Rowan’s Point of View
I stared at the papers on my desk, the words blurring together. Alex had sent these files about our business while I was away, but I couldn’t focus. My mind kept drifting to Janet. This behavior so unusual; the Janet I know wouldn’t sleep outside our
home like this.
is
The sitting room door opened as I jolted. I thought maybe it was Janet as I left the study room and came downstairs, but I was surprised to see Flora and Claire. I wasn’t expecting them any time soon because they went for shopping. The face Claire wore clearly showed all was not quite well.
“Where is she?” Claire demanded, her face red with anger.
“Where is who? What happened, Claire?” I asked, confused by her sudden outburst.
“Janet, of course!” Claire snapped, throwing her designer bag onto my couch. “Brother, you need to see how rude she was to us at the shopping mall.”
My ears perked up at this. Janet was at the mall today? So she purposely doesn’t want to come home?
Flora stepped forward, her face a perfect mask of hurt. “Rowan, I really don’t want to interfere, but Janet was so rude. Claire was just asking her a simple question, but she became nasty just because she’s rich now.”
I stared at them, my brain trying to make sense of their words. Janet, acting rich? The Janet I knew couldn’t afford anything at Royal Crest Mall. She had left her black card here when she left yesterday. So how did she go shopping?
“She was flashing money like water,” Claire said, her voice dripping with disgust. “Buying the most expensive things, treating the staff like they were her personal servants.”
“And the way she spoke to us,” Flora added, her eyes growing watery. “She looked down on us like we were nothing to her.
She’s changed so much, Rowan.”
Claire nodded furiously. “She even had security throw us out! Us! When you’re a shareholder of that mall! She embarrassed
me in front of everyone. All because she suddenly has money to burn.”
My head was spinning, “Wait, what money? I didn’t give her any extra money. Her bank account shows she hasn’t spent
anything in two days.”
Claire smirked. “Well, that’s even more suspicious, isn’t it? Where did she get the money then?”
I remember seeing the black card yesterday I gave to her on our wedding. I never want her to lack anything, but for once she never used it. All things Claire and Flora describe are unlike the Janet we all know.
“Brother, I hate to say this, but there’s only one explanation.” Her voice lowered to a whisper. “Maybe Janet is cheating on
you. There’s no other way she could spend money like that.”
The words hit me like a slap. Before I knew what I was doing, my hand connected with Claire’s cheek.
“How dare you!” I shouted, my voice echoing through the room. “How dare you accuse my wife of cheating!”
Claire stumbled back, her hand flying to her reddened cheek. Her eyes widened in shock. “Rowan! I was just looking out for
you! Her sudden wealth is suspicious! Don’t you see that?”
I took a deep breath, trying to control the rage burning inside me. “Out of everything you’ve said, the only thing I know for
sure is that Janet is my wife, and you should respect her as your sister–in–law. You should be looking out for her too!”
Claire’s face crumpled, tears spilling down her cheeks. “I’ve always looked out for you, Rowan. Always! And this is how you thank me?”
“This is the last time you speak so awfully about Janet, especially behind her back,” I said, my voice low and dangerous. “I’ll
