Betrayed by My Trash Husband, Surrender Myself to the Devil-Chapter 31: At Ease When I’m Just a Nobody

Claudia POV

The rest of the day went on rather uneventfully. I was busy with my needlework to fix Aurora’s elephant doll that I hugged too tight until I accidentally ripped its big ear last night, and Jane ignored me the entire time. She continued working on her laptop until she packed up at four.

I kept my smile in place as I asked, "Leaving already? I assume it’s time for him to get back, huh?"

"Yes, Mr. Gatlin should be here around five," Jane confirmed. She didn’t look happy anymore, and her chattering had ceased after I showed how relieved I was to know that Ray wasn’t obsessed with me.

I was still confused, but I couldn’t care less as I followed her to the front door and said, "You don’t have to come again tomorrow, you know? I’ll tell him that you’re always here watching over me, you can spend your time doing something more productive instead."

Jane gave me a disdainful look, "I cannot do that, Miss. It’s my job to look after you. Not that I want to. Who wants to watch over an ungrateful woman, right?"

My brain stopped working for a few seconds as I tried to swallow the sudden insult. But Jane had already slammed the door before I could say anything.

"What’s wrong with her? Isn’t it good that she doesn’t need to do this stupid job?" I muttered.

Nevertheless, I couldn’t be bothered by a girl who was probably in her mid-twenties. Whatever Jane had in her mind, as long as she didn’t try to sabotage me in any way, then we could ’coexist’ in this penthouse until Ray got bored of me and freed me from that insane contract.

I went to the kitchen and started preparing dinner, since cooking for him was actually part of my job.

It wasn’t really a bother for me, since I was used to cooking every day at home as a full-time housewife.

However, as I started preparing the broth base, I was reminded of Clarissa’s words that night:

You’ll be his fuckmaid; cleaning and spreading your legs like a whore!

Clarissa’s words were like poison to me, because I couldn’t help to think that everything I did at home—taking care of the house, caring for my daughter, and making sure the house was in its best shape once my husband returned home—was nothing but a job for a fuckmaid.

It made me feel self-conscious and wonder if anything I had done so far was actually worth something.

"Well, the answer is definitely no for Miles," I sneered as I chopped the vegetables rather roughly. My mood soured as I thought about all the efforts I made to make him happy.

Then, what about Ray? Would he... appreciate the effort I’m making?

That thought crossed my mind for a few seconds before I quickly dispelled it. It was ridiculous to think that a heartless bastard like him would appreciate something as meaningless as cooking dinner.

So I would just treat this as a side job while I was stuck here. And as a professional who worked in the medical field for a long time, I knew how to hold a kitchen knife just like I used to hold a scalpel.

**

I heard the door open right after I finished putting dinner on the table. So I took off my apron and walked to the door to see Ray taking off his shoes and hanging his coat in the foyer.

"Welcome back," I greeted with a bright smile, probably the brightest I had shown so far in front of him—if we didn’t count all the foolish ways I tried to get his attention back in our university days. "I’ve prepared dinner, since you told me to make breakfast and dinner every day." 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Ray stared at me unblinkingly, which was a little unnerving, especially now that he looked tired after a long day at work.

I should’ve told him that his eyes gave people an uneasy feeling, as if they were about to be bought by him, since he always looked at others like they were items.

Then, I recalled how Jane told me that I was just one of the dozen girls he had dated. I was his type, but not necessarily the only one.

He maintained eye contact until he walked past me and went to the dining table to check what I had prepared.

"I made Italian beef soup with risotto on the side. You should eat now while they are still warm," I explained what I had spent more than an hour preparing. "And tell me if you like it. I wouldn’t know if I’m doing a good job if you keep a straight face while eating."

"Mm, I’ll try," he muttered softly before sitting at the table.

I stood next to him, waiting for him to try the food I made, but he didn’t touch it.

Five minutes later, all he did was stare at the food, so I had to ask, "Is it not to your liking?"

"Do you expect me to eat everything by myself?" he asked in return, then pointed at the seat directly facing him with his chin. "Go and sit there. You have to finish this with me."

"Oh... right..."

It was actually quite a surprise for me, because when I was with Miles, we rarely ate together. He would eat whatever I made immediately without waiting for me, because I would be busy doing this and that before I could even eat.

It felt weird eating with Ray in complete silence. As I slowly chewed the tender beef, I stole glances at him a few times, hoping to see some reaction.

But he maintained a straight face until he finished his meal, as if he neither liked nor disliked it.

"So, what do you think?" I asked.

"Reminds me of the one I ate in a restaurant," he replied nonchalantly, then glanced at me for a split second before adding, "It’s decent."

"Oh, thank God. You didn’t finish the pumpkin soup I made this morning, so I thought you didn’t like that one either."

"That one this morning was also decent," he replied. "If you want to change careers and become a chef, then... I can help."

"A chef? Pfftt—!" I snickered. I didn’t understand the way his brain worked, but how could a housewife suddenly jump to becoming a chef?