Chapter 1

The day I found out the student my wife was sponsoring had fallen for her, I accidentally put our home security feed on the screen in front of every senior executive at the company.

People were talking around the conference table when the big screen suddenly switched to our living room.

Sigourney sat on the sofa in a skimpy outfit. Elio set his acceptance letter and a box of condoms in front of her, then crouched at her feet and guided her hand to his cheek.

He pressed his lips together and looked straight at her, his fingertips resting on the condom box.

“You said if I got into a top master’s program, you’d grant me one wish. Does that offer still stand?”

I frowned. Before I could say anything, Sigourney answered him through the speakers.

“Yes.”

The talking stopped. The room went silent. Everyone found a reason to glance my way.

On the screen, Elio pushed Sigourney back against the sofa and kissed her. She let out a pleased moan.

I cut the feed. The screen went black.

Still seated at the table, I tossed the remote aside without changing my expression.

“Let’s get started.”

I wanted to reach through the screen and punch Elio in the face. Instead, I finished the meeting as if nothing had happened.

That night, my wife was in the shower.

Her silhouette shifted behind the glass door, the sound of running water reaching the living room.

I sat stiffly on the sofa. On the coffee table, Sigourney’s phone lit up.

A message from Elio.

“Sigourney, is Ansel home tonight?”

My fingers tightened around the phone. I stared at the message, then typed a reply.

“He’s out. Come over.”

Sigourney came out of the bathroom and saw the phone in my hand. Her expression changed.

“Ansel… were you looking at my phone?”

I watched her from the sofa without getting up.

The color slowly drained from her face. She stood frozen.

“Ansel…”

The doorbell rang.

I gave a quiet laugh.

“Your boyfriend’s at the door. Aren’t you going to let him in?”

Her eyes widened. She looked at me, then at the door. Finally, she clenched her jaw and went to the entryway.

She opened the door. Elio was standing outside.

“Sigourney, I…”

She stayed in the open doorway, hissing at him under her breath.

“What are you doing here?”

Elio looked hurt. His voice shook.

“Didn’t you tell me to come? Sigourney, I’ve missed you so much!”

He leaned in to kiss her. She dodged him, and they bumped against the door as she tried to hold him back.

Then he saw me on the sofa.

I watched them quietly.

Elio wore a white shirt. His hair curled slightly at the ends, and his face was fresh and innocent-looking.

Twenty-two years old. A student from a poor family whom Sigourney had supported for three years. About to graduate.

He went rigid. His eyes reddened, and his voice broke.

“Sir! It’s not like that between Sigourney and me! It really isn’t! She just helps with my tuition. Nothing happened between us!”

I said nothing as he stood there, not knowing what to do with himself.

Then I looked past him at Sigourney.