Chapter 34: Although Lila Is Your Wife

Yvette’s demeanor was sharp, as though her gaze could pierce one’s smile. She clearly resented Lila’s arrival. My heart sank, and I couldn’t help but recall those unpleasant memories from my previous life.

Back then, Yvette was extremely possessive. When Lila met me for the first time, she slapped her without a second thought, claiming it was on my behalf that they ended up in the hospital. From that point on, Lila and Yvette became locked in a bitter feud, even escalating to actions against Lila’s family. If it hadn’t been for God’s intervention… Why was this drama playing out again in this lifetime? Even though no one had mentioned it yet, the atmosphere felt heavy.

I couldn’t let this continue. I had to stop it before the tragedy from my previous life repeated itself. I didn’t have the power to change things back then.

Just as Yvette was about to speak, Lila confidently slid her hand into her pocket, a self-assured posture, and blocked Yvette from my sight.

“Ms. Jenning, why not ask me directly? I’ve been here all along,” Lila said with a calm and easy smile. Yvette’s expression instantly darkened.

I quickly pulled Lila behind me, facing Yvette. “This is my friend, here to lend a hand,” I explained.

Yet, Yvette’s glare remained displeased, as though it could ignite flames.

“Then, since when did you stop being picky about your friends? You’re letting just anyone into our lives now?”

Her contempt was evident. I glared back. “Yvette, watch your tone!” Her words were laced with venom. She let out a cold laugh, her words dripping with malice. “Your uncle’s in trouble, and because you’re so blindly loyal, you bring in an outsider. Don’t you think that’s a bit…”

I was baffled. Lila hadn’t come because I specifically asked her, and even if I had, so what? Besides, Yvette and I were practically on the brink of divorce. It would have been even stranger if I hadn't.

Just as Yvette was about to start, Lila placed her hand reassuringly on my shoulder. Her gaze was steady as she looked at Yvette. It’s perfectly normal for…

Her tone, however, remained light and casual. “Are you incredibly busy, Ms. Jenning? You probably don’t have time to deal with Owen’s issues, so I came instead. It’s perfectly natural to help each other out, isn’t it?”

Yvette shot Lila a scathing look. “I’m talking to Owen. What right do you have to interfere?”

Lila’s expression darkened momentarily, but she quickly recovered and smiled. “Ms. Jenning, I’m Owen’s best friend. His matters are my matters.”

“Besides, I just heard from him that he doesn’t want to be with you anymore, and that the two of you are getting a divorce,” she added.

My heart sank the moment I heard that Lila had overheard my words. I hadn’t wanted her to know about my plans for divorce; I was worried she might act impulsively. But the words were already out, and there was no taking them back.

To make things worse, I could feel Yvette’s sharp gaze boring straight through me like a dagger. I looked up and met her gaze. Her face was ashen, and she radiated an intimidating presence that made it impossible to meet her eyes. “Well then, let’s talk once the divorce is final. For now, you’re just a woman brazenly becoming the third party. It’s truly disgraceful.”

Lila’s smile vanished, and the atmosphere turned unpleasantly cold. My expression darkened instantly, and anger surged through me. “Yvette Jenning! What are you saying?” Her words clearly implied I was having an affair and treating Lila as my mistress.

I could tolerate her insults—after all, I’d heard worse. But I wouldn’t allow her to tarnish Lila’s reputation. I thought back to my previous life. Lila had been hurt more severely than Yvette in their confrontation. And instead of supporting her, I’d foolishly blamed her for meddling and told her to stay out of my business. I still remembered the pain in her eyes as I turned and walked away, only to later deeply regret it when she sacrificed herself to save me. This time, I wouldn’t let anyone hurt Lila—not again.

I glared at Yvette, my fingers turning white from clenching my fists so tightly. “Listen to me carefully. Watch your words. Lila is my best friend, and while I can endure…”

Yvette’s expression grew darker, her eyes like daggers, exuding an icy chill. She let out a cold laugh. “Owen, don’t forget you’re still my husband. Protecting her like this will only make people suspicious.”

I couldn’t help but scoff at her words, reminding myself that she had no right to accuse anyone else of crossing lines when she herself interfered in someone else’s relationship.

But I didn’t say anything. Instead, Lila stepped forward with an angry gaze. “You insult Owen so casually. I think divorcing you is the smartest decision he could make.” There was something unusual about her tone, like simmering anger hidden beneath her calm words.

I didn’t want to argue further. I simply took Lila’s arm and turned to leave. However, Yvette seized my wrist, stopping me. Her face remained stony, and her eyes held an unusual intensity. “Owen, we aren’t divorced yet. Your uncle is sick, and you should bring me to see him.”

I laughed at this. I knew Yvette’s relentless nature all too well. Causing a scene at the hospital would do no good for anyone, so I reluctantly gave in. “Fine, I’ll take you to see him. But if you…”

“Understood,” she responded smoothly and followed us into the hospital room.

Dale Benjamin was engrossed in studying a chessboard. When he saw us enter, his gaze lingered on Yvette, his expression unreadable. Then, Yvette managed a placid, controlled demeanor. “Uncle Benjamin, I’m Yvette Jenning.”

A flicker of confusion crossed his face. “Yvette… Jenning…”

Yvette tilted her head slightly, casting a quick glance in my direction. “In that case…”

Her expression suddenly turned frosty, as if she could freeze the air with her gaze. I had been fuming moments before, but I felt inexplicably guilty and found myself rubbing the tip of my nose.

Although Yvette and I were technically still married, I had an important announcement to make to Uncle Benjamin. Knowing her proud nature, I could imagine how poorly she would take this revelation. But to my surprise, she didn’t lash out. Instead, she went out of her way to explain herself to him. “I’ve just been so busy with work that Owen didn’t want to trouble me. That’s why he didn’t tell me about your hospitalization.”

I stood there, stunned for several seconds. Yvette was actually pretending to be the perfect wife in front of Uncle Benjamin. He listened to her explanation, then gave me a peculiar look before lowering his head and resuming his study of the chessboard.

That single glance made my heart race. Something felt off, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.

“Lila, could you grab some medicine from the drawer for me?” he instructed Lila.

“Got it!” Lila replied cheerfully and quickly moved to the drawer to fetch the medicine. As she passed Yvette, she gave her a pointed look and a faint smile. “Ms. Jenning, could you kindly step aside?”

Yvette cast her a cool glance but then walked over to the table, picked up the pitcher, and poured a glass of water. She handed it to him alongside the medicine Lila had brought.

Uncle Benjamin looked up at the two of them, his expression growing even more complicated. He took the medicine, tilted his head back, and swallowed it in one gulp.

What happened next left me completely dumbfounded. Without exchanging a word, the two of them grabbed fruit knives and started peeling apples. They sliced the fruit, arranged it neatly on plates, and moved with a fluidity that looked rehearsed.

I stood to the side, watching them work with a kaleidoscope of emotions flashing on my face. Lila was gentle and meticulous, and this kind of task suited her perfectly. But Yvette? She was never one for small chores like this. Yet here she was, slicing fruit like a pro, a far cry from her usual commanding and no-nonsense demeanor. It was slightly unnerving to watch.

Just then, Uncle Benjamin leaned in close to me and whispered, “Owen, I can see they’re both good women, but bringing a mistress here in front of your wife… isn’t that crossing a line? Lila has a good temperament and isn’t making a fuss, but as her husband, you ought to know your boundaries.”

He started to explain when, as if by prearrangement, Lila and Yvette both presented plates of sliced apples. “What were you whispering about?” he asked, his attention focused on Lila, ignoring Yvette. “This present is for you,” Lila said happily, holding out a beautifully wrapped gift. "The present is for me?” she asked happily. It was a gift whose beauty was impossible to ignore.

He looked at Lila’s gift. It was beautifully packaged, but a certain uneasy energy emanated from it, making my skin crawl. “I haven’t opened it yet,” I said with a forced smile, hoping to diffuse the situation.

It was on the table, making it obvious. Yvette shot a sideways glance, her voice icy. But it was too late; Yvette had already gone to the table and reached for the gift. She opened the box, her voice cold. “Let me help you open it.”

She took on the role of commentator. “This is a pair of matching pendants that were passed down through our family. Originally, I planned to give these to your parents, but your grandfather didn’t approve of their marriage, so they ended up with your generation.” There was a warmth in her tone, and I could tell she truly wanted Lila and me to have a long and happy life together.

My mind was in turmoil. How could this situation be happening, a tense situation involving two women? She seemed calm, yet somehow, it felt like she had said something. The way she looked at me… it was like a messenger from hell, ready to devour me.

I explained to my uncle. “Uncle Benjamin, Lila is my wife. She’s my longtime best friend. And Yvette… Yvette’s my wife.”

He was completely stunned. “What!” He was struggling to process this sudden revelation.

"She's been taking care of me," he stammered, barely able to string his words together. It was obvious he was deeply confused, expecting much less of a misunderstanding.

“She rushed to the country. She was worried I’d be alone, so she volunteered to help out,” I quickly explained.

He looked dazed, struggling to process the situation. Yvette took his hand, then something unexpected happened. She took her own pendant from around her neck and handed it back to him.

She said, “I’m just Owen’s good friend. This gift is too valuable, so I can’t accept it. I’ll return it to you now. But I’d still like us to be close, and maybe one day…”

Even Uncle Benjamin, with his thick beard, couldn’t hide his astonishment. He looked at me, then at Yvette, and finally back at Lila, clearly unsure of what to say. “You should just call me Uncle Benjamin, just like Owen does,” he finally said with a nod.

I stood between the two of them, feeling more uneasy with every passing second. Lila’s actions seemed like she was intentionally provoking Yvette. If someone she cared about is getting this kind of treatment, how could she put her own happiness first?

Yvette’s face darkened to the point of being pitch black. The barely contained fury in her eyes was impossible to ignore. She said something quietly as she reclaimed her pendant, fighting to suppress the anger burning in her eyes, and then glanced toward my uncle.

She started pulling me out of the room with surprising force. I had no choice but to stumble along as she practically dragged me away. Looking back, I could guess that things would have been pleasant had they been left alone, but after this...

A young nurse spotted me and politely smiled. Then, her gaze quickly shifted to see, as if she’d just seen a stunning beauty. "Even your sister is outside!" she added with a cheerful laugh.

Lila's grip tightened painfully on my arm. I winced at the sharp pressure. “That's quite something,” Yvette remarked. Her voice was so cold it could freeze me solid.

“Dwelle, can you go now?” she called, loosening her grip on my arm. The metal doors slammed shut behind us, leaving only the silence lingering. It felt like the weight of the world had fallen on us both.

I seized the opportunity, pulling my hand free from her grasp. I glared at her. “Are you trying to kill your husband?” Yvette’s laugh was even colder this time, her eyes sharp and dangerous. “Do you think I don’t want him?”