Patrick swerved between lanes again and again, cutting off cars and nearly causing a collision. Edith's already pale face went a shade whiter.
Afraid he'd cause an accident, I spoke up quickly. "Slow down. You're going to get us killed."
Patrick didn't hear me. The car wove through traffic like a bolt of lightning.
Edith gripped her seatbelt with white knuckles, her voice trembling on the edge of tears. "Patrick, please stop. I'm scared."
The car slowed immediately.
And my heart sank right along with the speedometer.
The same request. He only ever heard it when it came from her.
My throat tightened as I watched the faint smile tugging at the corner of Patrick's mouth. Something in my gut told me he didn't actually dislike Edith. Not even close.
In the end, Patrick dropped me on the side of the road and took Edith to her checkup alone.
His reasoning: Edith had just cleared her name of being the other woman. Exposing his real relationship with me right now would undo all of that. I'd just have to bear with it for a while.
Edith settled into the passenger seat, all soft and delicate, and clenched her fist over her heart like she was making a solemn vow. "Don't worry, sweetie. I'll keep an eye on him for you. I won't let any other woman swoop in while you're apart."
Standing outside the car, I didn't bother looking at the way her fingers kept drifting over the silver ring Patrick had put on her finger, that seemingly absent-minded caress. My eyes were fixed on Patrick.
"Do you even remember what you promised me today?"
Patrick looked at me with that indulgent, helpless expression, like he was coaxing a child who'd been denied candy.
"Edith's reputation is what matters right now. Can you just cut me some slack? Please?"
Every single word dripped with indifference toward me and unmistakable devotion toward Edith.
And the worst part was that he thought this was perfectly normal. He even thought I was the one being unreasonable.
When Edith noticed the tension crackling between Patrick and me, she pushed open the car door and forced a smile. "Patrick, maybe you should pay more attention to how she feels. I can always hold another press conference and come clean about my mistakes to the public."
She paused, her voice going thin. "I've already been through one failed relationship. I don't want you to end up the same way because of me."