Chapter 1

I found a box of ultra-thin condoms in Serena's bag.

Rose-scented. And half-used.

My gut twisted into a knot.

I was allergic to latex; I never used that stuff.

Just as I was debating whether to call her, Serena beat me to it:

"Honey, I have to meet a client tonight, so I won't be home for dinner."

"Might be busy until midnight, so you go to bed early and don't wait up."

"Love you!"

I swallowed my surging emotions and asked, "Where are you meeting this client?"

She hesitated for a few seconds before naming a well-known upscale hotel in the city.

I snatched my car keys, didn't waste another second, and drove straight to that hotel.

Walking into the high-end restaurant on the second floor, I quickly spotted Serena by the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Sitting opposite her was a man in a perfectly tailored suit, exuding an air of easy confidence.

I instantly recognized him as her boss, Blake, not a "client" at all.

Candlelight flickered, casting an intimate glow on their faces.

The table was laden with exquisite dishes and a bottle of red wine.

I discreetly found a dimly lit corner and sat down.

A waiter approached, and I casually ordered a drink, my gaze locked onto them.

They were deep in conversation, Serena's face adorned with a shy smile I'd never seen before.

Blake said something, and she covered her mouth, giggling softly.

Her eyes, as they met his, burned with undisguised affection.

Later, they even raised their glasses, linking arms for an intimate toast right there in public.

They didn't seem to care who saw them.

Blake leaned in and whispered, Serena's cheeks flushed crimson, and she gave him a coy tap.

From her lip movements, I could guess it was blatant flirting.

Then came an even more sickening sight.

Blake's hand, so naturally, slipped under the table, resting on Serena's thigh, which was clad in sheer stockings, gently caressing it.

Serena's body stiffened for a brief moment but she didn't push him away. She just shot him a mock-reproachful glance.

Blake moved closer, his voice low, but from the movement of his lips and a few hushed syllables that wafted over, I caught the meaning.

"Baby, tonight... don't go back..."

Serena hesitated. "No, I can't stay out all night. He'll get suspicious."

"He?"

Blake scoffed, a sneer twisting his lips.

"You mean Alex? Please. That predictable tech guy?"

"What can he give you? A stable, poor life?"

He paused, his disdain growing thicker.

"With his meager paycheck, he can't even make you happy, can he?"

"Don't you get bored with him?"

"A man who doesn't even know how to be exciting, does he even deserve to be called a man?"

Serena didn't object. She just lowered her head, nervously swirling the stem of her wine glass.

I sat in my corner, blood rushing to my head.

I wanted to storm over, smash that wine glass into Blake's disgusting face, and grab Serena, demanding to know why.

But I held back.

Impulse wouldn't solve anything. It would only make me look more pathetic and ridiculous.

I would make them pay.

In my own way, I'd make them regret everything they did today!

They sat for a while longer, Blake's hand never quite still.

Finally, he waved for the check, then stood up, naturally slinging his arm around Serena's waist.

She half-resisted, half-yielded, and they walked out of the restaurant, heading towards the elevator to the hotel's guest rooms.

After watching their backs disappear, I waited another five minutes before picking up my phone.

"How was the client meeting? I happened to be doing something nearby. When will you be done? I can pick you up."

Message sent.

I placed my phone face up on the table and waited.

I imagined the chaos that would erupt in one of the rooms upstairs when that message suddenly lit up the screen.

Half a minute later, Serena finally called.

"Honey, what are you doing here?"

"Oh, just finished up some errands." I said casually, my gaze sweeping over the empty restaurant. "You? Are you done? I'm downstairs, can come up anytime to get you."

"Ah? Co-come up?"

Her voice shot up, then quickly dropped, panic almost spilling through the receiver.

"No, no need! Uh... the client, the client isn't quite finished yet. It might take a bit longer."

"How much longer?"

I pressed, my tone still even.

"Maybe... maybe an hour or two? I can't really say..." She stammered. "How about you just go home first? I'll just grab a cab when I'm done."

"It's fine, I'm not in a hurry." I leaned back against the booth. "I'll wait for you in the restaurant downstairs. Just come down when you're finished, or tell me the room number, and I'll come up."

"No!"