2

Tears welled up in Alicia’s eyes, slipping silently down her cheeks as she stood frozen, phone still raised, capturing the final moments of a truth she had never prepared herself to face.

Inside the room, the sounds rose to their peak; movements turned desperate and unrestrained. Each thrust harder than the other as their skin collided with each other.

Their breaths turned to an uneven gasps, the loud moans tangled with the man's groans.

The air itself felt heavy, thick with the scent of their cum filling the room as a witness to the satisfaction and familiarity…like something that had happened far too many times before.

Then the rhythm slowed, the voices softened and finally came the silence as they collapsed into each other like two people who belonged together.

Alicia’s fingers trembled, and for a brief second, the phone almost slipped from her grip. Her tears fell.

She wiped them away quickly with the back of her hand, almost angrily.

She shouldn't cry. Not for this. Not for whatever she had suffered in this marriage.

Her thumb pressed firmly against the screen as she saved the video to her phone and then again to her backup in her cloud storage.

Alicia inhaled sharply, her chest rising and falling as she fought to steady herself. Her phone suddenly felt heavy in her hand as her heart thumped at the undeniable truth that wasn't a dream.

With a slow exhale, she turned away from the door. Each step felt heavier than the last as she walked back into the sitting room.

The apartment had fallen eerily silent, but the echoes of what she had heard refused to leave her ears. They lingered in head mocking and haunting her relentlessly..

A few steps in, her knees gave out. Her body dropped, barely catching herself as she crouched beside the couch, her hand gripping the edge tightly.

Her heart clenched as every image replayed. Over and over. Their bodies tangled into each other replayed in her head.

It was unfiltered and unadulterated; the betrayal was raw.

Alicia squeezed her eyes shut to force back the tears. No. She couldn’t break here. Not now.

She had to play that role of a good friend waiting for her friend. There's no doubt they would soon emerge from the bedroom.

And when they did, she needed to be ready. She needed to face the truth. She forced herself up, her movements slow, unsteady at first, but determined.

Step by step, she walked to the couch and sat down. Her back straight, her legs crossed and her hands rested calmly across her knee.

It hurts! It hurts!! she muttered.

Stanley and Evelyn…the names tasted bitter and disgusting. Her stomach twisted, and for a moment, she thought she might throw up—but she swallowed it down.

Her gaze swept around the sitting room as she noticed a few details she had ignored earlier.

On the table were two glasses of half-finished wine, a tie, and a black suit thrown carelessly across the couch.

Her breath caught. Her fingers curled slowly. She recognized it. Of course she did. She had designed it herself during their sixth anniversary.

She had chosen the fabric, adjusted the cut and perfected every detail for him even when he didn't honor that anniversary.

A hollow laugh almost escaped her lips.

“Fuck you, Stanley.”

Alicia reached forward, grabbed the bottle of wine, and took a long gulp straight from it. Not a fan of strong drinks, the bitterness burned down her throat but she welcomed it.

Maybe that's would help to keep her sane enough to face them. She placed the bottle back down slowly.

Her fingers lingered on the glass table for a second before she withdrew them.

She dared not imagine what the scene of her husband walking out of her best friend's room to meet her seated would look like.

Not when he had said he was on a business trip.

But she had to give it a shot no matter how painful it is…it might be foolish, but she can't run away without confronting the truth of this business trip.

The best business trip ever.

Moments later, footsteps approached the sitting room amidst whispers and laughter.

Alicia had always wondered what her husband's laughter would be like…but nothing had ever prepared her to witness it in this way.

“So…baby, what do you think…” The words cut off and Stanley froze when his eyes locked onto her.

Alicia was seated on the couch with her legs crossed, staring at him. His face drained of color.

“Ali…Alicia…what are you doing here?”

His voice trembled slightly betraying the unease clawing at his heart but she heard it.

Evelyn reacted instantly, her hand slipping away from Stanley’s arm as if burned.

“When did you arrive?” she asked quickly, forcing composure. “Why didn’t you call me?”

Alicia exhaled slowly then smiled, it was neither warm nor kind. “I did call,” she said calmly. “But you were too…engrossed to check your phone.”

Then she sighed. “And when I came in,” she continued, her gaze flicking between them, “you were on cloud nine to notice.”

Her gaze drifted to Stanley, his jaw tight, his fists clenched. She chuckled. “Who would have thought that the man who is supposed to be on a business trip was actually making you cum.”

She stood up from the couch, and with slow, steady footsteps, she closed the distance, her frame wrapped in a chilling coldness.

Evelyn took a step back. Years of friendship, and she had never encountered this sort of Alicia.

“What…what are you…trying to do?” Evelyn stuttered, her gaze darting to Stanley with a silent plea and then to Alicia…afraid and taunting.

Alicia raised a brow, feigning confusion at her question. “What do I want to do?”

Evelyn pursed her lips while her eyes held that challenging smirk as they locked on Alicia.

Smack

Smack

The air in the sitting room froze as Evelyn clutched her cheeks in her hands, and Stanley swiftly pulled her behind him, shielding her from Alicia.

“What do you think you are doing?” Stanley snapped as he pointed at Alicia. “You don't dare lay your hand on her ever again….”

Alicia squared her shoulders, meeting his challenging gaze head-on. “Or what?” she smirked.

“Alicia, don't push my button…Evelyn isn't someone you could touch,” Stanley breathed.

“Really?” Alicia smiled coldly. “Then I would be your guest.”

She raised her hand, and it fell on Stanley’s cheek, and time froze.

Stanley’s head turned slightly from the impact, his eyes flared, his lips twitched.

Evelyn stepped out from behind him. “Alicia, how could you hit him? Aren't you afraid he wouldn't want this marriage anymore?”

“What a fool!” she mused. “Shouldn't that make things easier?”

“Oh! I thought the scumbag wasn't married. Now that you said that, doesn't that mean he cheated with you?”

“Alicia, listen…” Evelyn started, but Alicia raised her hand. “Don’t.” Her voice cut cleanly. “You don’t get to speak right now.”

She stepped forward again. But Stanley grabbed her arm, his grip tight. “Alicia, how dare you…” He snapped.

Alicia looked at his hand gripping her arm then at his face and she smiled coldly. Finally, he is showing his real face. She mused.

“Yes,” Stanley said suddenly, his tone turning sharp, defensive. “I’ve been with Evelyn from the beginning. So what?”

Alicia went still as she stared at him, her brow furrowed as she wondered what he is driving at.

“Our marriage was never real,” Stanley continued. “You were just a stand-in. A substitute to get my parents off her back.”

That was unexpected and the words struck hard and sharp. Alicia’s eyes widened.

Six years.

Six years, and she had been nothing but just a stand-in.

“Besides,” he added coldly, “haven’t you wondered why I never touched you properly? Why I never fucked you…I can't taint my body with your touch..” His lips curled. “I couldn’t bring myself to. The thought alone…truly disgusting.”

Alicia’s breath hitched. “We are married…for Christ sake!” she snapped, her voice finally cracking through. No matter what, she had signed that marriage certificate six years ago.

Stanley laughed as though he was staring at a fool, Alicia could feel him gloating.

“Married?” he repeated. “That certificate was fake.” “And the real one?” He glanced back at Evelyn. “That belongs to us.”

Alicia’s heart shattered. She had only thought it was just cheating on her but nothing had prepared her for this.

“You asshole…!” She lunged, but he caught her wrist easily and shoved her back and she hit the floor.

“I might be an asshole,” he said coldly, looking down at her, “but you…” His lips curled slightly. “…you’re the fool.”

He paused as if remembering something.

“Oh…and one more thing.”

Evelyn stepped closer, her hand resting protectively over her stomach. Stanley smirked. “We’re expecting a baby.”

The words landed hard and sharp like a sentence. But Stanley didn't bother giving her a chance to recover.

“I originally planned for you to carry it for her,” he added casually. “But now…” His gaze swept over Alicia dismissively.

“I think you’re not worthy.”