9 False attention

The next day

Mark got out of the car while calling someone. He just came home from work. The man deliberately came home early because he wanted to take his wife and child out for dinner.

"I'll set the time. Take it easy, I'll keep my promise," said Mark who was talking to someone on the phone, then hung up and walked into the house.

"You're home at this hour." Adriana welcomes Mark's arrival. she was a little surprised because her husband came home at five in the afternoon, it was unusual after he always came home late at night.

"What's wrong if I come home early? I want to take you and Evan to dinner." Mark smiled at Adriana, while Evan was still busy with his toys in the living room.

"That's not wrong, it just feels unusual because lately you always come home at night," Adriana replied sarcastically. She began to feel disgusted by her husband's sweet yet lying attitude.

"I just want to have fun with you and my hero." Mark walked over to Evan, then immediately picked up his son and carried him.

Evan felt happy when Mark carried him. He laughed happily as he squeezed his father's hair. Seeing that, Adriana only smiled faintly. she felt that her husband was just covering up something from her.

___

Adriana looked at her reflection in the large mirror in her room. She wore a white long dress, polished her face with light make-up, and let her long hair loose. The young mother was ready with a simple appearance, while Mark was waiting in the living room with Evan.

Because he waited too long, Mark immediately followed Adriana to the room.

"Adriana, isn't it done yet?" asked Mark when he entered the room.

"Already. let's go," replied Adriana as she approached Mark. Her husband immediately grabbed her hand and led her out of the room.

"Where are you going?" Dave asked as he looked at the husband and wife who were rarely together but now looked intimate holding hands, while Evan immediately approached Mark to ask to be carried.

"We'll go to dinner," said Mark while carrying Evan.

Adriana just didn't flinch with her sour face. She didn't look cheerful at all.

Dave could see there was a tinge of sadness in his sister-in-law's eyes. However, he chose to remain silent without asking why she was sad.

Mark walked out of the house carrying Evan followed by Adriana, while Dave did not flinch at the little family and only smiled faintly. 'You don't deserve Adriana. Your wife is secretly disappointed in you, Mark. Without realizing you always hurt her,' he thought.

"Why do you see them like that?" asked Bianca, who had been watching Dave.

"It's okay," replied Dave with a flat gaze and then left Byanca.

"I know you like Adriana. This is crazy, really crazy. What other drama will happen because of that woman?"Byanca made a monologue with herself, then smiled sarcastically at her brother's back.

So far, Byanca has been paying attention to Dave's behavior, who has always paid attention to Adriana and Evan more than Mark as a husband. She felt suspicious that her brother liked his sister-in-law. Damn stalker girl!

___

During the trip to the restaurant, there was only silence in the car. Adriana was reluctant to speak a word and just stared at the city view from behind the car window. Sometimes, Evan's chattering voice broke the silence.

"Lots of lights ...." Evan pointed at the colorful lights that decorate the skyscrapers.

"Do you like lights like that?" asked Mark who seemed to respond to his little son.

Adriana on the other hand only flinched with an uneasy mind. Of course! The image of last night when Maura accompanied her husband still bothered her mind.

Evan responded to his father with a nod. His eyes remained focused on seeing the city view filled with sparkling lights. Naturally, because the boy was rarely taken out at night by his parents.

"Tomorrow, Daddy will buy it to put in your room," said Mark while stroking Evan's dense hair.

"Where are we going to have dinner?" Adriana asked without turning around.

"At the restaurant where we used to have dinner first," said Mark, occasionally turning his head to see his wife who looked unhappy.

"Oh ...." Adriana nodded in understanding then fell silent again.

"Why do you seem displeased, is there a problem?" asked Mark. He felt a difference in Adriana. usually, her wife is friendly and always smiles at him. But from the moment he met Maura, everything changed. 'Does he know I met Maura last night?' he thought.

"I'm just not feeling well," said Adriana lied, because if she talks about last night's subject will lead to an argument, whereas she doesn't want to argue in front of Evan.

"Then smile. I invite you to be happy, not put on a sour face like that. look at Evan, he looks happy!"

Adriana smiled stiffly in response. She glanced at her son, who seemed happy to be enjoying time together. It feels unethical to discuss domestic matters in front of the toddler.