3. Betrayed

"W-what?" Audrey stammered in disbelief. "What did you just say?"

Theodore reiterated undeterred. "I said, go home, we'll talk when I get home."

Audrey couldn't believe her ears as she stared at her husband, who now seemed unrecognizable, considering his unusual indifferent demeanor towards her.

Theodore was quiet, his eyes lingering on Emily, who appeared frightened by Audrey's unexpected presence.

Audrey noticed her husband's focus was elsewhere and when she trailed his gaze, her eyes landed on Emily.

Audrey was confused as she noticed Emily's slightly trembling fingers were caressing the necklace around her neck, more like trying to conceal the pendant from Audrey's sight. Unknown to Em, Audrey had already seen it.

A deeper shade of confusion creased Audrey's temples as the whole thing now appeared even more suspicious. Her heart tightened. She had noticed Emily's efforts to conceal the necklace and it fazed her.

Could it be that Theodore was really having an affair with Emily? Was this what all this was really about? Could it be he had been seriously fucking her best friend behind her back all this time? The late nights at the office? Skipping her delicious breakfasts because he had work at the office. Canceling their couple outings because he was busy at the office. Was this what all these were seriously about? Audrey's heart raced wildly with dread as she pondered these thoughts.

She was so confused and she needed an explanation to something, at least. Turning to Theodore once more, she started calmly, more composed this time.

"That necklace," she pointed at Emily's neck. "I recognize it, Theo. I found it in your drawer this morning. In your home office." Her eyes remained fixated on him intently as she asked. "Why is she wearing it, Theodore?"

As quickly as it appeared, it went, but she caught it. Audrey caught the way her husband had flinched at her inquiry, even though he had quickly masked his anxiety with an unreadable expression.

Emily's voice trembled slightly with fear as she chimed in, "Au-Audrey... It's, it's really not what you think. This is—"

"What necklace?" Theodore's icy voice cut through the air. He turned to Audrey. "You don't know what you're saying. There was never a necklace in my drawer this morning," he denied without mincing words.

Audrey's lips slightly parted with disbelief, her frown deepening as she stared at the man she thought she knew so well.

"What?" She muttered. "Are you insinuating I'm telling lies or I've gone crazy or what exactly, Theodore?"

But Theodore dismissed her as he returned his gaze to Emily once more. "Go home, Audrey. Don't cause a scene. We'll talk when I get home."

"Don't fucking talk to me like that! I need a darn explanation! What the fuck is going on? You told me you were still working at the office when I called just an hour ago. So what exactly is the meaning of this?"

He remained silent.

However, Audrey persisted as her anxiety grew. Her heart slammed hard in her chest as she didn't want to believe any of it was true.

"There are rumors circling, Theo. They got to me. But I don't want to believe them. Please don't give me a reason to... Can you tell me what's going on here? Why are you with her? Why is she wearing the same necklace I found in your drawer? And don't tell me this isn't the same piece—I'm a fucking master jeweler in case you've forgotten–"

"For fuck sake! Why won't you just listen and do as I say?" Theodore snapped, his sudden outburst taking Audrey by surprise as this was the first time he was snapping at her like that. Maybe not the first time—but the first time in a public place. Before now, he tended to snap at her whenever she made him upset.

He barked in annoyance. "I said, go home! Emily and I are having a business conversation and you're interfering with it."

Regardless, Audrey scoffed. "Oh, now you do business conversation by also giving your secretary a lovely bouquet of roses? Oh really?" She questioned sarcastically, fury burning in her eyes.

However, nothing prepared Audrey for Theodore's next reaction.

He swiftly rose to his feet aggressively, his icy gaze narrowing at her as he told her in a quiet yet icy tone.

"Go home, Audrey. Don't make me repeat my words. Don't cause a fucking scene here either. We'll talk when I get home. Leave," he said coldly, his harsh words driving through Audrey's heart like a merciless dagger.

Audrey instinctively took a step back, her expression faltering as she stared at the man she once believed she knew so well. Her heart was broken. She couldn't recognize this side of him. There was something off about him. It was as if he had...Changed. He appeared so irritated by her and she couldn't even comprehend why.

Audrey snapped back to reality as she felt the eyes of the patrons in the restaurant on her. A wave of humiliation washed over her.

Nonetheless, she refused to let Theodore see he had just hurt her.

Instead of retaliating or confronting him right there and then, she refused to disgrace herself. She realized Theodore would only dismiss her questions again so there was no point asking further.

Directing her eyes from him to Emily, who was still seated on the high-end back dining chair, Audrey caught the faint smug smirk beneath her pretentious terrified expression.

Audrey's heart clenched tightly as it now dawned on her that Emily knew exactly what was going on.

She stared at Emily for a brief moment before turning to Theodore. Her eyes conveyed her emotions but in that moment, she doubted if Theodore could even comprehend her hurt feelings.

Heart squeezing painfully, Audrey retreated and turned on her heel, strutting out of the room and heading towards the elevator.

Dejection, rejection, and humiliation were the only emotions she felt at that moment. This wasn't how she had envisioned her evening would turn out. To compound her frustration, the murmuring gossip from the customers filtered into her ears as she walked past them.

'Who is she even?'

'How dare she interrupt the moment of such a lovely couple? Did you see how playful they were around each other before she walked in?'

'She must be some random homewrecker, not gonna lie.'

'I know, right?'

'Stop it, you guys. She might hear you.'

Jokes!—Audrey's already heard them!

Intense anger burned through Audrey, hating how they were judging her without knowing the full story. Homewrecker? Really? Did she even look like one? Perhaps it was best she told them she was Theodore's wife and not the other way around.

Just two steps before the elevator, Audrey halted, and was about to turn and confront the gossipers when she felt herself swiftly dragged into the elevator by a pair of strong arms.

Taken aback, panic set off within her as the panels of the elevator closed, entrapping her with her kidnapper. Her eyes grew with terror and a horrifying scream was about to tear from her throat when she sensed the hands that had just snatched her release their grip.

At that, Audrey pulled away from him quickly and turned her gaze. She was astounded to see it was Ian Ross standing firmly behind her with a sort of remorseful expression etched on his face. His warm scent quickly enveloped her and she felt her insides course with relief.

It was just him there in the elevator with her this time around so she instantly figured he was the one who had snatched her in.

"Why did you do that?" She questioned with annoyance.

"Apologies for dragging you in like that, Madam..."

"It's Audrey," her voice was sharp as she cut him off, knowing he was about to address her with that absurd title.

Nodding curtly, a roguish grin spread across Ian's face as his hazel orbs glinted with mischief. "I finally learn the beautiful lady's first name... Hoping someday she'll take my last," He said flirtatiously but she sharply cut him off.

"I'm a married woman, Mr. Ross."

However, Ian's brows lifted in surprise. "It seems I'm not unfamiliar to you as I had initially thought," his voice lowered as he pointed out. "You know me."

Who didn't?

Audrey huffed.

A heavy sigh escaping her nostrils, she rolled her eyes as she felt too weary to explain anything.

Audrey didn't answer him anymore, but Ian remained persistent as he inquired further when an awkward silence descended upon them.

"Are you okay?" He asked, his voice carrying a hint of concern. "I might have witnessed something like a lover's quarrel? Are you—"

"How about you mind your business and stay the fuck out of mine, Mr. Ross? " Audrey snapped impatiently, instantly regretting her outburst.

He casually shrugged, lifting his hands in the air in mock surrender. "My apologies..."

"No, I'm," Audrey exhaled, feeling a pang of guilt and remorse as she turned to face him. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have snapped like that. It's just that I'm upset. And I'm not really in the mood to entertain any interrogation from anyone. I'd appreciate it if you stopped being nosy."

Ian paused before regarding her curtly. "I'll try not to, Madam... Audrey." He corrected himself as Audrey shot him a scowl. "But you don't look okay to me. What was that about? Wasn't that your husband with another chick?"

"Not a chick. It's his secretary and they're only having a business conversation." Audrey replied, trying to convince herself more than the inquisitive billionaire.

However, Ian scoffed derisively. "Didn't seem like it to me."

"Don't care what it seemed like to you, Mr. Ross. Just leave me alone," she shot at him just as the elevator bell chimed. With that, Audrey retreated and walked out of the elevator.

Meanwhile, an enthusiastic grin spread across Ian's face as he watched Audrey march off, her feistiness amusing him.

He instructed his bodyguard who had just appeared as he stepped out of the elevator.

"I want every detail you can gather about her, down to the littlest. Something about her has caught my interest. I think I want her."

"Noted, boss," his bodyguard replied as they began strutting out of the restaurant.

~~

It was merely an hour after Audrey's return from the restaurant.

She was still pacing the opulent living room of their penthouse, her mind in a state of turmoil when she finally heard the familiar honk of Theodore's car. Her heart raced.

A wave of relief washed over Audrey, prompting her to halt midway as she anticipated Theodore's arrival. Her thoughts had been scattered all over the place and she hadn't been able to grasp anything meaningful after her encounter with Theo at the restaurant earlier. He had left her reeling with confusion, however, she guessed her curiosity would be quelled now he had returned home.

The door to the living room swung open but Audrey felt her heart plummet when she realized that her husband wasn't alone. He had come in with someone else. She didn't know who it was yet until she heard a voice.

"Are you sure, baby? She'll be livid,"

Audrey caught the familiar feminine voice, which was quickly followed by her husband's reassurance.

"It's okay, Emily. It's about time she found out about us. We can't keep this from Audrey any longer; I intend to end it all today since she's already found out about us."

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely, baby. Come on,"

Processing these words, Audrey felt her heart drop. She instinctively took a step back, struggling to fully understand what she had just heard.

What?

WHAT?!