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?"

his voice became serious, "Of course

husband. Just then, Sofia cleared her throat to

new city alone isn't easy. I needed some support, so I may have exaggerated Jared's

away, reluctant to accept her apology. She was rude, claimed my husband as hers, and even threatened to have me fired. But Jared noticed my reluctance, and

eyes caught the glint of a vibrant blue

limited edition? The one I glimpsed in Jared's bag last night? I thought it was an anniversary gift for

definitely aware of

making puppy eyes. "Oh this bracelet? It's from Jared. Arielle, surely you don't mind Jay-Jay getting his best

together in a thin line. I didn't bother responding to Sofia's question, instead, I turned to Jared and said, "I need to speak with you in private, in my

strode away. As I left, Sofia's voice drifted after me, saccharine-sweet: "Jay-jay, I

my office.

turned to face him, my face bearing a

a pregnant woman who just claimed to be

was for you. But Sophia was in a delicate situation.

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

I knew that's the signal of his patience running out. "Love, Sophia isn't trying to hurt you. I've known her for years. She's impulsive, a little spoiled, but

laugh. "So, you'd rather spare her feelings than

Arielle. But I didn't think this would hurt you like it has. I was handling the

responses. "Well then I'd say your 'handling' is not that good as you thought." Before he could respond, a thought struck me. "Jared, did you even

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