[3]

The bathroom door opened, and Dalia immediately looked up.

Caius stepped out, his hair still damp from the shower, a towel hanging around his neck as he wiped the remaining water from his face. His expression changed the moment he noticed Dalia standing beside the nightstand with his phone in her hand.

Dalia’s grip tightened around the device. “Caius…”

He walked towards her without answering.

Dalia opened her mouth again, ready to ask about the message but before she could get the words out, Caius gently took the phone from her hand.

Then he leaned down and placed a kiss on her lips. “Go to sleep, Dalia.”

She stared at him. “What was that message?”

Caius slipped the phone into his hand and frowned slightly. “What message?”

“The one you just received.”

He stared at the message and sighed. “It’s from my mother.”

Dalia stared at him, confusion settling over her features. “Cecil Ashbourne called you darling?”

Caius’s expression hardened. “She’s my mother, Dalia. Is it really so strange for her to call her son darling?”

Dalia swallowed. “No, but…” She hesitated before finally saying, “Unlock your phone, Caius.”

Caius stared at her like she had asked something unreasonable. “Dalia….What is wrong with you?”

“Please...” There was desperation in her voice now, and perhaps because of that, Caius eventually unlocked the phone and handed it toward her.

She opened the contact. “Cecil Ashbourne.” Her heart sank…It was indeed his mother’s number. She stared at the name repeatedly before returning the phone to him.

Caius took it immediately. “I told you.”

Dalia lowered her gaze, “I’m sorry.”

He shook his head, disappointment visible in his eyes. “I’m not happy with the way you’ve been acting tonight towards me.”

Dalia looked up. “I just—”

“You saw a mark on my neck and immediately assumed the worst, then you saw a message from my mother and decided there had to be something else.” His voice wasn’t loud, but somehow that made his disappointment hurt even more. “I’ve been away for three weeks, Dalia. I came home expecting my wife to be happy to see me.”

Dalia looked at him with remorse. “I am happy to see you.”

“Then trust me!”

Dalia’s lips parted, but no words came. Caius walked to the bed and pulled back the covers. “I’m tired.” He climbed into bed, turned off the lamp, and settled under the sheets.

Within minutes, he fell asleep.

Dalia remained awake. She lay beside him, staring into the darkness. She couldn’t explain why something felt wrong. The message had been from Cecil. She had seen it herself and there was no reason to doubt that.

But yet… Dalia turned her head toward Caius. Caius had always saved his mother’s contact as “Mama,”.

Always. She had seen it countless times over the five years of their marriage. So why had it suddenly become Cecil Ashbourne? Saving her number with her full name?

Her brows drew together. Perhaps she was simply exhausted and allowing suspicion to turn ordinary things into something sinister.

***

Before six the following morning, the bedroom door opened quietly and Caius dressed without turning on the lights.

Dalia stirred under the covers, but by the time she opened her eyes, he was already gone. Dalia pulled her phone from the nightstand and called Caius multiple times, but he didn’t pick up or return the call.

What was really going on in his life? He had already won the contract, so why was he still leaving the house before dawn without informing her?

Dalia pulled the blanket around herself and lowered her head. She had spent three weeks waiting for him and now he had left before sunrise without even telling her what was happening.

A painful ache settled in her chest. Dalia couldn’t tell whether the pain came from his sudden distance or from the possibility that she was beginning to lose the husband she trusted.

By afternoon, Dalia was sitting in the parlor when the doorbell rang. She wiped her face quickly before answering.

Kimberly, her best friend stood outside. “Dalia, you look terrible. Is everything alright?”

Dalia forced a smile. “I didn’t sleep well last night.”

Kimberly dropped her handbag onto the sofa. “Is everything okay?”

Dalia nodded. Before she could answer, Kimberly spoke again. “I actually came because I need to tell you something and I hope you won’t misunderstand my presence.”

Dalia looked up at her. “What is that?”

Kimberly lowered her voice. “I saw Caius this morning at the airport.”

Dalia suddenly became much more interested. “What was he doing?”

Kimberly frowned. “He was with a woman.”

Dalia’s fingers curled against her palm. “What woman?”

Kimberly shrugs. “I don’t know. I didn’t get a proper look at her face.”

Dalia’s mind immediately returned to the television from the previous evening. The woman standing beside the man who looked exactly like Caius, the hand around her waist, and the hickey on his neck, collarbone, and chest.

Dalia’s breathing became shallow. “Kimberly, are you sure of what you saw?”

Kimberly nodded. “I wouldn’t have come here to tell you if I wasn’t. I am sure.”

Dalia opened her mouth but before she could respond, her phone began ringing. She looked at the screen.

‘MY HEART’—Caius. Her heart thudded. She answered immediately. “Hello?”

“Darling.” Caius's voice sounded normal and apologetic. “I’m sorry I left so early this morning.”

Dalia glanced at Kimberly. “Why did you leave?”

“I got called by the office and we’ve been in a meeting since this morning, so I was unable to pick up your calls.” Caius continued, “It happened very early, and I didn’t want to disturb your sleep after everything yesterday. Once I come home today, I’ll spoil you.”

Kimberley’s eyes widened.

Dalia’s fingers tightened around the phone. “The office called you?”

“Yes.”

“And that’s where you’ve been?”

“Of course, where else do you expect me to be?”

Dalia looked at Kimberly again. Her friend was silently shaking her head.

Dalia turned away. “Okay.”

There was a pause on the other end before Caius's voice came through. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine.” She lied. “I’m just tired.”

Caius sighed. “I’ll be home later, take care of yourself my love.”

“Okay,” The call ended and Dalia slowly lowered the phone.

Kimberly immediately spoke. “That wasn’t the truth.”

Dalia looked at her. “How do you know?”

“Because I saw him at the airport and I mean what I’m saying. I can’t come here just to fabricate lies that would cost your marriage.” Kimberly said with concern, hoping Dalia would understand her.

“He could have gone to the airport for business, Kimberly.”

“Then why was he with a woman?”

Dalia’s expression hardened. “You said you didn’t see her face.”

“I didn’t see her face, but I saw Caius.”

Dalia shook her head and her voice grew stern. “You saw someone who looked like him, Kim.”

Kimberly stared at her. “Dalia, I know what Caius looks like and I’m serious.”

Dalia knew she was being defensive, but she couldn’t accept what Kimberly was suggesting. At least not yet. She needed to believe her husband. After everything they had built together, she couldn’t allow one suspicious night to destroy five years of marriage.

Kimberly reached for her hand. “I’m only telling you because you’re my best friend. I’m not trying to hurt you.”

“I know, Kim.”

Kimberly took a deep breath and forced a polite smile. “Then please don’t ignore whatever signs you’re seeing.”

Dalia pulled her hand away. “Sincerely, I’m not interested in this conversation.”

Kimberly stared at her sadly. “Dalia…”

Dalia pointed toward the door. “Please leave. I’m stressed out right now.”

Kimberly’s face fell. She picked up her handbag and walked toward the door. Before leaving, she turned around. “I hope I’m wrong, Dalia.”