f she confronted Karl about the affair right then and there, should

pils contracted sharply. "Janice?" His voice rose in disbelie

, smirking. "If I hadn't been called in for an emergency rescue tonight, I never w

stantly. "Don't talk no

say right now makes me nauseo

Her chest ached violently, her heart pounding as tears gathered in her eyes. She

r of nurses, their hushed v

r while protecting that woman. She'

ce went overseas for further studies, didn't she? Now t

ks is married to Dr. Pa

n't be long befor

r met Joyce in person until tonight,

boy everyone admired. Women had flocked to him endlessly, and Janic

aduation. Then, without warning, Joyce had left the country during her sen

it, Janice had saved Karl's grandmothe

had arranged a marriage

Faced with the chance to be his wife, s

tter how late he returned from work, she would always prepare a soothing soup and wait for him to come home. For his

ied, she was painfully aware that Karl did not love her. Except for the once-a-month fulfillment of m

Janice knew she didn't stand ev

through the rescue team, tears silently soaking

..

f home, her body drained of all s

already there. He stood in a bathrobe, loosely tied, re

betrayed no emotion. "There are only a few minutes left before your birthday is ov

cene at the hotel had

to walk past him, but his hand su

"what happened toni

n't have to explain. And I won't be having the cake;

Singh, the director, had always treated her with warmth and affecti

d helped Janice track do

. Her father was the richest man in Riksall, the chair

was mature and responsible, current

quiet and reserved, a top aut

tar in the entertainment world. On top of that, he was a

fe-changing news with Karl today. Bu

y Karl's tall frame. He extended a box toward her. "Since yo

dn't reac

gemstone necklace lay inside. It was identical in

r smile. He was gifting her jewelr

lp you wear it," Karl said

klace and hurled it to the floor. "Karl, how long do you plan to keep t

od. She was in a car accident overseas not long ago, hurt her wrist, can't paint anymore, and she's been diagn

seen her husband walk out of a hotel with another woman, and

had even been planning to take time off work soon to prepare for pregnancy. She had believed that having a child might make t

After a long silence, he said, "Janice, t

d bitterly.

ed casually, as though he were

n from Janice's body, leaving her stiff and

kind and considerate; she doesn't want me stuck in an awkward pos

hat Joyce might have her own agenda? If she's ill, she s

speak about Joyce so maliciously? She's not like

as though her years of devotion had been nothing more than a cruel joke. Ever since Joyce came back, Karl had become someone else

k the tears threatening to spill.

a temporary divorce; s