The Love Affair(Good Wife Better Mistress)

Into Married Woman

"Greetings, everyone. I hope I'm not intruding," Conrad says politely.

The servants can't help but stare at him. He's an important and good-looking man, but his humble temperament and refined manners are a sharp contrast to Alex's proud demeanor and demanding attitude.

"We were all trying to guess who Grandfather was bringing home," Gabriela says charmingly, "It's an honor to dine with a doctor with such exceptional skills, Dr. Meyer!"

"You flatter me," Conrad responds. He turns to look at Nicole with concern, "I heard that Mrs. Romano isn't well?"

"Isn't it a little strange to care so much about another man's wife?" Alex asks possessively.

He wraps a strand of Nicole's hair around his finger and glares at Conrad with frosty eyes. The doctor is really tempting fate by walking into the Romano home so brazenly, Alex thinks.

Senior Romano rebukes Alex like a child, "Come on Alex, where are your manners?"

Senior Romano's demeanor has changed from open and friendly to disapproving. He is the patriarch of the Romano family and the father of their empire. His word is absolute in the household, and Alex doesn't dare to contradict him. Alex leans back in his chair with false carelessness. Though his posture is unthreatening, his expression says otherwise.

Conrad doesn't want to start a war with Alex so he smiles affably, "Sorry, it's a professional hazard."

"Well then," Grandfather says, "Let's eat."

Conrad looks at the pasta on the table, "Mmm, it just so happens that pasta is my favorite," he says unwittingly.

The words pierce Alex. He twists Nicole's hair harder until he's almost pulling it from her scalp. She almost screams. Alex continues to pull her hair, but his face is expressionless. No one knows that he's fantasizing about turning the table over and pouring boiling sauce on Conrad' head.

"Out of nowhere Nicole decided to cook pasta, and then Conrad has the nerve to strut into the house and proclaim it his favorite dish," Alex thinks, "Is Nicole really cheating on me so blatantly?"

Nicole feels a sudden pain in her shoulder. Alex is pinching her so hard she wonders if the skin might break.

"We can't treat Dr. Conrad to something as simple as pasta. He'll laugh and say we don't understand how to entertain our guests," Alex says.

Alex squints maliciously at Nicole. He wonders how she'd greet Conras if he wasn't restraining her, and the thought makes him sick.

"Conrad is like family—courtesy doesn't apply here," Mr. Romano says, "Conrad, I'll ask the servants to bring you a plate."

"I appreciate it, Mr. Romano."

Conrad smiles to himself. He wants this pasta as if it's a precious delicacy.

"I'm afraid that's not a good idea," Alex interrupts, "I think Nicor dropped a hair into the sauce while she was cooking."

Nicole glares at Alex again. She knows she didn't drop a hair into the sauce, and she knows Alex wouldn't have tasted the pasta so greedily if she had. His possessiveness is absurd, she thinks. It's not about romance or love. He's like a child who refuses to let anyone else touch his toys, even though he doesn't especially like them.

"Forget about it, then," Romano says, embarrassed, "I'll have the cooks prepare pasta for you next time."

Mr. Romano gives Alex an irritated look. He doesn't understand why his grandson is being so immature. Why is he picking on Conrad over some pasta?

"It's alright, Mr. Romano. I'm just grateful you invited me to dine here."

"It's nothing. You're welcome if you want to come by every day. Now let's eat."

"I feel like I'm honored to stay here too," Gabriela says humbly to humor Mr. and Mrs. Romano.

The maids bring soups and salads for Mr. and Mrs. Romano and their guests. The tension in the atmosphere eases.

"I remember you're 36, the same age as Alex, right? When will we hear some good news about your personal life?" Candela  gossips, "Are you too choosy to pick a wife?"

A maid begins to fill Conrad' glass with wine, but he signals for her to stop. He has to drive later although Mr. Romano was kind enough to offer him a ride home with his personal chauffeur. Still, he has to treat Mr. Romano.

"There's one girl I'm interested in, but I don't think the feeling is mutual."

As he speaks his gaze lingers casually on Nicole.

"Really? She's not interested in a handsome doctor like yourself?" Candela asks.

Gaby is intrigued too, "Who is this girl you're interested in, Dr?"

Conrad presses his lips together and smiles, indicating that he won't answer. This makes Gaby even more curious.

"You want to keep it a secret? Come on, Dr.. I know a lot of the society girls in this city. You can tell me and maybe I can put in a good word for you."

"I don't think it works that way," he says, "It's humiliating that she rejects me. Please let me keep my remaining dignity."

Alex swirls the wine in his glass with frost in his eyes. He lowers his voice, "Why are you so evasive? Are you into a married woman?"

Conrad freezes in the middle of sipping his wine and doesn't know how to answer.

"Nonsense! How could a gentleman like Dr. Conrad be interested in a married woman?" Mr.Romano exclaims, "Anyway Alex, it's been Five years since you married. Where are my grandchildren?"

"We're endeavoring every night, aren't we, Mrs. Romano?"

Alex stresses the word "endeavor" to provoke and pain Conrad. Conrd can't help but clench the stem of his glass so hard that veins pop out on his long hands.

"Making an effort isn't enough. I want to see results," Mr. Romano looks disappointed and adds, "Maybe later Dr. Conrad can give Nicole a look too."

"We'll see," Conrad says, "Let's finish dining first."

Everyone at the dinner table harbors their own agenda. Nicole lowers her head and focuses on eating her pasta. It's not bad, but the spaghetti is a bit underdone. Her illness makes it all taste the same to her, anyway.

Alex takes several bites and says in a mock whisper, "It's so tasty."

His words are clearly intended to irritate someone who wants to taste it but can't. "How juvenile!" Nicole thinks.

She presses her lips together and remains quiet. She finds Conrad's behavior strange. First, he gets himself invited to eat her pasta and then he says he's in love with a woman who doesn't love him back. Maybe the rumor that he's gay is not entirely true.