My Husband Built Her the Same Garden Chapter 02
I slowly walked inside and pointed to a green cake in the display case.
“I’ll take this one.”
Her eyes flickered nervously. Even the blush on her cheeks couldn’t hide how pale she’d turned.
She hurriedly nodded. “Of course. One moment, please.”
I watched her quietly, my hand involuntarily clenching at my side.
Suddenly, a memory surfaced.
For the past three or four years, Dominic had bought me a birthday cake every year. The same cake.
I had thought it was a gesture of love.
It never occurred to me that the cake was made by her.
I took a deep breath.
When she turned to get the cake, I slipped the tiny listening device I’d prepared into her purse.
A few minutes later, she returned and handed me the cake.
Her voice trembled despite her efforts to hide it.
“That’ll be 128 dollars.”
I paid, turned, and walked out without a second glance, just like any regular customer picking up a cake.
Back in my car across the street, I put on my earbuds.
Jasmine’s panicked voice immediately came through.
“Dominic, what am I gonna do? Genevieve was just here. Do you think she knows something? I’m scared…”
There was a pause. Then, “Okay. I’ll wait for you.”
I stared at the shop entrance without blinking.
Less than ten minutes later, Dominic appeared.
That’s when I realized Whitmore’s Patisserie was located right below Kensington Industries headquarters.
Jasmine rushed forward and threw herself into his arms. “I’m so scared…”
Dominic cupped her face in his hands, his eyes full of worry. “Did she hurt you?”
Jasmine shook her head. “No. She just bought a cake and left.”
Dominic finally relieved. “Don’t overthink it. It was probably a coincidence.”
“Her birthday cakes have come from here for years. Maybe the place just looked familiar.”
He leaned down and kissed her gently.
Then he brushed away her tears and pressed soft kisses to her cheeks.
“Don’t be afraid,” he murmured. “I’m here. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
My hands trembled around the steering wheel.
This Dominic-this tender, gentle man-I didn’t recognize him at all.
Sarah had told me more than once that there was no passion between Dominic and me.
She said our marriage looked polite and harmonious, but nothing more.
I’d always brushed her off. “What are you talking about? I can feel that he loves me.”
But now everything felt different.
I watched him worry over Jasmine. I listened as he softly reassured her.
The certainty I’d held onto for years began to fall apart.
The words I’d once said now hit me like a blow. The sting was unbearable.
A while later, they closed the shop. Dominic got into the old Santana.
I followed from a distance in silence.
The whole drive, flirtatious laughter and playful teasing rang in my ears through the device.
Two hours later, the car wound through a maze of mountain roads.
I stayed far behind until I finally realized there was only one property on the mountaintop. Jasmine Hill Estate.
Dominic hadn’t just hidden a mistress. He’d bought her an entire mountain estate.
I parked far away. Then I watched him step out and carry Jasmine from the car.
He wrapped an arm around her waist, kissed her, and opened the front door.
A tiny child suddenly came running out.
“Daddy! I knew you’d come today!”
My blood ran cold. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from that little girl.
She looked just like him. Exactly like him. She was Dominic in miniature.
I swayed on my feet, almost collapsing.
That was his child. His and Jasmine’s child.
Through the earbuds came the warm sounds of a happy family.
Dominic scooped the little girl into his arms.
“Give Daddy a kiss. Did you miss me?”
“Yes!”
Jasmine pouted beside them. “What about Mommy? Didn’t you miss Mommy?”
The little girl threw her arms around her. “I missed Mommy even more!”
Their laughter echoed through my ears.
I sat alone inside the dark car, trembling. My eyes welled up.
Without thinking, my hand drifted to my stomach.
Four years ago, Dominic and I had a child too.
But he’d said he wasn’t ready to be a father. So we decided not to start a family back then.
That year, I spent months trapped in depression, consumed by guilt.
Because of that, Dominic stayed by my side every day and rarely left me alone.
But now… the sight of that little girl shattered everything.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want children. He just wanted them with her.
While I was drowning in depression, barely able to hold myself together, he’d been right here.
Building a family. Having a child. Making a home with another woman.
I shut my eyes and choked down the suffocating pain that threatened to swallow me whole.
Then I opened the car door, stepped out, and walked toward them.