Janet’s POV
Henry and Paul exchanged glances in bewilderment. They had obviously never seen anything like this before.
I smiled bitterly. It was the first time I’d seen it too. How could anyone cling to another woman’s husband like this?
“Uh… You okay, Flora?” Henry asked hesitantly, his voice tentative, like he was walking on thin ice.
Flora blinked, then smiled, but it was the kind of smile you wear when you want people to stop asking questions. “Yeah, I’m fine. Thanks, Henry.” Her voice was soft, almost fragile.
For a moment, I wondered if she believed her own words. Because clearly, she wasn’t ready to let go of Rowan.
Paul looked more uneasy now, a nervous laugh escaping his lips as he spoke, “I know you and Rowan are close friends, but… maybe you should consider his wife’s presence?”
Flora’s eyes widened slightly, as though she’d just realized the situation wasn’t entirely appropriate.
She looked at me, blinking her big eyes as if apologizing, before reluctantly pulling away from Rowan’s embrace. “I’m so sorry, Janet. I tend to be… clingy sometimes. After my husband passed, I… I can’t help but seek physical comfort from others. It’s just psychological. It’s trauma, you understand, right?”
I took a slow sip from my teacup, letting the silence hang in the air for a few moments before I looked up at her with a calm, collected smile. “Of course, I understand. It’s no big deal. Last time, there was a client who… hugged my husband’s thighs and cried while trying to take her clothes off. I remember when security had to carry her out of the cocktail party. Seems she might have the same… condition as you, doesn’t she?”
Amid her frozen smile and the stunned gazes of others, I casually passed the plate of lime salmon to Flora. “I’ve heard Omega-3 helps with emotional stability. Since there’s no medicine, maybe try something edible instead of depending on human comfort toys.”
Flora’s face flushed a mix of red and white, her lower lip trembling as if she were on the verge of tears.
“Excuse me,” Rowan suddenly interjected.
Yeah. I felt my insides tense. Here he was, rushing to her rescue.
But to my surprise, Rowan smiled gently at me, standing up. “Love, could you help me for a moment? I think the pin on my collar fell off.”
I blinked, my heart skipping a beat. Love? He never called me “love” in public.
“…Sure,” I murmured, following him, my mind spinning.
