatened to have me

but then my eyes

Blue Diamond limited edition? The one I glimpsed in

definitely aware

Jared. Arielle, surely

line. I didn't bother responding to Sofia's question, instead, I turned to Jared and said, "I

waiting for a response, I turned and strode away. As I left, Sofia's voice drifted after me, saccharine-sweet: "Jay-jay, I had no idea your

echoing in the hallway that led to my office. I

with him now, I turned to face him, my face bearing a

Jared? You're buying gifts for a pregnant woman who just claimed to be your wife in front of

misunderstood. The bracelet was for you. But Sophia was in a delicate situation.

expect me to believe that? You missed our anniversary dinner, promised me that bracelet, and now

"Love, Sophia isn't trying to hurt you. I've known her for years. She's impulsive, a little spoiled,

rather spare her feelings than care about how

about you, Arielle. But I didn't think this would

that good as you thought." Before he could respond, a

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