Chapter 8 His Wife Smells of Another Man

But Caspian wasn't looking at her. His gaze passed through the glass to the fireworks in the distance, and he said slightly, "Look, Phoenix Rising."

Gloria's attention was drawn by his voice. Over a thousand drones rose up, forming the pattern of a phoenix.

The phoenix spread its wings, soaring through raging flames and leaping into the clouds.

The sense of awe in this moment left Gloria unable to put it into words.

She felt like she was back in her teens, when James held her hand running through the alleys of the slums, racing all the way to watch the fireworks set off by the rich people in that dazzling downtown across the way.

Back then, James was thin, his eyes bright and spirited, his forehead covered in beads of sweat, his promise simple and sincere.

He pointed at those tall buildings and said, "Gloria, someday I'll take you away from here, buy us a house over there, and set off fireworks just for you."

They were like two wild weeds, keeping each other warm through poverty's cold nights, determined to climb their way up.

Gloria waited many years, but never got those fireworks that were supposed to be just for her.

She pressed against the glass, her eyes slightly red, momentarily forgetting about Caspian sitting beside her.

He whispered to her, "Gloria, you should be that phoenix soaring through the heavens, but someone's locked you in a cage. Are you really okay with that?"

Gloria watched that lifelike phoenix spreading its wings freely across the sky, and saw herself holding a trophy giving an acceptance speech.

Back when she left the entertainment industry, she did it willingly. But now, her unwillingness was real too.

She met Caspian's indifferent eyes that seemed devoid of any desire.

Her fingers involuntarily clutched his shirt as she pleaded. "Caspian, can you help me?"

His eyes reflected Gloria's stubborn little face, and his thin, plain lips suddenly curved into a smile. "As you wish."

After getting Caspian's positive answer, Gloria's emotions ran high that night.

Looking at the lights of thousands of homes outside, she made a decision—she needed to end things with James once and for all.

In the name of love, he wanted to imprison her in that jail called marriage.

He bought her the prettiest dresses and jewelry, but she no longer had any occasions to wear them.

She had ignored the possessive obsession in James's eyes.

Perhaps he'd been planning this for many years.

Step by step, cutting off her wings so she could only obediently depend on him.

She didn't need to have thoughts or dreams, just be his accessory.

Thinking of this, Gloria felt chills run down her spine.

His love was too obsessive!

That night she had a dream. In it, a handsome young man pinned her against a tree, sunlight filtering through dense branches onto his white shirt.

His slender fingers gripped her chin, long lashes hiding the madness in his eyes. "Gloria, love me, won't you?"

The scene shifted. The boy had grown into a man with a strong build, his embrace burning hot and forceful. "Gloria, have my child."

"Gloria, no one in this world will ever love you more than I do."

"Gloria."

Gloria's eyes snapped open. Her body under the nightgown was covered in cold sweat. She ran her fingers through her hair—she'd dreamed of him again.

Opening her phone, she saw message after message filled with longing.

A James like this definitely wouldn't agree to divorce easily.

Crystalbrook was over. She should go back today.

There was still a lot of preparation needed before starting work on a new series.

She checked out of her room and was about to send Caspian a thank-you message.

Just as she left the hotel, she saw Joseph standing by a black car.

Caspian had even arranged a car to take her to the airport.

Gloria carried a paper bag of clothes in one hand while typing a thank-you text with the other.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Joseph open the car door for her. She got in and sat down.

Until her soft bottom landed on Caspian's firm legs, Gloria was stunned!

She mechanically looked back and met a pair of cool, indifferent eyes.

Wait—why was Caspian in the car? And sitting on the edge at that!

She'd never been this embarrassed in her life.

"Sorry, I was just about to text you."

Gloria immediately stood up, bent over and moved to the side. She wasn't sure if it was her imagination, but Caspian's gaze seemed to linger on her waist for a moment.

When she settled down and looked at him, his gaze was as indifferent as always.

Caspian's hand resting on the armrest was slender, veins prominent on the back of his hand, looking full of masculine tension.

Yet a black bracelet wrapped around his wrist made him seem both detached and restrained.

Like a restraint on him—once that chain was removed, he would fall from a god in the heavens to a demon.

He spoke calmly, "I was going to get out and help you with your things."

"I wasn't paying attention." She nervously tugged at her skirt.

Caspian asked, "What did you want to text me?"

"I wanted to thank you. I've been a bother these past two days. When you come to Silverlake Springs, I'll definitely show you around as a proper host."

Caspian smiled. "I remember you never used to join group dinners."

Gloria answered calmly. "People change."

The car pulled into the airport.

She got out and politely thanked him. "Thank you."

The window rolled down. Caspian's voice came from behind. "Gloria."

She paused and turned back, standing gracefully in the sunlight, her deep eyes looking at him.

"We'll see each other again soon."

She nodded. "Okay."

Then she turned and left, just like all the times she'd left before.

The iris flowers on her skirt gradually disappeared from his view.

The driver asked carefully, "Mr. Rivers, can we go now? Everyone from the board meeting has arrived."

In the rearview mirror, Caspian's usually indifferent eyes had turned predatory.

That dangerous and unrestrained look made the driver's heart race with fear.

The plane landed. Back on familiar ground, her mood had changed considerably.

Life was still long. She refused to waste another day on James.

She suddenly realized that the problem with their marriage wasn't just about Maria's child.

She wanted to break through the walls imprisoning her and move toward a new life.

When she walked toward the exit, in the crowd, she immediately spotted James in a sharp suit, holding roses.

She wore a mask and sunglasses, and had deliberately put on a windbreaker with the hood up when she came out.

Covered from head to toe, no one could tell who she was.

But that couldn't stop James's high-profile display. He stood out in the crowd and walked toward Gloria.

Under everyone's gaze, he pulled Gloria into his arms. His burning breath fell on her ear, his voice carrying some relief. "Honey, you're finally back."

Gloria lowered her voice in his ear. "Let go, James. Don't make me slap you in public."

Three days apart felt like three years to James.

Only when he held Gloria's body again did he feel grounded.

He lowered his head, burying it in her neck, greedily breathing in her scent.

"Honey, I missed you so much."

The next second, he caught a faint trace of sandalwood on her.

This scent shouldn't be on Gloria.

Who had she met in Crystalbrook?

James's eyes grew cold. His wife carried another man's cologne.