Part 3The Stranger in My Slippers

By the time I’d washed up and come out, Jasper Cole had already packed his bags and left.

Julia was leaned against the sofa, her eyes lowered. Her profile was soft yet cool, her eyelashes thick and dark.

“You’re angry. What is the reason for the anger?”

We had agreed when we married that clear communication was paramount.

Say what you mean directly; it saves time wasted on speculation and second-guessing.

We weren’t going to test our relationship with the silent treatment.

“Professor Ronald, bringing a grown man to live in our home? That’s not a choice you would make.”

I was blunt.

She covered her mouth and let out a light laugh, her eyes shining with warmth. “Are you jealous, Ezra? I thought you didn’t care about me anymore.”

I paused. The flattery was tempting—

But it was clearly not the answer I was looking for.

“He’s just a student sponsored by the Ronalds. He needs a temporary place to stay because of the dorm environment and social issues.

“The apartments my parents offered were either too far or needed to be cleaned…”

I smirked. “Julia, without the Ronald family, without you, would those ‘difficulties’ even register as problems?

The complaints about not being used to dorm life, or being scared to talk to roommates?

Those are not the words of a young man from an impoverished background.

“And he’s twenty-seven, not seventeen.”

He spent two years retaking the college entrance exam and three years trying for grad school.

Julia might believe his flimsy excuses, but I wouldn't.

Didn’t those constantly updated videos and commented replies speak volumes about his intentions?

You didn’t need a man’s intuition to see it; anyone with eyes could tell.

“I know. That’s why I told him to go back.”

She sat next to me and rested her head on my shoulder. “I’ve been so exhausted lately. I can’t even sleep soundly when you’re not here…

“Julia Ronald can live without anyone, but she can’t live without Ezra Kane.

“You have to trust me.”

I thought for a moment, then nodded.

If twenty-plus years of friendship and marriage could be shaken this easily, what did my absolute commitment to Julia mean?

I still believed she was fundamentally a good person. Even if we lacked fiery romance, she wouldn't do anything dishonorable.

The next morning, I drove to the lab in Julia’s car as usual.

She still brewed my herbal tea before dawn, preparing my day’s vitamins and fruit with meticulous care.

Nothing seemed to have changed.

During my lunch break, I checked my phone. The algorithm immediately served up Jasper’s latest plog: [I must fly like a bird toward my mountain. Thank you to my Goddess!]

The first picture in the album was of my favorite book.

When Julia and I first got married, I used to hold her and ask her to read it to me every night.

But the copy she gave to Jasper? It had the author’s signature.

My hand felt stiff as I scrolled down. Below the book was a screenshot of her chat history with him.

Gen: [Don't dwell on such small matters.]

Gen: [If you're upset, go to the lab. You shouldn't waste your energy on something like slippers.]

World’s Cutest Stud: [Well, why can someone else waste theirs?]

Gen: [I can't control others. I don't allow you to waste yours.]

World’s Cutest Stud: [Hehe, I'm honored~ Yes, ma’am! Salute.jpg]

…

I slid through the comments, feeling the blood drain from my entire body.

[OMG, what kind of angelic supervisor is this? She is so protective!] (Liked by the original poster)

[The domineering CEO-style mentor. And her face is absolutely right for the role.] (Liked by the original poster)

[I’m obsessed. Is it too late to go back and get a grad degree?]

[Don’t be delusional, commenter above. The supervisors we get are like mine: three sentences, and two of them are about how bad my paper is. Must be original content.]

[Keep the updates coming! I love shipping you two in my free time!] (Liked by the original poster)

…

Distracted, I took the list a colleague handed me.

“Ezra, this is the list of students Crestwood U selected for the project. Want to take a look?”

I nodded, signing my name without looking.

This was a joint project between our lab and CU. The CU contact hoped we could give their students some exposure.

Our project team agreed to let them send resumes for screening.

We planned to keep about ten students.

I drove home that night. Julia had already cooked dinner.

I changed into the new slippers she had bought for me and put my phone in front of her. “Why didn’t you bring back a signed copy of that book for me?”

She didn’t like social media; she preferred phone calls for communication.

I needed to make her see how Jasper interpreted her every action.

And how everyone else perceived their relationship.

Her frown deepened, and she put the phone down, her voice tight. “I understand.”

Julia explained the signed book was a gift she asked a contact to bring back for a group of her students, not just Jasper.

I didn’t get one because, she claimed, I preferred the content to the celebrity.

As for Jasper, she said she would handle it.

I looked at her and gave a slow nod. “Okay. I trust you.”

One last time.