Chapter 2 Not A Big Deal

The room spun, and Elena stumbled backward, landing unceremoniously on the couch. Amidst the charged atmosphere behind the door, Elena struggled to stand up. Her legs felt unsteady as she moved towards the bedroom exit. No. No, no. Andrew would never do this to her. He would never. He loved her so much. He would never… She still believed that the person inside was not him. That’s right, he must be someone who had a similar voice. Besides, Chloe never liked Andrew to begin with, so why would she… Yes, she must be overthinking because of her disappointment earlier. Elena’s hand quivered as she reached for the doorknob. However, just as she was about to turn the handle, she stopped. She did not dare enter the room and confront the two people inside. The thought of confronting her husband's adultery and her best friend's betrayal was excruciating, and it was too much for her to bear. In fact, Elena had never felt so terrified before. Even when she had broken ties with her family, even when her future was unknown when she married Andrew, she had never been this afraid. But right now, she couldn't face it. A deep fear seized her heart. Elena knew that once she entered the room, her life would change. But she also knew that if she didn’t confront the truth now, she would suffocate for the rest of her life. “Please don’t let it be what I think it is.” Elena drew in a deep breath when she heard the voices from inside. “Weren’t you supposed to celebrate your anniversary tonight? How come you have time to meet me?” Chloe asked. “It’s just an anniversary. Definitely not as important as f**king you.” Andrew replied. Chloe was pleased with his answer but still asked innocently. “But… wouldn’t Elena be upset by your absence?” “So what? I just have to coax her with a few words, and that old hag will continue to lick my shoes!” “Won’t she feel something amiss?” "Right now, even if she sees the two of us having s*x, she will forgive me," Andrew laughed unkindly. "After all, she's blinded by love and her entire world only revolves around me." Bang! The door opened with a loud bang, revealing a scene that destroyed Elena's already fragile state of mind. Chloe lay on the bed, her face flushed with pleasure as Andrew slipped his manhood inside her. Elena's world crumbled in an instant. Despite mentally preparing herself, the reality that unfolded in front of her pierced her defenses like a knife through her soul. Her body trembled uncontrollably, and her heart turned cold as a wave of nausea surged through her. Hearing the bang, Chloe and Andrew were both startled. They turned to see the intruder and their eyes widened in horror when they saw Elena standing at the door. “El-Elena…” Chloe stammered in shock. She hastily disentangled herself from Andrew and reached for her clothes. “Elena, this isn’t what it seems,” Chloe attempted to explain. “Not what I think?” Elena’s voice crackled with a burst of fury. “You both are literally joined at the hips. What exactly do you call this, then?” she roared. Chloe felt awkward. She wanted to refute, but Elena’s attention had already shifted towards Andrew. Elena's gaze bored into Andrew, wanting answers that he was unable to provide. "Why, Andrew?" "How could you do this to me?" Elena's voice quivered, and her eyes filled with tears. Andrew stood there nonchalantly, with no remorse, no guilt on his face. "Don't make it seem like such a big deal, Elena. There's nothing wrong here," Elena looked at him with disbelief. "Not a big deal?" "Yes, and so what if I slept with her?" Andrew said, his voice full of arrogance. "Also, which male does not have a mistress outside? As long as you play the role of Mrs. Elliot, everything will stay the same." The shallowness of Andrew’s words stabbed at Elena’s already wounded heart. She could not believe he was the same person who had vowed to accompany her till the end of the world. Without a second thought, her hand swung with force, and a resounding smack echoed in the room. “Do you think I care about that lousy title?” Elena gritted her teeth in anger as she glared at him. A bright crimson print appeared across Andrew’s cheek, and he looked at her in shock. In the five years of their relationship, he had never seen such ferocity in her gaze. The Elena in his memories had been gentle, soft-spoken, and accommodating. Her loving gaze had never wavered, always looking at him with warmth and adoration. No matter how badly his family treated her, she had never raised her voice or expressed her dissatisfaction. Even during their arguments, it was always Elena who yielded first. But tonight, it was his first time seeing this side of hers. At that moment, he felt as though he was facing a different person than he thought he knew. Chloe was equally dumbfounded, as she never expected Elena to hit him. She had firsthand witnessed how much Elena cherished Andrew. So much so that she would bawl her heart out, even if Andrew had a slight fever. But soon, a hint of smug satisfaction flickered in her eyes as she observed the chaos in front of her. Good! Fight as much as you can! It’d be best if there’s blood today! “Elena, please don’t hurt Andy. If there’s anyone to blame, it’s me,” Chloe hurriedly interjected. She pinched her thigh, squeezing out a few tears. “I simply love Andy too much. It’s my feelings that led to this.” Chloe’s voice was soft, and tears welled in her eyes. Her small frame could instantly evoke a sense of pity from anyone who glanced her way. And Andrew was the same. His heart ached as he witnessed Chloe take the blame upon herself. “Love? Chloe Baker, ask yourself. Have I ever treated you badly? Didn’t your conscience hurt a bit when you decided to sleep with my husband?! Did you two ever consider what it would be like for me when I learn the truth?” Elena screamed, her voice breaking with the pain inflicted on her. At this point, she felt that her life was a joke. For Andrew, she had abandoned her career and dreams and chose to settle as an ordinary housewife. Just so that he would not feel inferior, she had broken ties with her family while stupidly currying favor with her in-laws. In the end, he dismissed her by saying, “It’s not a big deal.” “Trust me, Elena, I never meant to hurt you. And don’t worry. No one would take Andy away from you,” Chloe implored, her voice earnest. “I don’t seek any status from Andy, nor do I have any complaints against him.” Chloe stood in front of Elena and held her arms. “Why make things difficult for everyone, El?” Chloe’s voice was persuasive as she looked at her with a hint of madness. “We can go back to how things were. You and Andy will still be the loving couple and I’ll remain your best friend. I’m not greedy and I’ll be content if Andy can accompany me occasionally. You can take care of him on the weekdays while I’ll serve him on weekends. We can live together like sisters, and everyone can be happy.”