CHAPTER 50: CHAPTER 50: SHE KNOWS

The new job is quite refreshing, especially since I get to face Henry Preston all day. I’m curious about his mindset behind assigning me to this position.

Until my mother-in-law sent a message asking: Zoe, has Henry arranged your job? What position is it? Can you see him every day?

Seeing these three questions, I knew the reason—it must be my in-laws exerting some pressure.

I thought, why would Henry give himself more trouble!

I replied: Mom, I’m currently working as Henry’s personal secretary in the executive office.

My mother-in-law replied with a thumbs-up emoji.

When it was time to get off work, I packed up my things and dialed Azure Vaughn’s number, asking her for an address where I could go now.

Henry wasn’t planning to leave, "I have to work overtime, you can go home first."

"Sure." I quickly made my escape, hoping I wouldn’t be asked to work overtime!

Azure quickly replied with a message, arranging to meet at the "Serendipity" café.

I drove straight there and soon arrived at the destination, not expecting Azure to be even quicker. She was already waiting, wearing a white knit cardigan with a coffee-colored camisole underneath, revealing her delicate white neck and collarbone, her black and glossy hair gently resting on her shoulders, exuding purity and charm.

She propped her chin on her hand, her face brimming with collagen, with a pair of round, dark almond-shaped eyes gazing contemplatively out the floor-to-ceiling window.

She’s so beautiful! I genuinely marveled, as time went by, I felt more and more that she suited Henry, at least, they matched in looks.

"Miss Hathaway!" Seeing me, Azure snapped out of her thoughts and waved at me with a smile.

I walked over, adjusted my black trench coat, and sat across from her, with a gentle smile, "Azure, what made you suddenly ask me out?"

Azure took out her phone, blushing a little, "Miss Hathaway, can I add you on WeChat? I’ll pay back the two thousand I owe you."

I was taken aback, "Didn’t Sutton pay it back for you? Didn’t you know?"

Azure was equally surprised, shaking her head, "I didn’t know, he and I... broke up."

After saying that, her eyes reddened slightly, but she quickly regained composure, forcing a slight smile, "Miss Hathaway, let me repay you, and you can return it to him."

I opened my phone’s QR code for her to add me, then asked, "What happened? You two seemed so good together; why did you break up?"

Azure lowered her head without answering me. Soon my phone beeped, indicating she’d transferred the two thousand.

After transferring the money, Azure stood up and told me, "Miss Hathaway, thank you, I’m heading back to school now."

It seemed like she sought me out just to repay the money. Watching her figure disappear through the café door, I let out a wistful sigh and got up to leave, only to realize I’d left my car keys inside, and had to go back.

Just as I pushed open the door, two girls behind the counter, with their backs to the entrance, were gossiping while cleaning.

"I didn’t expect Azure to be so close to her and even meet up for a chat!"

"That sister used to come here for coffee often; she’s a regular!"

"Do you think Azure likes her husband because he’s handsome and wants to get close? Hahaha..."

"Azure isn’t that type of person, you’re silly!"

"She didn’t like that photo you posted; she must have seen it."

I caught a key piece of information: Azure saw my husband?

I walked in, and when the two girls saw me returning, they quickly stopped gossiping. I left again as if nothing had happened.

Back in the car, I pieced together the earlier conversations. Henry and I had coffee at this café once; it’s quite possible that one of those girls took a photo and posted it on social media. Azure used to work here, so she must have friends here and saw the photo and naturally knows about my relationship with Henry.

So, when she was chatting with me earlier, she knew perfectly well that I was Henry’s wife.

A subtle feeling grew within me. Azure knew I was Henry’s wife, and Henry was pursuing her, so why was she pretending not to know?

Did she tell Henry about this? I guess not, otherwise, Henry would have warned me by now, telling me to show up less often.

She definitely didn’t tell Joel Sutton either, since Joel and I know each other.

And she wouldn’t know that I was already aware of Henry pursuing her.

This whole scenario feels like the mistress thinking the wife knows nothing, arranging to meet up and chat casually while secretly observing and testing.

My mind was a bit jumbled; impulsively, I dialed Ivan Underwood’s number, "Dr. Underwood, are you free?"

"What’s up?" Ivan asked coldly.

"I want to discuss my condition with you!" I fibbed.

There was a brief silence on the other end, "Where?"

I thought for a moment, "I haven’t had dinner yet; I’m thinking red-braised pork trotters, boiled shrimp, lotus root stuffed with meat, crystal pork dumplings..."

Before I could finish, Ivan hung up. Just as I was about to call back, he sent me a location—it was the Celestial Pavilion Restaurant. Though it’s not a five-star hotel, the food is excellent. I’ve been there many times with my dad.

I immediately headed to the Celestial Pavilion Restaurant, where in a lavish private room, I met Ivan Underwood. His hair was a bit damp, exuding a faint fragrance like he’d just washed it but hadn’t dried it yet.

"Order," he said, promptly tossing the menu in front of me, a gust of wind almost blew my hair back.

"You can order, why so courteous?" I said as I browsed the menu.

"I have nothing I want to eat," Ivan replied.

Truly a doctor, not tempted by outside food at all, I praised, "You’re really conscious of your health; you’ll definitely live to a hundred."

Ivan was indifferent to my compliment and even said, "With how undernourished you look, living to forty would be a blessing."

I was speechless, what a charming way with words.

After ordering, I couldn’t wait to tell Ivan about Azure. After listening, he said, "So now she knows your identity but pretends to be clueless to you and doesn’t know you’re aware?"

"Yes, speaking of which, it’s a bit awkward for Henry. He doesn’t know I know Azure, nor does he know Azure recognized me," I sighed.

"She must also have feelings for Henry, or she wouldn’t have broken up with Joel Sutton and, knowing your identity, meet you," Ivan looked at me, "Now that she knows, what are you going to do?"

I rolled my eyes, "I’m not going to bother. If she doesn’t tell Henry, I won’t tell Henry either. Let’s see who caves first."

Azure’s actions made me start to question if she’s as pure and innocent as I imagined. We could be considered friends, and I witnessed her relationship with Joel Sutton. If she were truly straightforward, she would have come clean with me and told me she’d no longer meet Henry, sincerely feeling sorry for me.

None of that happened. Instead, she nonchalantly asked me out, to tell me she and Joel Sutton had broken up.