Chapter 5
I searched everywhere for Dexter. The hallway wasn’t long, so he couldn’t have gone far.
As I walked past the security passage, the door suddenly swing open, and Dexter stepped out, holding a water bottle. He was startled when he saw
gaze flickering away for a moment, almost nervously
“What are you doing here?” he asked.
Instactively replied, “Just wandering around. My mind’s a little scattered.”
Just as the door was about to close, I caught a glimpse of someone quickly disappearing down the hallway. The long chestnut hair looked so familiar it was exactly like the woman I’d seen in the security footage, the one who had stolen the cleaning uniform.
My heart skipped a beat. I was about to chase after her when Dexter blocked me at the door.
“Sylvia, it’s my fault. I’ve been so caught up with work lately, I haven’t been able to take care of you properly.
“As for your mom… it was my decision not to tell you. If you’re angry, then b
his arms. his VOICE full of regret.
blame me. He pulled me into hi
“Sylvia, I was just afraid… afraid you wouldn’t be able to handle it and that you’d start overthinking everything.” he said.
A wave of emotions hit me, and I couldn’t find the words. But I eventually forced myself to calm down. This was Martha’s hospital room, and 1 couldn’t cause a scene with Dexter here
After a few deep breaths, I patted his back. “I understand.”
Dexter carefully studied my face. “You’re not angry with me, are you?”
“With everything going on with Mom… how could I be angry?” I forced a bitter smile.
“Good” He took my hand and led me back, and I had to fight the urge to pull away. The nausea was hard to ignore, but I held on.
head. I
“I just felt a little restless, he continued. The hospital doesn’t allow smoking in the hallways, so I went to the security passage to clear my h didn’t mean to make you worry.
“It’s fine.
When we returned to the room. Martha was awake.
Dexter was all over the place, taking care of her–more thoughtful than I had been. He was naturally more attentive, and Martha had always liked him for that
After a long day of running around, he’d helped clean up Martha’s room, then even went to the cafeteria to get her food. Clara had stayed with Martha all day, so I told her to go home and rest. That left me alone with Martha in the room.
She took my hand and spoke seriously, “Sylvia, don’t worry. I’m fine… It’s just that I’m getting older. These things happen. But seeing you and Dexter so happy makes me feel at peace. If I could just see Clara get married, I’d have no regrets.”
“Stop talking like that I said quickly, trying to keep my emotions in check. “There’s still plenty of time. You’ll still help me with Juno, and when he’s older, and Clara needs you, you’ll be there. You have to stay healthy for us
She chuckled and patted my hand. “Alright, alright. But that Dexter… he’s really a good kid. I was against you two being together at first, but now i can see I was wrong
A bitter smile tugged at my lips. I thought, “How can I tell her that Dexter has changed? Or maybe, from the very start, I have never truly seen who he is I lowered my gaze, trying to control the storm of emotions inside me.
Soon after, Dexter returned with the food. “You 11
two eat first, 11l go pick up Juno.“
“You don’t need to worry about that,” I said, urging him to go. “I’m here with Mom. You should go home and be with Juno.”
He frowned. “How can I leave you here alone tonight?”
“That’s fine. Mom doesn’t have any treatments tonight–just some overnight care, so it’s not really necessary for you to stay. Besides, Juno needs
you
“You’ve been away for a few days, so now it’s your turn to be with him” I’d already made all the arrangements. “Clara will take over in the morning. 1/2
and the new integiver will be here too
“Alright” Dexter gave me a long look. “I anything comes up, just call me. It doesn’t matter how late irk?
kay go ahead Don’t keep Juno waiting”
After seeing Dexter off, I had dinner with Martha
Once Juno was home, he sent me a video call. I could see Dexter in the background, busy in the kitchen. Marth looked reassured seeing it.
But there was something that caught my eye. Dexter had a phone sticking out of his back pocket–one I’d never seen him use before,
I looked like he’d casually stuffed it in while working in the kitchen, and the phone had slipped out just enough for me to spot the pink case.
I thought. Dexter, a grown man, with a pink phone case? 1 recognized it immediately–he had a spare phone.
I pretended not to notice, keeping my composure as I reassured Juno and exchanged a few casual words with Dexter during the video call Everything appeared normal. just like always,
When the call ended, my heart was pounding. But tonight, I couldn’t leave. I had to stay at the hospital. There would be plenty of time ahead, and I could slowly pull apart the mask Dexter was wearing
Martha was in a private room, and I settled onto the sofa for the night.
Staying up with a patient was exhausting. I slept fitfully, tossing and turning. At some point, I had a nightmare, I woke up drenched in sweat, the silence of the room pressing in. The only light came from the hallway, casting a faint glow into the dim room,
Instinctively, I reached for my phone. There was an unread email. It had been sent an hour ago.
The email contained only one photo. It showed a shot of my house, and in the distance, I could see a pair of men’s feet. It was unmistakably Dexter —his slippers were the ones I’d bought him.
picture. The woman was wearing my slippers, her delicate ankle exposed.
But the part that made my blood run cold was the other pair of feet in the pictu and she was making a heart gesture with her hand aimed at the camera.
The angle was all wrong for a selfie–she had deliberately posed like that.
Because I wasn’t home tonight, Dexter had brought her back. She was the mistress, yet tonight, she was in my house, wearing my slippers, sleeping with Dexter… while Junio was still there. I thought, How dare he—‘
The rage consumed me. I couldn’t keep it in anymore. I rushed out of the hospital.
The drive home was a blur. I tried to stay calm, but my heart was pounding so loud I could hear it in my ears. My breath came in rapid gasps. What should have been a twenty–minute drive only took ten, and I didn’t dare slow down, terrified til hesitate or second–guess mys
myself.
The thought of Juno being under the same roof as that woman set off a wave of panic. I thought, ‘Who knows what she might do to my son?
I rushed through the door, the house eerily quiet. I grabbed a flashlight and checked the shoe cabinet first. Sure enough, my slippers were gone. I always kept thein on the top shelf, a habit Ed developed whenever I wasn’t home.
I took a deep breath, steadying myself, and silently walked toward the bedroom. I turned the doorknob gently, biting my lip to stop my hand from shaking, and slowly opened the door…
Through the faint light, I saw two figures under the blanket. And the half–head poking out from the other side? It was Dexter.
