"From the bottom. Socks? Done. Shoes? Nice and shiny. Now for the top. Ah, my tie's a bit crooked," Jake muttered to himself while checking his reflection in the mirror. "Perfect!" he praised himself.
Today wasn't technically Jake's first time working for Mary and Kody—he had already made a good impression on his new employers yesterday. But today marked his official start: he would be driving Kody from the apartment to the office. Naturally, the CEO of Gold Fashion's driver had to look neat and professional.
"I'm ready," he said confidently before turning toward the bed, where Elsa lay fast asleep, already clean and sweet-smelling. Jake gently picked her up and cradled her in his arms.
"Daddy's going to work now, sweetheart. Be a good girl for Grandma Katty, okay?"
He whispered softly to Elsa, as if the sleeping baby could understand. She stirred briefly, then settled again, comfortably snug in her father's embrace.
"Let's go, sweetie. Let's start this new day with happiness and hope," he added, lifting his spirits as he stepped out to earn a living for both of them.
Jake started his motorcycle and headed to Mrs. Katty's daycare. When he arrived, he was warmly greeted with praise from the owner and a few other parents dropping off their children.
"Good morning, Mr. Porter. You look great today," said a middle-aged woman. She was a friend of Mrs. Katty knew Jake fairly well.
"Oh, really? That's embarrassing, Mrs. Neil," Jake replied with a shy smile. "Today is my first official day as a driver. I'm lucky I didn't end up unemployed, haha," he added with a cheerful tone. His joy only made him look more charming.
"Good fortune follows good people, and you're one of them. You're a great and responsible father. So go to work with pride and energy!" she said earnestly, raising her fist in encouragement.
"Thank you, Mrs. Neil. And Mrs. Katty, please take good care of Elsa like always," Jake said gratefully as he handed over his daughter to her caregiver. "I'm off to work now," he added before leaving for Mary's apartment to pick up his new employer.
Meanwhile, inside Mary and Kody's apartment, a heated argument was underway.
"This is an order, Mary. Don't ruin my day. I have a lot of work to do!" Kody scolded her as he buttoned the cuffs of his shirt.
"Your reason for telling me to stay home is ridiculous. Gold Fashion belongs to my father and I'm part of it. Why are you telling me not to work? I have responsibilities there too!" Mary protested firmly.
If the argument had been about their child, Mary might have given in. But when it came to her father's company, she felt more entitled than anyone— even her husband, who held a higher position than she did.
"Or... is this because of your mother's persuasion?" Mary's next words froze Kody mid-motion as he stared at her.
"What do you mean? Why bring my mother into this?" he snapped, his voice rising as she mentioned his mother.
Mary immediately felt guilty, realizing her assumption might have been wrong. But the words were already out. She had no choice but to answer.
"I'm sorry. Maybe I'm just overwhelmed. Yesterday, your mother asked me to convince Dad to give your childhood friend a top position at the company. I refused. That made her angry, and she kept comparing me to that woman," Mary admitted. Her pride had been deeply wounded. At the very least, she wanted to open up to her husband.
But what did she get from Kody? A comforting hug? No. Only more insults and anger.
"So now you're complaining about your mother-in-law? And blaming another woman's better qualities? How pathetic!"
"You should stop whining about my mother and just accept that you're not as good as Milan!"
Mary gave a bitter smile as she looked at Kody. "Better at pleasing you in bed and screaming in delight while you screw her?"
Smack!
It wasn't a confession she received, but a hard slap from Kody. "Shut your mouth and don't leave this house without my permission!" he yelled.
Fuming, Kody stormed out, leaving Mary standing still, her cheek stinging. Unexpectedly, Jake was at the open door.
Why does it always have to be like this? Jake thought sadly, seeing Mary's silent tears fall, her face blank with no emotion. He had intended to greet his boss, but the sight before him silenced him completely.
"Oh, you're here already. That was fast. Let's go," Kody said coldly, closing the door and walking off without acknowledging Jake.
Still shaken, Jake followed his boss silently. Like any driver, he did his job, but his mind was filled with worry for Mary.
At lunchtime, Kody exited the front door of Gold Fashion. Jake quickly pulled the car up to the curb, as per the schedule Kody had given earlier.
"You know the Oak Hotel, right? Take me there and pick me up around five. You're free till then," Kody said casually as he settled comfortably in the back seat.
"Yes, sir," Jake replied obediently and drove off to Oak Hotel.
Less than an hour later, they arrived at the hotel. Kody stepped out without a word. What he didn't realize was that Jake could see Milan greeting him with a flirtatious smile and a clingy hug—because Jake hadn't left yet, wanting to make sure his boss got inside safely.
Jake frowned. "Who's that woman hanging on the boss like that?" he muttered. "I hope their relationship isn't what I think it is. It's none of my business… but I feel bad for Mrs. Mary if it is."
Honk! A car behind him honked, prompting Jake to move. He drove away from the hotel, his mind full of uneasy thoughts.
From behind the hotel's glass doors, Kody watched Jake's reaction with a smug smile.
"You did that on purpose, didn't you?" Milan asked, wrapping her arm tighter around his.
"Of course. If I didn't set something like this up, how would I know how that new driver feels? I've suspected since the start that he likes Mary. As a man, I recognize that look he gives her," Kody replied, still wearing his sly smile.
"That's exactly what I wanted to talk to you about—but not here. In our room," Milan said, kissing his forehead before walking ahead of him.
But she didn't notice Kody watching her. In fact, Milan's smile faded the moment Mary's name left Kody's lips. Jealousy flared in her chest—jealousy that even now, Kody still thought about his wife.
'How long are you going to keep this up with that foolish woman? When will you make us official, Kody? I'm tired of waiting. I want to be acknowledged. I want your love...' Milan swallowed her pain in silence.
She didn't just want Kody's body and attention. What she wanted most was the love he had never given her since their teenage years—love that Mary had claimed through a marriage arranged by their parents.
Even though Kody seemed dependent on her, giving her constant attention, physical affection, and anything she asked for—Milan knew deep down that some part of his frozen heart still held a living piece of love for his wife.
"What are you doing over there? Why are you just standing like a statue?" Kody's voice snapped Milan out of her thoughts.
She smiled and gave a small nod. "Nothing. I was just thinking about what kind of love-making we'll try next," she said, then curled back into his arm as they walked to their room.