Chapter84

“I really envy Mr. Townsend, marrying such a virtuous and

understanding wife.”

Ellsworth couldn’t be bothered to look at them or respond to

their earlierints, but his expression clearly darkened at

theirter remarks.

He actually wished Harriet would call to check up on him,

wished she would make a scene with him.

But no matter what he did, Harriet never seemed to care, never

seemed to mind.

With a forced smile, Ellsworth looked at their envious faces and

said nonchntly, “Then maybe it’s time to change wives, find

one who understands me.”

As soon as Ellsworth finished speaking, everyone looked at

each other in silence, no one daring to respond.

Change wives?

How could you say something like that out loud? If their wives

found out, they’d be in serious trouble.

Seeing them silenced by his retort, Ellsworth finally felt a bit

better, a bit more bnced.

“Materials, materials,” Adam quickly tried to smooth things over

when no one spoke. “Let’s get back to discussing the

materials.”

Half an hourter, the meeting finally ended. The group of

middle-aged men smiled and said, “Mr. Townsend, it’s gettingte. Shall we call it a day?”

Another added, “The phone’s ringing again.”

Ellsworth sat back with his legs crossed, waved his hand at

them, and let them all leave first.

“Mr. Townsend, we’ll head out now.”

“Mr. Townsend, we’re leaving now. We’ll be in touch.”

As everyone left, the conference room quickly returned to

silence. Ellsworth stared at his phone, sitting alone for a long

while before finally getting up to leave work.

***

On the way home, Ellsworth gripped the steering wheel with

both hands, music ying from the car speakers.

He checked his phone countless times, but Harriet still hadn’t

called, not even a single message.

Although they had argued a bit in the morning, Harriet hadn’t

said anything in the end, so Ellsworth assumed she had

In their arguments, Harriet never made a big deal out of things

or insisted on being right.

Halfway home, the phone beside him started to ring.

Hearing the vibration, Ellsworth quickly picked up the phone.

He thought it was Harriet calling, but when he looked, it was

Noel.

For a moment, Ellsworth lost all interest in answering. He

swiped to answer and said impatiently, “Talk.”

On the other end, Noel reported cautiously, “Mr. Townsend,

you’re trending tonight, with Ms. Graham.”

Before Ellsworth could respond, Noel added, “The trending

topics have just been taken down, but I don’t know if Ms.

Chapter84

Chavez has seen them.”

After Noel finished speaking, Ellsworth’s face immediately

darkened.

He couldn’t be bothered to say anything, hung up directly, and

tossed the phone back where it was.

Frowning, he took his right hand off the steering wheel, grabbed

a cigarette from the glovepartment, and put it in his

mouth.

After tossing the pack back, he picked up the lighter and lit the

cigarette.

A moment passed.

Wisps of smoke drifted naturally from his mouth, and

Ellsworth’s furrowed brow never rxed.

He had promised Sylvia he would take care of the Graham

family, and also look after Kelsey.

After all, her heart was now in Kelsey’s body.

When he finished the cigarette, Ellsworth flicked the butt away,

put both hands on the steering wheel, and stepped on the gas,

speeding up.

By the time he got home, it was almost midnight.

The vi, inside and out, waspletely silent.

He opened the bedroom door and entered. A small nightlight

was left on. Harriet was already asleep, curled up with her back

to his usual spot.

One hand in his pocket, the other on the doorknob, Ellsworth

stared at the figure on the bed for a long time before finally

letting go of the handle and quietly walking over to Harriet.

He bent down close to her, but didn’t wake her, even his

breathing grew lighter.

He watched Harriet for a while, then lifted his right hand to

brush the hair from her face. After looking at her for a bit longer,

he got up, took his clothes, and went to the bathroom.

He had never thought about divorce. When he promised Ralph

he would marry her, divorce had never crossed his mind.

***

The next morning, when Harriet woke up, Ellsworth was no

longer beside her.

He had something urgent in the morning and left early.

When she finished getting ready and went downstairs for breakfast, Jacquelyn said, “Mrs. Townsend, Mr. Townsend

came homest night, just a bitte.”

At the dining table, Harriet picked up her fork and replied calmly, “I know.”

When Ellsworth came homest night, she hadn’t been asleep. She just didn’t know what to say to him, and was afraid that talking would lead to another argument, so she simply kept her eyes closed and pretended to be asleep.