Chapter 4. Mysterious Calls.

Stephanie Miller.

Two weeks later…

I returned home after having a long and exhausting shift at the hospital. It was a very hard day, on which I didn’t even have time to have lunch.

My last patient died during the operation, because of cardiac arrest. By the time Amelia arrived in the operating room, it was too late.

So, I really need a warm soak in the tub, a glass of wine, and to sleep for the rest of the night.

When I enter the apartment, the lights are off and many candles illuminate the place.

Standing next to the hallway, Matt is waiting for me with an enormous bouquet of white roses, my favorites.

“What is all this, my love? Did you prepare it?”

“Well, yes, although I must admit that I received a little help. Remind me to say thank you to Emily.”

“Oh! That’s why she wasn’t at the hospital around three.”

Matt smiles at me happily as he approaches me. He takes me by the waist while he tells me with his hoarse and seductive voice, “Happy twenty years of knowing each other, dear.”

My smile freezes as I realize I just screwed up. I completely forgot that today marks twenty years since that time in the park. I just manage to say awkwardly, “T–thank you, my love. S- same for you.”

Matt looks at me very amused, raises an eyebrow, saying, “You forgot!”

“What? No! of course not!”

“A-ha... It’s a good thing that I know you like the back of my hand. I knew you would forget it.”

My face blushes intensely, while he laughs more, amused, as he looks at me.

“And it is something excellent that, despite being together for twenty years, you still cannot lie to me.”

I cover my face with both hands, trying to hide my embarrassment, while I laugh nervously.

“You caught me. I forgot about it. Forgive me, my love, but I was very busy at the hospital and in the last operation of the day, I lost my patient.”

I make a sad face at him, while making my puppy dog ​​eyes.

“You’re lucky that I’m completely in love with you. You know well that I forgive you everything and more.”

He tells me that, hugging me with his powerful arms. I place mine around his neck while I stroke his hair.

I look carefully at his beautiful face and his incredible blue eyes. I sigh at the realization of how much I love this man. Matt looks at me and says, “That sigh? Is for me?”

“Yes. Just like you, I’m just as in love with you. And I still love you with the same intensity as twenty years ago.”

“Well, I’m a very lucky man, then.”

“Yeah! How lucky you are!”

Matt looks at me like I’m the most important person in his life. I can see admiration and devotion in his eyes. I smile at him as I kiss him tenderly.

Matt pulls me closer to him, seeking to intensify the kiss. I feel how his tongue asks for access to what I consent to.

I feel like his hands, which are on my waist, go up and down my back, sending multiple chills down my spine. We are enjoying each other’s company when his phone rings.

I separated by telling him, “You must answer, perhaps it is important”. Matt tells me, “Don’t listen to it, it’ll probably stop”.

While he continues kissing me. The cell phone does not stop and continues ringing intensely.

“Matt, answer the phone.”

“Damn! Alright. But don’t even think I’m done with you. Tonight is just the beginning.”

I smile at his comment and nod at his words as I sit on the couch. Matt takes my hand, while answering, “Hello?”

“Mr. Anderson?”

“Yes. Who is it?”

“My name doesn’t matter. The relevant thing about this call is to tell you that your future wife is lying to you.”

Matt tightens his grip on my hand and looks at me, worried.

“Oh? And what is she supposed to lie to me about?”

“In her fidelity. She has been unfaithful with me. She is a shameless woman, pretending to be something she is not. You shouldn’t marry such a woman! She doesn’t deserve to be with someone like you.”

Matt looks at me again as he says calmly and coldly, “Hum... and I guess, do you have some proof of these accusations? I mean, you are denouncing her so convinced.”

“Isn’t my word enough evidence?” replies the voice.

Matt smiles sarcastically to which he responds “Hum... NO! Now you are going to listen to me carefully.”

His tone turns from sarcastic to cold, threatening, and downright scary. “Whoever you are, I’m going to find you. And when I do, believe me, you will regret having been born. Nobody talks like that about my fiancée. NOBODY! Nor does it go unpunished. It is necessary to punish evil acts, including slander. And believe me when I say this, I’ll make you pay!”

Then, the call disconnects immediately.

“What happened? You’re scaring me,” I tell him.

He raises an eyebrow at me as he says, “Wait here.”

I watch him call Liam. Liam Stevens is a hacker. Usually, it is very difficult to locate him, but Matt is a good friend of his, after he helps his mother recover her investments after being scammed.

After a few moments, Liam answers. “Hello old man! To what is the honor of your call due?”

Matt responds coldly. “I need you to trace the last call received on my cell phone.”

Intrigued, Liam asks him. “Okay, can I ask why?”

“Yes, you can. He’s a fucking bastard making up that Steph cheated on me with him. I want to know who he is so I can smash his face!”

“Damn! Remind me to never make you angry, Matt.”

I look at him, open-mouthed. So that's why his mood changed so drastically.

Would it be a good idea to mention that they also called me two weeks ago, before our big fight? I think so.

Well, I better tell him now. I sigh as I tell him. “Darling, there is something I must tell you.”

He answers me impatiently without looking at me. “Wait, dear.”

“Matt, What I need to tell you has to do with this!”

That catches his attention while he tells me. “What are you talking about?”

“They also called me two weeks ago, before our last fight. They told me you were a liar and that you had been unfaithful to me with her.”

“Her? Who is she?”

I see how Matt looks noticeably confused.

“I don’t know that. I didn't recognize her voice. I only knew that it was a woman’s voice who spoke to me. Then she hung up.”

He seems to think for a moment, then says, “Hum... It’s fine, dear. I’ll tell Liam to trace the call, too.”

Then, Matt puts his cell phone on the speaker.

“Hello old man? You still there?” says Liam.

“Yes, I’m still here.”

“Well, according to the records, they made the call from the Capriccio hotel, room 3E. It’s in the name of a certain John Doe.”

“That’s very helpful! Matt tells him sarcastically.”

“Okay, let me check the records for the credit card that was used.”

We listen to how he types from his computer and then adds “Ha! I found you, motherfucker!”

He raises an eyebrow as he asks. “What did you find?”

“Shit! Matt, you won’t be happy.”

Matt tightens his grip on the cell phone while I watch as his jaw also tenses and he breathes heavily.

“Who is it!”

“The credit card belongs to Stella Miller, who I believe is …”

Matt interrupts him by saying, “Steph’s half-sister.”