Chapter 1

"A size Small?"

My gaze zeroed in on the bikini tucked inside Derek's suitcase.

I wore a Medium. This was definitely not mine.

When he walked out of the bathroom, I asked him,

"Company retreat to Bali with your colleagues?"

"Yeah, the company organized it," he said, his smile easy.

I smiled too.

"Are you sure the company will reimburse you for the $17,000?"

His hand froze.

"Wh-what $17,000?"

"A double ocean-view suite, $1,170 a night, for seven days. Do the math."

Derek's face instantly drained of color.

The towel wrapped around him dropped to the floor. And those two scratch marks on his butt? Definitely not from me.

"You... you checked my credit card?"

"It's a joint account, Derek. I checked *my* card."

I leaned against the doorframe, watching him.

He bent to pick up the towel, rewrapping it around his waist.

"That was... that was just me paying upfront. I'm getting reimbursed tomorrow."

"So, what about the bikini?"

"Oh, my assistant must have grabbed the wrong luggage for me."

He avoided my gaze.

I didn't say another word, turning and walking out of the bathroom.

I heard him call out from behind me,

"Don't overthink it, Elara. It really was just a company trip."

Overthink?

I walked back to the bedroom, closed the door, and grabbed my phone.

The credit card statement – I'd just received a pre-authorization notification this afternoon.

A five-star hotel in Bali, a honeymoon suite, seven days. A pre-authorization of $8,200.

I zoomed in on the booking screenshot.

The order showed two names: Skylar and Derek.

I'd met Skylar before – that 25-year-old girl from his office.

I'd delivered some files to his company once. She'd called him "Mr. Peterson," smiling sweetly. And yes, she was a size Small.

My fingers trembled a little, but I forced myself to stay calm.

I couldn't alert him.

He was leaving tomorrow for seven days. I had seven days.

The next morning, Derek wheeled his suitcase out the door.

"Honey, be careful on your trip."

I stood at the door, waving with a smile.

"Mmm, you take good care of Leo at home."

He kissed my forehead.

"I'll be back soon."

"How many people are going on this company trip?"

"About ten, I guess. The core members of the department."

"Is Skylar going too?"

He paused.

"Yeah, she's my assistant, so she has to."

"Oh," I nodded. "Well, have fun then."

The elevator doors closed, his smile still plastered on his face.

I shut the apartment door, and my smile instantly vanished.

Walking back to the bedroom, I pulled out his spare phone. He thought I didn't know the password, but I'd seen him type it in several times.

I opened the photo album, then 'recently deleted'.

Eighty-seven photos.

The first was a Bali beach. Skylar, in a bikini, beaming.

Around her neck, a diamond necklace. It looked familiar.

I walked to my dresser, opening my jewelry box.

The necklace Derek gave me last year for my birthday, the one he said cost $5,200? The one I’d treasured and worn constantly? Now, it looked fake.

The real one was around Skylar's neck.

I scrolled through all the photos.

Holding hands by the beach, feeding each other in restaurants, embracing in the pool, kissing in the hotel.

Each photo twisted a knife in my gut.

But I didn't cry.

I screenshotted them, saved them, then put the phone back exactly where I found it.

I walked into the living room. Leo was playing with his toys.

"Mommy, where's Daddy?"

"He's away on a business trip."

I squatted down, stroking his hair.

"Do you miss him?"

"No. Daddy's never home anyway."

My three-year-old had already gotten used to his father's absence.

"Mommy, can we go to Grandma Eleanor's house today?"

"Okay."

I picked him up, grabbed my phone, and sent Chloe a SnapChat message.

"Can you help me with something?"

"What is it?"

"Can you look into someone for me? Skylar, 25, works at Derek's company."

Chloe instantly replied:

"He's cheating?"

"Yeah."

"Evidence?"

"I have some, but it's not enough."

"What do you need me to do?"

"Her background, social media, recent movements."

"Consider it done."

I put down my phone and took Leo out.

At my parents' house, Eleanor was cooking.

"What brings you here?"

"Derek's away on a business trip, so I brought Leo to stay for a few days."

"Derek's away again? Didn't he just go last month?"

"Work's busy."

Eleanor gave me a look but didn't press it.