"Aren't you the same?"
As Nikki spoke, she stood up and said, "Likewise, what right do you have to criticize me?"
Then, she glanced at Aster, who had also stood up, and explained softly, "He misunderstood. Don't mind him."
Aster nodded, but he could also deduce the identities of the people from those few words. He turned his gaze back to Lucas, scrutinizing the wealthy man who had so effortlessly married this talented woman. A hint of mockery flickered in his narrowed eyes, and he even extended a polite hand in a symbolic gesture.
"Hello, my name is Aster. You must be the wealthy and powerful Mr. Templeton. It's a pleasure to meet you."
These words were anything but flattering; the sarcasm and ridicule were blatant. He has a sharp tongue. Lucas frowned and pushed Aster's hand away. "What did you say?"
"Do you know how many people envy you?" Aster replied irrelevantly, his gentle face still bearing its usual warmth. However, he glanced at Nikki and then said to Lucas, "Being able to marry Nikki is a blessing that can't be earned in eight lifetimes."
Lucas understood immediately; this was a sarcastic remark that he didn't know how to cherish Nikki. He scoffed, "Looks like you're one of those envious people, too, but what can you do about it?"
After a slight pause, Lucas unexpectedly wrapped his arms around Nikki's waist, pulling her into his embrace. In that instant, he added, "She's still my wife. Even if you wanted to steal her away, you wouldn't have the chance."
Before Nikki could react, Lucas grabbed her and walked out, coldly saying, "Come home with me."
Because there were other people present and they were in a restaurant, Nikki held back and didn't say anything, but she was dragged away by Lucas. Taryn stood there, watching the two figures from behind, a fleeting thought flashing across her eyes.
Aster frowned, not intending to pay attention to Taryn. Just as he was about to pay the bill and leave, he heard Taryn say, "Mr. Martinez, I don't know what your relationship with Sister Nikki is, but you should know that she has a husband and a son. It wouldn't be good for you to bother her any further, would it?"
Aster paused, then looked up at Taryn with interest. "Miss, why judge others based on your own narrow-mindedness and perspective?"
Taryn was taken aback.
"I see that you are a modern woman who has received higher education, so you should understand that being a mistress is not only shameful, but it will also bring shame to your parents."
Aster bluntly exposed her, then smiled at Taryn, who was stunned and pale-faced, before waving his hand and leaving gracefully.
Meanwhile, Nikki struggled incessantly as soon as she left the restaurant.
"Let me go, Lucas. Let me go."
Lucas ignored her and forcefully pushed her into the back seat of the Rolls-Royce. He slammed the door shut and went around to the other side. After getting into the car, he casually tugged at his collar. Before Nikki could explode, he suddenly leaned over her and grabbed her chin, saying, "What are you doing?"
"Ben is sick. Can't you understand?"
Ben's health was never very good; he was often ill, which was largely due to his premature birth. Nikki felt extremely guilty, which led to increasingly heated arguments with Lucas.
When she was seven months pregnant, she stayed at home to rest. However, while looking for books in the study, she accidentally discovered a photo of Lucas and Taryn. There were many, and they were all very close. They embraced, their smiles radiant, from school uniforms to suits. There was also a brocade box pushed to the corner, inside which was a dazzling diamond ring.
That was the first time Nikki learned of Taryn's existence. It was like being struck by lightning, and in that instant, all her hopes and fantasies about her marriage and Lucas were shattered.
"What are these?"
Unfortunately, Nikki, who discovered these things, was also spotted by Lucas, who had returned to retrieve his belongings. She immediately confronted him, holding up the photos and the diamond ring, asking, "Is the person in the photo your first love? Or your ex-girlfriend?"
It was not an indecent photo, and besides, the photo looked like it was from a long time ago. Nikki just wanted to get to the bottom of things and wasn't really angry. "Lucas, why are you still keeping these things? We're already married, and our baby is about to be born. Can't we just live a good life together?"
She spoke earnestly at the time and immediately wanted to tear up those photos. But what did Lucas do? He stepped forward and snatched the photos and diamond ring directly from Nikki's hands, saying, "These are none of your business."
A cold remark, just like the indifference that had prevailed in the past year since their marriage.
"How can you say it's irrelevant?" Nikki was shocked and angry. If Lucas hadn't stopped her and had just let her tear up the photos, nothing would have happened. She wouldn't have made a fuss or lost her temper. The problem was that Lucas was protecting those photos, which were far more valuable than any rare treasure.
This showed what? No woman is stupid; her sixth sense immediately kicked in.
"You still care about her. You still have her in your heart. But what about me? What about our child?"
Nikki didn't know what was wrong with her that day. Perhaps it was due to the emotional fluctuations of pregnancy, or perhaps it was the dissatisfaction of being ignored for so long. She vented all of this like a volcanic eruption, which also caused her to have a miscarriage. She was rushed to the hospital and endured three agonizing days before finally giving birth to premature Ben via cesarean section.
Every time her son fell ill, Nikki felt guilty and remorseful, but she also harbored deep anger towards Lucas and Taryn. Even now, as she struggled to push Lucas away, he held her even tighter. "Isn't Ben your son? You push everything onto me, but what about you? Just so you can have fun with other men?"
Lucas's cold voice was like poison, each word striking Nikki's heart hard.
"You." Nikki's usual composure prevented her from saying anything too harsh to anyone, but at this moment, she was so angry that she pushed him away with all her might and said angrily, "How dare you talk to me like that?"
Lucas's chin was scratched by her fingernails, leaving a slight bloodstain. It didn't hurt, but it made him instantly realize that something was quietly slipping out of his control. He stared coldly at Nikki with a deep gaze, and after a long while, he finally uttered, "Wait until we go home."
Nikki was breathing heavily and tried to turn around to open the car door, but the car had already started and was on the road, and the door was locked. She was so angry that she felt a sharp pain in her chest, and her mind was also foggy and turbulent.
That would not work. It would be bad if the disease flared up. Nikki forced herself to rummage through her bag and pulled out a bottle of medicine. She poured out two pills and swallowed them without even drinking any water. Just as Lucas was about to open his laptop, he caught a glimpse of Nikki's actions out of the corner of his eye and glanced over as well. "What medicine?"
"What's it to you?" Nikki retorted irritably, stuffing the medicine bottle back into her bag, but her wrist was grabbed by Lucas.