Chloe Peterson, as a wife and a mother, I usually spend my day taking care of our daughter and keeping the home in order.
As a full time mum, sometimes I wonder if it is easier to work as a career woman running an organization rather than taking care of the home and family.
Which is more exhausting?
But the truth is that you wouldn't know the answer to this question until you try either of these jobs.
Night fell.
After putting our daughter to sleep, I finally got a chance to take a breather.
Half leaning against the headboard, I picked up my phone and mindlessly scrolled through entertainment news.
Unexpectedly, a live street photography stream caught my eye. I abruptly sat upright, staring intently at the screen, but the beautiful host had already moved the camera away.
My heart pounded rapidly. My palms grew sweaty as I swiped across the screen. In a panic, I checked the timestamp, confirming it was a live stream from the same city.
I hurriedly exited entertainment news and video called my husband, Xander Peterson, who had been on a business trip in South Korea for the past three days.
However, I had just seen his figure on the live stream, with a woman in his arms.
The call rang for quite a while before he answered. The camera shook, and Xander's handsome, scholarly face appeared. He looked into the camera and called out tenderly
"Wife!"
"Where are you?" I probed while studying his surroundings, which seemed like a restaurant hallway. He was wearing a white shirt and tie.
Yet, the figure from the live stream had been wearing a gray coat.
"I'm having dinner with a client. I stepped out to take your call. What's up?" he asked, then added
"Is Sunshine asleep?"
"Are you in South Korea?" I asked, ignoring his question.
"Of course. What's going on?" He looked at me with concern.
"Oh... nothing!" I replied absentmindedly, then queried, "When are you coming back?"
"Soon... Once I wrap things up here, I'll head back. Miss me?" He smiled at me affectionately.
"I'll try to get back as soon as I can. It's late, so go to sleep early, okay? I still have work to do. I'll hang up now."
He blew me a kiss through the screen, then ended the video call.
I clutched my phone, stunned for a moment, regretting my suspicion.
Xander is an exceptional husband, one in a million - not only is he outstandingly handsome, but he dotes on both his wife and daughter.
When I first met him, he was just a poor guy, albeit from a modest family at the reward and settlement area. He even had a sickly younger sister. Among all my suitors, I chose him solely because of my shallowness in valuing looks.
After graduation, to stay by his side, I used my parents' house as collateral to start a building materials business with him from scratch. He handled procurement while I worked day and night to win over clients, nearly drinking myself into a stomach ulcer.
Fortunately, our company gradually grew and prospered. When I became pregnant, I stepped back and handed the company over to him, content to focus on raising our child and managing our home.
In the blink of an eye, our daughter Sunshine has already turned 4 years old. The three of us live a comfortable and prosperous life, envied, jealous, and hated by many.
Although we didn't have a wedding ceremony, he has always felt guilty about it and promised me that he would ensure I live a good life and make up for all the hardships I've endured.
How could such a husband cheat?
I smiled wryly, it seems like I've watched too many bad soap operas, to have such a ridiculous thought.
Lying in bed, I was still thinking about that fleeting figure on the TikTok page. I must have been too clingy with Xander, and most importantly, that trench coat was too familiar - I had personally ironed it for him before his business trip.
So, it must have been another man wearing the same trench coat as my husband, that's why I was mistaken.
*******
The next day, Xander came back very early and even bought a lot of snacks for Sunshine.
He hugged and kissed us affectionately, creating a heartwarming atmosphere.
I was delighted and quickly went to the kitchen to cook a few of his favorite dishes, eager to reward him.
As we sat down to eat, Xander glanced at me and casually said, "There's a strong smell of cooking smoke, why don't you go take a shower?"
I nonchalantly sniffed and proudly smiled, "It's the aroma of home cooking, don't you enjoy the flavors of life?"
He smiled indulgently, reached out to ruffle my hair, and stuffed a piece of pork rib into my mouth, then picked one for Sunshine, putting it into her little mouth, "Okay, okay, my sweet darlings, have some meat!"
After the meal, I put our daughter to bed early, took a shower, then snuggled up to him and purposefully asked in a coquettish manner, "Is there still a cooking smell?"
Xander smiled, suggestively pinched me and said, "Wife, I missed you so much!"
With that, he pulled me over and pinned me down on the bed without further ado...we spent hours exploring our bodies like never before and it felt so exciting that after he returned from his travel, he wanted me more.
Today, he was exceptionally energetic. After we finished, he went to take a shower. As I looked at his tall figure walking away, I smiled contentedly.
I was about to get up and rinse off too, when his phone on the nightstand flashed, with a new WeChat message popping up. I glanced at it and immediately froze...