Chapter 3My Husband, the World’s Top Hypnotist

I hung up without a second thought. He called back twice more, and I rejected them both. A moment later, two text messages came through.

It was Adrian.

“Where are you?”

“The housekeeper said you haven’t been home all week. Where did you go?”

Where I went was none of his damn business. I promptly blocked his number. It took him an entire week to notice I was gone. If Sam hadn’t found me, I would have been dead in that attic.

I blocked every possible way he could contact me, then took Sam to the mall. We both picked out several new outfits. As we were about to leave, Sam’s gaze fell on a display of matching parent-child outfits in the window.

“Want to try them on?” I asked, a smile tugging at my lips.

He nodded shyly.

“Alright, let’s go try on our matching outfits.”

I changed quickly and waited for Sam outside the dressing room. And just my luck, that’s when I ran into Adrian and his entourage.

He saw me and froze. “Evelyn? What are you doing here?”

I ignored him, my gaze sliding away indifferently.

Adrian’s expression faltered, a hint of guilt in his eyes. “I know about what Leo did, locking you in the attic. I’ve already punished him. I’m making him apologize.”

He motioned for Leo, who shuffled forward and mumbled a half-hearted, “Sorry.”

I laughed softly. “Locked me in an attic for what could have been a week, and a simple ‘sorry’ is supposed to fix it? Why not wait until I’m dead and burn some paper offerings as an apology instead?”

Adrian’s face stiffened. He clearly hadn't expected me to be so confrontational. Leo’s face was pale as he stared at the floor.

Clara, the woman standing beside them, stepped forward as if she couldn't bear to watch. She took my hand, her voice soft and persuasive. “Sweetie, Leo didn’t do it on purpose. Why make things so hard on a child? Blame me. After my birthday, I begged them to take a week-long trip with me. That’s why we didn't realize you were gone.”

She smiled sweetly. “How about this? You just got out of prison. We’ll throw you a welcome home party. It’ll be our apology and a way to wash away all the bad luck. What do you think?”

Adrian’s face lit up. “That’s a great idea, Clara. Very thoughtful.”

Neither of them noticed how the surrounding shoppers and store clerks took a subtle step back, their eyes now filled with a mixture of fear and disgust as they looked at me.

I sneered. So, they locked me in an attic and ran off to play with the other woman?

I yanked my hand away from Clara’s, disgustedly brushing off my new clothes. “What could possibly be more unlucky than running into you? My husband and son are tangled up with you. If you like them so much, tell him to divorce me. I’ll gift-wrap them both and send them over to you.”

Clara’s face turned ashen. She never imagined I would be so blunt in public. The crowd’s scornful gaze immediately shifted from me to her.

“Oh, she’s the other woman. So shameless, hooking up with someone else’s husband and son.”

“Look at them. I honestly thought they were the family.”

“The man’s no good either. Parading his mistress in front of his wife. How pathetic.”

“So trashy. If I were the wife, I’d be furious.”

Listening to the whispers, Adrian’s expression turned ugly. “What nonsense are you spouting? There’s nothing going on between Clara and me! Go home and reflect on your behavior, now!”

Clara’s eyes welled with tears as she explained weakly, “Sweetie, you’ve misunderstood. I’m not trying to take Adrian and Leo from you. I just… I can’t bear to see them so lonely.”

“Bullshit! You shameless homewrecker!” someone from the crowd yelled, spitting in her direction.