Chapter 3

I ran out of the station, hailed a taxi, and offered the driver double to get me home as fast as possible.

He pushed the speed limit. My chest ached.

If I caught them in the act, what then? Would it end in divorce? We'd been together ten years—campus romance, graduation, marriage.

She said she wanted to focus on career before family, put off having kids. I agreed. Our relationship had always been harmonious.

She even shielded me from both our parents' pressure about grandchildren, said she wanted me to enjoy my youth.

But now I wondered—did she not want children, or had she already had them with someone else?

Three kilometers from home, we hit traffic. I stared at the sea of cars ahead.

Then my phone pinged.

"Master bathroom aromatherapy bath mode activated. Please enjoy."

I threw cash at the driver, got out, and unlocked a shared bike by the roadside. I pedaled like my life depended on it.

At the community gate, I parked and stood there, staring at the door.

My mind was chaos. I opened the door and went upstairs.

I slowed my steps. My lip was raw between my teeth.

What if they were in my bed right now? What if she denied it? What if she didn't? Should we divorce? How would we tell our parents?

My hand rested on the doorknob. Two seconds of hesitation. I opened the camera recording and pushed the door open.

"Victoria, what are you doing?"

She looked up from her phone, sitting up in bed. "I was just about to call you. Dylan, aren't you supposed to be in the neighboring city?"

I stared at the lumpy blanket on the bed. "Project got canceled. I'm tired."

Victoria laughed softly and pulled back the covers. "Then come lie down, husband. I haven't seen you all day. I missed you."

The bed was empty. He must have hidden.

I hugged Victoria and breathed her in. Her scent was faint.

Then I went straight to the master bathroom. The fragrance hit me immediately—someone had just bathed here.

I crouched to check under the bed. Then the wardrobe. I searched every corner around the bed.

No one.

I looked at Victoria. "Where's the man?"

She stood and wrapped her arms around me, nuzzling my neck. "What man? There's only you and Mary, and Mary's on vacation."

I pulled away and searched the house room by room.

Nothing.

I came back to the living room, drained. Victoria frowned and pulled me onto the sofa.

"You suspect me."

Her voice softened as she sat on my lap.

"I'm sorry I haven't given you enough security. Why don't we stay at my parents' house for a few days? Relax."

Her face was full of concern. I forced myself to relax and rubbed my forehead.

"I'm too sensitive. Maybe I'm just stressed."

Victoria shook her head and lifted my chin to meet her eyes.

"No, Dylan. You're the most handsome man in the world. Don't be anxious. Let's wash up and sleep. Tonight I'll hold you and give you all the security you need."

I smiled and nodded. "Okay."

Then I checked the nightstand drawer. Some condoms were missing.

I grabbed a bathrobe and went into the bathroom to check the surveillance.

No one had exited through the first-floor door. Or the side windows.

But when I scrolled back to days before the first notification—

I found footage of Victoria leaving through the main door with that man.

Together.

That meant—besides the main entrance—he had another way into my house.