Chapter 2

An hour later, while I was in the hospital being resuscitated for pneumonia caused by the fever, Sabrina posted a photo of herself lying in a car. In the background, Bradley's chiseled abs were dotted with hickeys.

The caption read, "The new car and you must both bear my mark forever."

When Bradley rushed over, his shirt buttons weren't even done up properly. He threw himself at my bedside, his eyes reddening.

Back then, I naively thought he was heartbroken over me, but it turned out to be nothing more than guilt after a fling.

I felt nauseated. This piece of trash was what Bradley wrecked our marriage for?

I couldn't stand to see her pathetic, victimized face for another second, so I turned and walked away.

But no sooner had I gotten into the car than Bradley called.

The moment I picked up, he asked frantically, "Why did you suddenly come to the office?"

"Why?" I started the car and replied coolly, "I just happened to have a contract to discuss. Is there something you're afraid I'll find out?"

Bradley seemed not to have expected that question, and his breathing hitched.

A few seconds of silence passed before his voice melted into that practiced, honeyed persuasion I knew all too well.

"Honey, what nonsense are you talking about? What would I possibly have to hide from you? The office is just too messy. If I'd known you were coming, I could've had someone tidy it up in advance. Besides, how could I ever betray you? You can look into it all you want."

Hearing this, I was a bit puzzled.

Sabrina hadn't actually told him that I had laid all my cards on the table?

I sifted through the evidence while listening to him lie. There were three gigabytes of files, and every single one of them was connected to Bradley.

Last Valentine's Day, he claimed he was on a business trip abroad and couldn't call, but he was actually watching the Northern Lights in the Arctic with Sabrina.

When my father, Dustin Blackburn, was critically ill, I called Bradley over 30 times. Yet, he didn't answer a single one, because he was celebrating Sabrina's birthday at the time.

"I believe you. But what's the deal with that watch?"

Seeing me bring up the matter myself, Bradley actually seemed relieved. His voice drew closer to the receiver, deliberately intimate.

"I suddenly blacked out at the office one day. Sabrina happened to walk by and helped me to the hospital." He paused, then added, "She stayed with me all night, so I gave her a watch as a thank-you gift. I just forgot to tell you at the time."

Forgot? He had quite the selective memory then.

Not only did he conveniently leave that out, but he also forgot to mention that very same night, they checked into a penthouse suite at a hotel and stayed there for three nights.

I sneered inwardly.

"How thoughtful of her. She even had the black shirt you collapsed in washed, ironed, and returned by the next day."

Bradley noticeably paused on the other end. His breath caught for half a beat before he laughed it off again.

"Isn't she just? She's attentive to the last detail. But this is what I mean—you're always so paranoid. My heart belongs to you and only you."

His lips came close to the receiver, his voice dripping with forced intimacy.

"Once I get through this busy period, I'll take you to Alma Island for a vacation. It'll be just the two of us."

The tenderness that once could soften my heart now only made me feel sick.

"Sure," I said, looking out the window at the passing neon lights, my tone as calm as if discussing the weather. "But you go ahead and take care of your business first. Don't let me keep you."

"Keep me? Nothing's more important than spending time with you."

Bradley's voice was laced with eager, fawning desperation, but my heart only grew colder.

It wasn't because he had cheated on me, but because I could never have imagined they had been putting on this act right under my nose for so long.

My grip tightened on the steering wheel as I fought the urge to confront Bradley right then and there.