Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Perfect Wife Walked Away: Kabanata 41 - Kabanata 50

[Alice’s POV]Over the next few days, the atmosphere at the Newcombe family manor became unexpectedly harmonious.David seemed to be really restraining himself; he was mostly pleasant and engaged with Camilla and I. He even cancelled his attendance at some important international conferences, returning home early every day to join Camilla in her activities, like building blocks and reading her ABC books.If I didn’t occasionally catch a glimpse him tenderly comforting Lily, I would almost think he had really changed.“Mommy, are we going to see Great-Grandma?” Camilla was excited. She changed into a delicate little dress with pearl buttons, and twirled excitedly in front of the dressing mirror.“Yes, she misses you, honey.” I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror as I helped her adjust her lace collar.The woman looking back at me was wearing a lake blue dress that David had personally chosen, with expensive jewelry, immaculate hairstyle and flawless makeup. I still gave the outwar

[David’s POV]The lights in the banquet hall took on a dazzling glare, and the noise level of the party had become irritating, so I retreated upstairs to seek some solace. I stood on the second-floor balcony, looking down at the shadowy guests who had spilled out into the garden below. I swirled my glass of whiskey, watching the ice cubes battle each other.In the past, I had enjoyed these family occasions, they were usually pleasant events, creating happy memories. But tonight, a load like a stone was weighing heavily on my heart.I thought back to that chaotic confrontation at the police station. I had not been the best version of myself, that night. I recall how I had almost uncontrollably locked onto Alice. At that moment, I had only one thought: I couldn’t let her go!Not because of some paranoid possessiveness, but because I finally realized that despite all I had accomplished with my business empire, if I lost her, all my reasons for fighting so hard to achieve what I had and h

[Alice's POV]When David realized I was going to ride that spirited horse, his expression changed. He ceased comforting Lily, quickly walked over and snatched the reins from my hands.“Alice, don’t be ridiculous. This horse requires professional riders not a novice. In your current physical condition, what if something happens?”“I told you; I can do it.” I looked at him coldly. “David, you shouldn’t think I’m so fragile.”“If you insist, then I’ll accompany you. We can ride him together.”His intentions could not be more obvious. He wanted to reaffirm his authority over me in front of everyone, especially in front of Adam and Lily. He wanted to clasp me in his arms on that fiery horse, creating an illusion of marital bonding and intimacy.“David...” Lily called in a little voice, “I... I want to try riding Snowflake, too, but I don’t know how to get on her. Can you give me a hand?”She always trotted out her vulnerability, any time David tried to get close to me.I curled the corners

[Adam's POV]“Lily, you’ve made an illogical mistake.” I pushed my glasses up on the bridge of my nose, the lenses refracting a cold white light in the sunlight. “You’ve confused your ‘begging’ with my ‘investment’ in her.”I approached her. She wasn’t laughing now.“You’re like a parasite, sucking on David’s guilt to maintain your hold. While I, I look forward to seeing that genius woman return to the academic heights that belong to her.”I lowered my voice. “As for what you call ‘pathetic’... While you were still torturing yourself trying to win that man’s attention, I was already constructing a new world for her. The difference between us is that you’re the broken mirror, and I’m the one holding a steady scalpel.”I turned away from her shocked expression. I took out my car keys; I was eager to get away from this cesspit of emotional turmoil, and leave them all to it.But I turned back and looked past her when I heard a shrill neighing from the horse paddock.Everything appeared ch

[Alice's POV]Consciousness was like a derelict ship that had drifted for a long time in thick fog, finally slowly reaching shore.I felt something sharp repeatedly striking my temple, each pulse bringing with it a sharp pain that tugged at my nerve endings. I struggled to open my eyes, my vision losing focus a few times under the glaring white light, before I could clearly see the fine cracks on the ceiling.I became aware of a familiar smell and realized I was back in the hospital.I tried to push myself up, but my body felt weak and limp. I couldn’t muster any strength. Not only that, but the back of my left hand felt cold where a long, thin IV tube was connecting me to the medicine dispenser above, ticking, ticking, in a familiar, monotonous rhythm.“Alice... are you awake?”A male voice, sounding choked, almost unrecognizable, came from beside my bed. He sounded hoarse, like sandpaper being ground across a rough metal surface.I turned my head stiffly, and gasped in shock.David