He Fell for Her, I Rose Alone

..."Did someone come over?" I asked, pulling away from his kiss and fixing my gaze on the showerhead, my voice steady despite the unease creeping into my chest.My husband, Nick Doyle, followed my stare, and color drained from his face. He stammered, "Oh, Randy stayed over for a couple of days. You were away, and I was bored, so I invited him to hang out and have a few drinks."The words hit me like a punch, sapping my strength. Randy Dupont was his best friend and the secretary at a partner's company. I had met him just yesterday, and Nick was lying."Go shower," I said, pushing him out of my arms. "I'll make you dinner."He bit his lip, his eyes glistening with sadness. "Honey, do you not love me anymore?"I swallowed a bitter laugh. He was the one whose heart was no longer in it."It's fine," he added quickly, brushing off his own question with a forced smile. "I know you're tired. I'll go shower."He leaned in, planting a rough kiss on my cheek. But as he bent forward, I g

"Ms. Parker, what a coincidence!" I said, my gaze sliding past Nick to Diana, who was trying to slip out the hotel's front door. "Fancy meeting you here."A bead of sweat glistened on her temple, trailing down her face.I gave a light, mocking laugh and shrugged. "I thought you'd be busy revising the tender for the East City project. Doesn't seem like your company is in much of a hurry."Diana approached with her head down, but I caught a flicker of resentment in her eyes. She muttered, "Greetings, Mr. and Mrs. Doyle. I had a last-minute project meeting here, but I'm heading back now to revise the tender as you requested."Sensing her discomfort, Nick looped his arm through mine, his voice syrupy. "Come on, honey, Ms. Parker is my boss, and she's always looked out for me at work. Don't make things hard for her."He turned to her with a grin. "Ms. Parker, you're too honest. You know the East City project is owned by my wife's company. You should've told me, and I'd have convinced h

The police burst in just as Nick, pinned beneath Diana, cried out for help.Diana laughed, mistaking it for part of their usual games, unaware of the trap closing around her. It wasn't until an officer pinned her to the floor that her smile faltered.She panicked, explaining that they were just playing a game. At the same time, Nick, clutching his half-torn clothes, sobbed pitifully as the police draped a jacket over him, murmuring reassurances.I rose with an officer's help, my eyes locked on Nick. He felt my stare and quieted. Then, with a trembling hand, he pointed at Diana, his voice a mix of fear and calculated venom."S-She is my boss," he stammered with theatrical intensity. "She called me over and tried to force herself on me. I refused, and she..."Diana's forced smile shattered into disbelief. Her eyes widened, fixed on him. "What are you saying?"Reporters summoned by me swarmed the doorway, their cameras flashing relentlessly. Nick quickly covered his face with his ha

The moment arrived.On the day Diana was sentenced to prison, I returned home and placed a divorce agreement on the coffee table in front of Nick.He was sprawled on the couch in silk pajamas, looking smug as he watched a news report about Diana's conviction. A faint, victorious smile played on his lips.He barely glanced at the document, assuming it was routine. "Honey, what's this? Another contract for me to sign?"But when he saw the words on the agreement, his smile vanished. He flung it away, as if it had burned him, and shot to his feet. "What is this?""Exactly what it says," I replied, sitting across from him, my voice calm and cold. "Sign it.""Why?" he shouted, tears spilling instantly. "Because of that event? It wasn't my fault. I was the victim. You think I'm tainted now? I was forced, and you know that."He reached out for my arm, but I sidestepped effortlessly. My voice was devoid of warmth. "Nick, the show is over. The toilet lid and the shower temperature... I kn