Betrayed by My Trash Husband, Surrender Myself to the Devil-Chapter 16: Coincidence

Claudia POV

His posture was straight and neat, as if he had calculated the way he’d sit on that chair to perfection.

His green eyes were cold and intimidating, but his thick brows made him look serene. I always thought he was very handsome—as long as he didn’t look me straight in the eyes—because the moment our gazes met, I could feel the coldness ingrained in his bones and sense the way he observed me like a lab rat.

Of course, it was none other than my ex, and my current psychiatrist, Dr. Ray Gatlin. Since he was the only other customer in this usually busy restaurant, I couldn’t mistake him for someone else, not that he wasn’t eye-catching enough already.

He had been staring at the coffee in front of him for a while, stirring it but not touching it until the once-hot cup turned lukewarm.

I hesitated to go and greet him, thinking that approaching his table now would be awkward, since he seemed to be waiting for someone, probably his date. With his looks and money, it wouldn’t be hard for him to find one... or more.

Just as I was about to leave the restaurant and find another place, Don, the owner of the restaurant, suddenly appeared out of nowhere and called out loudly, "Oh, Claudia! It’s been a while!"

I almost jumped out of fright and instinctively turned around.

Don wasn’t a tall man, but he had a kind smile, and his thick whiskers spread as he showed it.

"Sorry, everyone’s on break, so it’s only me today. Why don’t you take a seat and I’ll bring you the menu?" he offered.

"O-oh, okay," I replied, about to take a seat as far as possible from Ray’s table, until Ray suddenly lifted his head and stared at me with his usual cold, serpent-like green eyes.

"I didn’t know you’d be here too, Claudia," Ray said amicably, though he showed no smile to make himself seem friendly.

All he did was stare at me intensely, and I could feel my back growing damp with cold sweat.

"Oh! Do you know each other?" Don said. "Since it’s only the two of you right now, why don’t you sit at his table instead?"

"N-no need, I—I can find another table—"

"Ah, no need to be shy. You two know each other, right? It’d be awkward if you sat at different tables!" Don said, successfully seating me across from Ray at the same table. "I’ll go get the menu right away!"

"W-wait—!"

Don didn’t listen and dashed straight to the kitchen, as if he were hiding from something dangerous.

"What’s wrong with him? Why does he look so scared?" I muttered, staring toward the kitchen.

"Do you like him so much that you can’t take your eyes off the kitchen?" Ray asked sarcastically.

I frowned at the ridiculous question and decided not to answer him. But I still turned my head to face him.

He looked spotless as always, which made him seem inhuman. He was more like a highly disciplined robot programmed to follow a strict set of rules he created himself.

Yet I had dated this cold metal robot for about a year, pouring all my love into him, only to realize that Ray couldn’t feel like a normal human being.

He could act human, but his eyes told me everything I needed to know; he felt absolutely nothing for the people around him, including me.

But my love for Miles had gone unrewarded as well. In fact, it was worse with him, because I was utterly ruined after dedicating years to supporting him.

Maybe I was fated to be lonely. Any man I got close to seemed destined to ruin me in the end.

"I didn’t expect to meet you here," Ray said calmly, pulling me out of my grieving. "It’s truly a... coincidence."

"This happens to be my favorite restaurant," I replied honestly.

"This happens to be my favorite restaurant as well," Ray said.

"Oh? How come I’ve never seen you before? I’m a regular here."

"I usually ask my secretary to buy my lunch here," he replied flatly.

"I see... Are you here to meet someone? A date? Because if you are, then I think I should move to another table."

I was about to get up when Don suddenly came out of the kitchen after God knows how long, with the menu in hand.

"Where are you going, Claudia? Sit down, sit down!"

Don was unusually overbearing today, nothing like his usual cheerful self.

"I’m not waiting for anyone," Ray said. "So it’s fine if you sit with me. Besides, I want to know if you still remember our deal."

My body stiffened instantly.

I sat obediently and ordered my usual. When Don finally retreated to the kitchen, murmuring to himself, I spoke softly, "I-I don’t remember what deal you’re talking about, Ray..."

"You promised to return once you were done checking on your daughter at the hospital," Ray said. There was a fleeting hint of anger in his icy gaze, so brief I thought I imagined it. "Or have you forgotten?"

"I-I think I forgot..." I said, lowering my gaze.

"Then let this recording remind you," Ray said, taking out his phone and playing a recording.

~

"Don’t try to be clever with me, Claudia. You’re my prisoner until I say this deal is over. Once you’ve visited your daughter, come find me.

If you try to run after this, I’ll make sure you regret it for the rest of your life."

...

"I-I’ll be back. I promise."

~

I stared at him in absolute astonishment when he played the recording. I finally raised my head and stared at him dead in the eye, "W-why were you recording our conversation?"