As he carried the cake into the house, my eyes followed his retreating figure before drifting down to the garment in my hands. Unable to resist, I brought it close to my nose and inhaled deeply.
There it was—the unmistakable scent of another woman’s perfume, clinging to the fabric like an unwelcome guest. My heart sank, its weight pressing down harder than ever. Though I already knew he was seeing someone else, the sharp pang of betrayal still caught me off guard, as if it were the first time.
I stood frozen in the doorway, the jacket dangling limply in my hands. My chest felt tight, the air heavy around me.
“What are you doing, Honey? Come over here and give a taste of this cake,” Nathan’s voice broke through my daze, calling from the dining room.
Hearing his voice, I quickly set the coat aside and walked over.
Nathan eagerly waited for me. When I arrived, he cut a generous slice of cake and placed it in front of me, “Here, try it. See if I am good at baking.”
I nodded without betraying any emotion and took a bite. The sweetness of the cake spread across my tongue, but it tasted bland to me. Using sign language, I told him, “It’s delicious. You’ve work hard for this. Thank you.”