Broad stood outside the bar, having just ended a phone call. Suddenly, his phone screen lit up with an anonymous text message. He frowned, opened it, and found a photograph.
In the image, Miranda was sitting with a man. Two glasses of wine were on the table, and they were leaning close to each other.
Perhaps it was the angle of the shot, or perhaps their relationship truly was suspicious. The two appeared undeniably intimate.
Broad’s face darkened immediately.
The image brought back the memory of that greasy middle-aged man handing Miranda a wad of cash. Now, this photo seemed to confirm what he already feared-Miranda was no longer the woman he used to know.
“Heh…” Broad let out a cold laugh, a wave of indescribable irritation surging through him.
The next day was a rare quiet weekend for Broad. He took the opportunity to visit the hospital to see his grandfather, Hobbs.
Hobbs had grown old, his heart condition worsening over the years. Now lying in the hospital bed, his face was pale and haggard.
When he saw Broad, Hobbs raised his head slightly and spoke in a hoarse, weak voice. “Where’s Miranda? Why didn’t she come with you?”
Broad’s expression instantly froze.
The scene from the bar the previous night and the photo in the anonymous text came flooding back, filling him with disgust for Miranda.
But in front of his grandfather, Broad didn’t know what to say.
“Dad, Miranda’s been busy lately. She’ll come see you in a few days,” Marcia, who was standing nearby, quickly stepped in. Her tone was gentle, offering a soothing explanation.
Marcia’s eyes signaled Broad to cooperate. He hesitated, but then nodded stiffly.
“Yes, Grandpa. Miranda and I will come together next week.”
Hobbs breathed a sigh of relief at their words, his face showing a hint of peace as he nodded weakly. “Good… that’s good…”
The room fell silent, save for the steady beeping of the heart monitor.
When Hobbs closed his eyes to rest, Marcia gestured for Broad to follow her into the hallway.
Once outside the room, Marcia’s face hardened. Lowering her voice, she said, “Your grandfather is about to undergo surgery. His condition is dire. Why can’t you give me some peace of mind?”
Broad frowned, sensing what his mother was implying. His tone turned cold. “What are you trying to say?”
Marcia’s sharp eyes bore into him, her tone firm and unwavering. “You need to win Miranda back.”
Broad’s expression turned icy. “That’s impossible. It’s over between us.”
Marcia’s tone grew even colder. “Do you know how much your grandfather adores her? Without her around, his condition will only worsen. And he still doesn’t know about your divorce. Do you think he can handle the blow if he finds out?”
Broad scowled, countering, “But this is my marriage.”
“Exactly,” Marcia said sternly. “And because it’s your marriage, you need to fix it. Miranda is a good woman. She’s taken care of your home for years and loved you deeply. I can’t understand why you’d want to throw her away!”
Broad’s temper flared. His fists clenched tightly, his voice filled with anger. “She’s not the good woman you think she is. She cheated on me, betrayed me! Why should I chase after someone who’s been unfaithful?”
Marcia was momentarily stunned, her brows furrowing. “What are you talking about?”
Broad pulled out his phone and showed her the photo of Miranda and the man from the bar.
Marcia glanced at the image, her expression shifting slightly. After a moment of silence, her tone became calm. “Broad, don’t you think this photo is a little too convenient?”
Broad froze. “What do you mean?”
Marcia’s sharp gaze met his, a hint of cunning glinting in her eyes. “An anonymous text? Who would send you something like this without reason? Have you considered the possibility that someone wants you to misunderstand Miranda?”
Broad’s brows knit tightly together. He wasn’t a fool and could see that there was something suspicious about the situation. Yet, his impression of Miranda had been completely shattered that night. Even if doubt flickered in his mind, his anger quickly smothered it.
“Even if it’s a misunderstanding, so what?” he sneered. “She’s no longer the Miranda I used to know. She’s not worth winning back.”
Marcia’s expression hardened further. “Broad, are you really unwilling to bring Miranda back, even for your grandfather’s sake?”
“Yes,” he said without hesitation.
He knew all too well that if Hobbs found out about the divorce, the consequences would be devastating. But he couldn’t bring himself to chase after a woman he believed had cheated on him.
“As for Grandpa, I’ll make sure he has the best doctors.”
Broad’s voice was cold as he dropped the words and turned to leave.
Marcia watched his retreating figure, her face still clouded with anger.