Chapter 209: Gretta Did Cheat On Me!

Chapter 209: Gretta Did Cheat On Me!

"It has been a year, why have you not dated Gretta?" Mathew leans forward across the low coffee table, his gaze dropping to his clasped hands as he asks the question that has clearly been weighing on him for months. The quiet intensity in his voice cuts right through the ambient noise of the party outside, forcing a heavy silence into the room.

"Sigh, Mat, can I call you that? The reason I did not date Gretta was you." I look him straight in the eyes, letting my breath slip out in a heavy, deliberate exhale to show him I am not hiding anything. My blunt confession hangs in the air between us, completely shifting the dynamic of our conversation.

Mathew reels back, his posture stiffening as the weight of my words hits him squarely in the chest. He blinks rapidly, struggling to process the sudden accusation, before leaning forward with a deeply furrowed brow. "Why would I be the reason? I divorced her, you know."

"Exactly. You divorced her and she had no intention of leaving you. She loved you and you ended it." I lean back against the cushions, steepling my fingers to keep my own posture relaxed and grounded while he absorbs the shock. I want him to hear the absolute certainty in my voice.

"You have two wonderful daughters together, and finally... Gretta never cheated on you. She and I never had that kind of relationship." I pause, tracking his shifting expressions to let that truth sink in before I deliver the final piece of my reasoning.

"So if I pursued her and you found out you made a huge mistake, where would I be in that mess? So I ended up sitting on the side, not committing to her advances." My words hang heavily between us as Mathew stares at me, his fingers tightening around the edge of his glass. His jaw slacks slightly, eyes wide with the sudden realization that my year-long distance was an attempt to protect his own broken family.

Then, the tension drains from his shoulders, replaced by a hollow, bitter exhaustion as he shakes his head. "You are wrong, Rick. Gretta did cheat on me, with you." He speaks the words with a quiet, devastating conviction, his voice cracking slightly on my name.

"She may never have done anything with you, but her heart definitely did not belong to me. Whenever she talked about you, her eyes and voice were full of emotion and care." He reaches into his front pocket for a lighter, his thumbs trembling slightly as he tries to steady his nerves against the painful memories.

"For me to see Gretta have affection for a young man who did not pursue her... I just hated that Gretta never had that look in her eyes for me." He leans back heavily into the sofa, his gaze drifting away from me toward the wall. His eyes trace the contours of a framed photograph of Gretta, her arms wrapped tightly around their two young daughters as they laugh under the summer sun.

A faint, melancholic smile touches his lips before vanishing completely into the shadows of the room. "Our marriage was pretty good. I thought we were in love. We had a noble arranged marriage with my Jia clan and her Yang clan." He gestures vaguely toward the family photos on the shelf, his expression turning deeply nostalgic.

"As far as arranged marriages go, we had a good one, but... I noticed the way she looked at our two daughters and how she looked at me were entirely different." He turns his face toward the window, watching the reflections of the party guests dancing across the glass pane.

"I saw love in her eyes when she held and raised our girls. But, she never had that look with me. I did love her, Rick, but..." He pauses, dropping his gaze to his lap, his knuckles whitening as he rubs his temples. The silence stretches between us for a long moment, filled only by the distant murmur of the party outside, before he lets out a heavy, ragged breath.

"...She was only my friend in the end. I knew this when she came home with my daughters from that New Years Bash." He taps his fingers rhythmically against his knee, the nervous habit betraying just how deeply these specific memories still cut him.

"When she came home and told me about everything that happened, and about getting you and the big actresses in on a commercial shoot, I saw it. Whenever she talked about you, that same look she had with my daughters, sigh." He rubs the back of his neck, his shoulders slumping further as the memories weigh on him.

"It really had not hit me then at that time, but after she did commercials with you and she came in so happy that she could buy your time with fast food due to a tip she got from another friend, Lucy Shen. I started to notice." He shifts his weight on the couch, crossing his legs as he dives deeper into the timeline of their fallout.

"But my problems started when she left her secure cosmetics job for your Harem-Chat company. Gretta was so thrilled that even with no good knowledge of computers, you chose her." He looks back at me, his eyes deadpan and piercing.

"Her eyes back then were very bright. It was the eyes of love, Rick. So from that moment, Gretta's heart subconsciously had already left me." He extends his palms in a gesture of empty resignation, his voice dropping to a quiet, flat monotone.

"So a year later, I could not look at her eyes anymore, and with the advice from my second wife, I just divorced her." He compresses his lips, a look of quiet resignation passing over his face as he remembers the exact confrontation.

"She would not admit she loved you, but when I asked her if she could only choose me or you, she hesitated for a moment, and she too realized her feelings. Then she understood why I was doing what I was doing." He folds his arms tightly across his chest, locking his gaze back onto mine to make sure I understand his lack of malice.

"Did I divorce her so you two could be together? No, I don't have that kind of kink. I just could not look into the eyes of a woman who only had eyes for you." He reaches out to finally take a sip from his drink, his throat moving as he swallows the bitter memory.

"I don't hate you Rick, because I am smart enough to know you did not encourage her feelings. You just had what Gretta wanted." I nod slowly, absorbing the raw honesty of his words.

"Things would be a lot easier if you were a hateful asshole, like many men I normally deal with. But I do appreciate your willingness to tell me your feelings." I let my hands fall to my sides, my posture relaxing completely to show him that his transparency has completely disarmed my initial defensiveness.

Mathew shrugs, his expression shifting to one of protective finality. "I am not telling you for you or even Gretta, but for my daughters. I do not want my daughters seeing their mother unhappy." He points a firm finger toward the backyard patio where the faint sound of children's laughter echoes through the glass.

"And sadly this past year, she has been more unhappy than happy. This in turn will make my daughters' hearts ache." He leans forward again, resting his elbows on his knees to drive his final point home.

"I believe my Ray invited you for her mother, well that and she is your fan I suppose. So the bottom line... Love her or leave her, don't drag it on. Do you love her, Rick?" He locks his gaze onto mine, waiting for a definitive answer.

"Who wouldn't, she is wonderful." I answer without a shred of hesitation, my mind flashing to Gretta's bright smile and her fierce dedication to everything she does for me.

"My only hangup is I don't think I could offer her the attention she deserves. I do have a lot to consider, thanks to your words." I tilt my head, studying his neutral expression to see if there is any hidden resentment lurking beneath the surface.

"Are you sure you won't regret it if something develops?" I voice my concern clearly, making sure he understands that I care about the long-term impact on his life.

He shrugs again, his face clear of any lingering hesitation. "Like I said, I cannot look into her eyes anymore. So I would rather not be with her." He waves his hand dismissively in the air, signaling that he is completely finished with the emotional heavy lifting of the conversation.

"Even if you broke it off with her, she will love you till the end. So that is all I want to say on this topic if you don't mind." He pauses, his expression softening significantly as he looks toward the doorway.

"Just remember to be nice to my girls. I still love them very much, but I guess you have daughters and understand me, right?" He seeks that final bit of common ground between us.

"They are my world, so you and I are the same there. Don't worry, your daughters are good girls, they will grow up well." I smile warmly, the shared bond of fatherhood instantly melting away the remaining tension between us.

"I just wish I had not ruined their family dynamic, that was my guilt. Oh, here they all come." I turn my head toward the sound of approaching footsteps just as the door clicks open.

The door swings wide, and James strolls back into the room, flashing that wide, irritatingly smug grin of his. He casually reaches down to pick up his smartphone from the side table, pretending he had simply forgotten it there.

My stomach drops as I glance at the screen. The display glows brightly, showing an active, ongoing call directly to Gretta's phone number. I feel a cold sweat break out across my mind. James has really gotten sly over the years, running his matchmaking schemes behind my back to force us together. I narrow my eyes at him, locking the betrayal into my memory because I will definitely get James back for this in the future.

Suddenly, a high-pitched wave of noise breaks my focus. A group of ten preteen girls bursts into the room, squealing at the absolute top of their lungs the moment their eyes land on me.

My professional instincts kick in instantly. Having dealt with hundreds of identical fan encounters during my acting career, my practiced business smile appears flawlessly on my face before the first girl can even reach me.

The middle school girls finally grow tired of barraging me with an endless stream of questions, allowing the party to migrate out onto the sunny back patio. The chaotic energy settles down as we gather around a large wooden picnic table for an early meal, gifts, and cake.

Mathew slides into the bench, positioning himself protectively between his two daughters. Ray, beaming with absolute birthday authority, points directly at the empty spot next to her. "Sit here, Mr. Rick!"

With the birthday girl making demands, I have no choice but to smile and take the seat. Gretta slides into the bench immediately to my right, leaving Jim to take the spot beside her while the rest of the young guests fill out the opposite side of the table, their chatter competing with the upbeat pop music blasting from a nearby speaker.

We dig into the spread of easy to handle finger foods. I reach for a steaming meat bun, while the girls grab corn on the cob and sticky barbecue wings.

Gretta keeps a polite distance, ensuring our shoulders don't brush in front of her daughter's classmates, but her attention never leaves me. She constantly hovers over my side of the table, refilling my drink and moving the best platters closer to my plate to ensure I am perfectly happy.

Once the plates are cleared, the girls erupt into excited chatter at the mention of gift time. Ray bounces in her seat, her eyes wide with anticipation as the wrapped boxes are brought out.

When my turn arrives, I produce three separate, identically wrapped small boxes and slide them across the table to Gretta, Ray, and her younger sister.

The three of them exchange utterly baffled looks, completely confused as to why everyone is receiving a present on Ray's birthday. "Go ahead, open them together." I encourage them with a nod, watching as they tear away the paper simultaneously to reveal three matching, polished golden heart-shaped lockets resting on velvet cushions. Ray snaps hers open first, her jaw dropping as she looks at the tiny, detailed artwork tucked inside.

The custom portraits are perfectly mirrored. Gretta’s locket contains beautiful miniature sketches of both her daughters, while Ray's locket holds portraits of her mother and sister, and the youngest daughter's piece completes the circle. "A gift that lets you all share your feelings, and let me have an excuse to not leave any of you out. I hope you like it." I lean back, enjoying the look of pure shock on their faces.

""Thank you Mr rick!"" The two girls chime together, their faces lighting up with pure joy as they clutch the gold hearts tightly in their small hands.

Gretta stares down at the artwork of her daughters, her eyes growing visibly misty as she blinks back tears. She swallows hard, looking up at me with a soft, helpless smile. "You really are unfair, thanks. Okay everyone, with the last gift out of the way, let's do the cake and sing."

Gretta clears her throat to chase away the emotion, quickly moving to help set up the birthday cake and strike the matches. The patio darkens slightly under the glow of the flickering candles as we sing the birthday anthem.

Ray closes her eyes tight, takes a deep breath, and blows out every single candle in a single breath. The girls immediately crowd around her, chanting and demanding to know what she wished for.

Ray smirks, shaking her head defiantly. "Nope, if I say, it won't come true, right mom?"

"That is right, birthday-wishes have to be kept in your heart, now eat up everyone, fufu." Gretta chuckles, her shoulders relaxing as the girls dive into their cake slices.

I look across the yard and spot James leaning against the patio railing, smoothly chatting up a couple of the mothers who had tagged along with their daughters. I shake my head at the sight because I know he is not serious; he just thrives on harmless flirting and nothing more.

Despite his frivolous actions, he does not actively try building his harem. Well, he does try in the boardroom with those two hot girls, but that is a different story.

A dollop of thick frosting slips off my fork, leaving my fingers completely sticky. I excuse myself from the table and head back inside to wash my hands.

Inside the kitchen, I warm water over my hands to rinse away the sticky frosting, my gaze drifting out the clear window pane toward the vibrant orange sun setting in the West. The quiet humming of the refrigerator is suddenly broken by the soft rustle of clothing as Gretta slips into the space right beside me.

A faint, sweet wave of her body spray fills the air around us as she stands close enough for our shoulders to touch. She keeps her eyes trained on the glass, her voice dropping to a vulnerable whisper. "Is the reason you're not interested in me because I have daughters with another man?"

Her striking golden eyes look a bit down, narrowing with a sudden flash of insecurity as she watches her daughters laughing and chasing each other across the lawn. The raw doubt in her posture makes up my mind instantly, cutting through any remaining hesitation I had about the past.

Instead of speaking, I shut off the faucet and turn my body fully toward her, reaching over to gently lift her chin up to meet my gaze. Before she can utter another syllable, I lean down and kiss her.

Gretta’s golden eyes open really wide in absolute surprise, her entire frame stiffening in a sudden wave of disbelief as the realization hits her. But the shock lasts only a heartbeat before her tension completely fades, and she melts into the embrace the moment she realizes I have proactively kissed her. She holds me tightly, her arms wrapping firmly around my waist as if she is terrified I might pull away. Her large chest presses hard into my chest with a bit of force, anchoring her body completely against mine so I cannot let go.

Our tongues aggressively tangle in a deep, desperate rhythm, moving together like she believes this is her only chance to kiss me for the very first time. She completely loses herself in the sensation, squeezing tighter to enjoy every single moment of the heat building between us.

After a full minute of this intense, heavy kissing, I slowly break the contact and look her straight in the eyes. A heavy mist clings to her gaze, her long lashes fluttering as if she is thoroughly convinced she is experiencing a vivid dream.

I gently trail the tips of my fingertips across the soft curve of her cheek to ground her in reality. "I have liked, and cared for you since the beginning, but I only treated it as a crush." I keep my voice low and steady, ensuring she feels the weight of every word. "I felt a bit guilty for knowing I indirectly ended your marriage." She listens intently, her breathing shallow as I speak. "And finally, why have I avoided letting you in? It is because I felt I could not give you the time or love you deserve, Gretta."

I let out a soft sigh, my eyes observing the gentle relief softening her features as I expose my internal hang-ups. "I feel a bit bad that if you and I get together, it will be mostly at work and not as much as you deserve. But I do have feelings for you... You are a beautiful woman, Gretta."

Gretta reaches up to clasp her hand firmly over mine, pressing my warm palm against her face as she closes her eyes to savor the touch. "As long as I am in your heart, I would be happy to love you for only a single day." A tear slips past her lashes, but her lips curve into a breathtakingly bright smile. "You do not have to go out of your way to make time for me, just a simple text or call... That alone will move my heart." She opens her eyes again, the golden depths burning with absolute devotion. "Why do you think I send you 'over the top' text messages? It is only so you think of me."

She leans closer, resting her head against me. "Rick, it took me a while, but I know I have also loved you from the time I took over Harem-Chat, and especially where you are kind to my daughters."

Seizing the opportunity she refuses to let escape from her clutches, Gretta wraps both arms around my neck to pull me down. My hands drop down to cup her lower back, pulling her hips flush against mine as we once again kiss and completely stop the useless talking.

This 33 year old woman in my arms feels like she is but an 18 year old woman finding her first love. Even though her body is very mature, looking like an older version of Tina, her heart feels like she is experiencing a pure highschool love.

My hands roam slowly across the smooth expanse of her back, feeling the warmth of her skin through her clothes as our bodies cling tightly together. A couple of the maids happen to glance into the room, but they instantly find other tasks to do, scurrying away to clear out of any space that is not in the kitchen.

Gretta and I completely forget about the party outside as she continues to pour all her feelings into me. As I shift my lips down to kiss her warm neck and trace her left collarbone, she runs her fingers deep into my hair, her breath hitching as she whispers directly into my ear. "Rick, I think my heart will explode..."

"Mine too, I want you so badly now..." I respond, the heat pooling low as the depth of our connection finally erupts.

The exact moment my hand lowers further to grab her meaty ass, I feel Gretta freeze entirely in my arms. My instincts flare as I sense someone else watching us, causing me to stop sucking on her shoulder as I freeze right along with her.

"Cough, I saw nothing, he-he." Rayna stands in the doorway, watching us with a massive, happy, and incredibly impish smile. "Seems my birthday-wish came true, ha-ha, I um, will go back out, so carry on, bye~!" The birthday girl turns on her heel and skips right back out the door toward her friends.

Gretta and I slowly turn our heads, staring at each other in the sudden silence of the kitchen.

Gretta smashes her burning face directly into my chest, letting out a long, muffled groan of absolute mortification. "Rick, was it me, or did she say she wished for this for her birthday?"

"I am shameless, so let us pretend we imagined her here." I chuckle softly, rubbing the back of her neck to soothe her racing pulse.

Gretta looks back up into my bright-blue eyes, her cheeks flushed a bright, radiant crimson as she smooths down her clothing. "Make sure and send me texts with heart emojis, they are so cute. I think we will have to stop our confession for now, or I might die from shame."

She lets out a dramatic sigh, casting a nervous glance toward the backyard patio. "Ray will tease me all night now, sigh."

I catch her chin one more time, leaning down to plant a slow, gentle kiss on her lips. "From today forward, you are my lover. I will not let you go, and I will make love to you when the time is right, any issues with that, my Gretta?"

"Wow! My heart agrees, yes... I will listen to you Boss, Ufufu." Her golden eyes sparkle with delight.

Gretta suddenly reaches down to squeeze my ass, giving me one last playful look before she swiftly escapes through the back door and runs out into the yard. I stand by the sink, watching the sexy white hair and gold eyes woman escape with a red face.

A satisfied smile spreads across my lips as the realization finally hits me. I have only just realized that Gretta is the first woman I am taking in who is a mother... In my past life she was called a MILF!

I shake my head, letting out a breath filled with exhaustion as I whisper another former Earth phrase into the empty room. "Mother, want another?!"

I dry my hands on a towel and follow her out to the patio. It is finally time for me to leave and head home.