Chapter 3 So-Called Good Friends

Sometimes, the woman's intuition could be overly acute at times. If Lysander were more laid-back, perhaps she could have overlooked the odd things that had been happening today. But Josiah's strange behavior had gone beyond what she could understand, and it left her with an unsettling feeling. He didn't say anything, only shook his head, and quietly returned to the driver's seat. The drive home was silent, with neither of them speaking. ... This Saturday was Josiah's 31st birthday, and Lysander had planned to join him for a meal at his mother's house. She had worked the night shift the previous evening and finished at 8 AM on Saturday. Before leaving work, she opened her wallet and glanced at the small, folded medical report, which had been tucked away in a compartment. For the entire week, she had been unable to tell Josiah about her pregnancy. She sensed that he had been distracted and unhappy recently. After returning the wallet to her bag, Lysander was about to change out of her white coat and head home when her phone rang. It was Daphne Everhart, her close friend. "Lysander, I just saw your husband going home with a pregnant woman!" Lysander's grip tightened around her phone as if it were choking her, her breath catching in her throat. "I know," she replied after a deep breath. She had sensed something was amiss with Josiah for the entire week. Now, she was beginning to suspect that, even if the pregnant woman wasn't his mistress, she might be someone he had once loved. Lysander and Josiah had met through a blind date. After getting to know each other, they realized they were a good match and got married. In the three years since then, they had agreed never to ask about each other's pasts. But now, Josiah's past had unexpectedly surfaced, forcing her to confront it. "So you're his wife? Dr. Thorne?" Lysanne Thorne, whose name sounded very similar to Lysander's but was spelled differently, looked her up and down with a curious smile. They were sitting on the lawn. Lysanne, visibly pregnant, wore an odd expression, as though mocking Lysander for not being good enough for Josiah. But she forgot that when she had had a car accident, Lysander was the one who saved her life. "I haven't been back in years," Lysanne suddenly said, changing the subject. She pointed to a bed of roses nearby. "I didn't expect the bushes Josiah and I planted together to still be thriving." The roses had flourished since Lysander and Josiah got married, carefully maintained by the maids. "Dr. Thorne, I never imagined Josiah would marry someone with a name so similar to mine." Lysanne chuckled, shaking her head as if in disbelief. "Doesn't it sound odd?" She said with a hint of pride in her voice. "It's almost like finding a substitute." A substitute? Upon hearing that, Lysander struggled to steady the storm of emotions brewing inside her—a storm she had always feared confronting. When she noticed the other woman's name bore an uncanny resemblance to hers and saw how uneasy her husband seemed around her, doubts began to creep into her mind. Could it be that I'm nothing more than a substitute? The thought sent a shiver down Lysander's spine, filling her with a mix of frustration and helplessness. But she knew she couldn't afford to show any vulnerability in front of this woman. "Such an interesting coincidence," Lysander said with a calm smile, masking her inner turmoil. "Fortunately, we don't look alike. I'd like to believe my husband wouldn't think of me as a substitute." "You!" Lysanne snapped, unable to bear Lysander's composure. Her mask fell, and her voice turned sharp. "I warned you not to let Josiah see you as a substitute, yet you're still so naive! Do you think he loves you? On the day of the accident, didn't he claim he was busy with work and couldn't be with you? Let me tell you—" Before Lysanne could finish, Josiah entered the room, cutting her off. "What are you two talking about?" he asked, his tone curt. Relieved, Lysander reminded herself that she had only known Josiah for three years, having met him through a blind date. Lysanne's words stung, but they didn't hurt as much as she had feared. "Ms. Lysanne was just talking about how close you two are," Lysander remarked with a neutral tone, her gaze fixed on Josiah, observing his reaction. As the words hung in the air, Josiah's expression noticeably darkened, a hint of discomfort creeping onto his face. "Yes, we're close friends," he admitted, though his words seemed forced. "Of course, we are," Lysanne chimed in with a smile. "We're so close that we even share clothes. This year, I came back from abroad specifically to celebrate your birthday." She paused for effect. "Too bad we had such terrible luck—getting into that car accident when you came to pick me up from the airport." Lysander acknowledged Lysanne's words with a subtle nod, her expression calm as she shifted her focus to Josiah. In a slow, deliberate tone, she added, "Traveling back while six months pregnant, just for a birthday celebration. That's quite a remarkable friendship." Josiah's face betrayed a flash of surprise and unease, as though her words had hit a nerve. He seemed momentarily caught off guard, embarrassment mingling with his astonishment. After a brief pause, he murmured, "Yes." Eager to redirect the conversation, Josiah cleared his throat and said, "By the way, you mentioned you brought a birthday gift for me earlier. Where is it?"