The Wife That Betrayed Them All

Rosella's POV.

I glanced at the clock on the wall for what felt like the hundredth time. It was already ten at night, and Leo was still not back. I paced the living room in my elegant dress, the fabric hugging my body in all the right places.

My heels clicked against the marble floor with every step. I was not restless because I missed my husband. Far from it. I had plans tonight, and they did not include waiting around for him.

One of my lovers waited for me across town. I just needed to see Leo first, tell him I was heading to a friend's birthday party. That way, he would not get suspicious or angry when he finally came home.

I had become good at these little lies over the years.

They kept everything running smoothly on the surface while I lived the life I really wanted behind his back.

I checked my phone again. No messages. Typical. Leo was always so wrapped up in his business deals. I smoothed down my dress and touched up my lipstick in the hallway mirror. The deep red shade made my lips look full and inviting. Perfect for what I had in mind later.

A knock sounded at the door. My heart jumped. Finally. I rushed over with a practiced smile ready on my face. When I pulled the door open, the words died in my throat. It was not Leo standing there.

Adrian leaned against the frame, looking as handsome as ever in his fitted shirt and dark jeans. His eyes swept over me slowly, taking in the dress, the makeup, the way my hair fell in soft waves. A slow smile spread across his face.

"Adrian," I breathed, my pulse quickening for a completely different reason now.

He stepped inside and closed the door behind him.

"Leo sent me. He got tied up with some last-minute business. He said he would not make it home tonight and asked me to let you know."

Relief washed over me so strongly I almost laughed.

There is no need for lies or excuses. The night had just opened up wide in the best possible way. Adrian was Leo's best friend, which made everything even more thrilling. The risk always made it sweeter.

"Come in properly," I said, my voice dropping softer. I locked the door and turned to him.

"We have the whole house to ourselves, Adrian."

His eyes darkened with the same hunger I felt. I excused myself quickly and went to the bathroom to wash off the heavy makeup. The cool water felt good against my skin. I slipped out of the dress and wrapped a soft towel around my body. When I walked back into the parlor, Adrian was waiting on the couch. His gaze locked on me immediately.

I did not waste time. I crossed the room and climbed into his lap, straddling him. Our lips met in a deep, urgent kiss. His hands slid up my thighs under the towel, pulling me closer. The kiss grew hotter, tongues dancing, breaths mixing.

I moaned softly against his mouth as his fingers dug into my hips.

The towel slipped loose and fell away completely, leaving me naked on top of him. My breasts pressed against his chest. Adrian groaned, his hands exploring my bare skin.

I reached down between us, feeling how hard he already was. This was what I had been waiting for all evening.

"Take me to the bedroom," I whispered against his ear.

"Our matrimonial bed. I want you there tonight."

I grabbed his hand and started pulling him toward the stairs. We were both breathing hard, clothes half undone. My body ached for him. We had done this dance many times before, but never with Leo completely out of the picture for the whole night. The freedom made me bold.

We were halfway across the parlor when another knock echoed through the house. I froze for a second. Adrian looked at me, eyes wide. Before either of us could react or say anything, the door opened. It did not wait for an answer. The handle turned, and it swung inward.

My heart slammed against my ribs as I stood there completely naked, still holding Adrian's hand, our bodies flushed with desire. The cool air from outside brushed over my skin. Whoever stood on the other side of that door was about to see everything.

Panic, sharp and blinding, sliced through the haze of passion.

The door did not just drift. It was pushed with a heavy, deliberate force. The wide wooden panel swept past the threshold, exposing the entire entryway to the street outside.

A shadow fell across the floor, stretching long and dark toward where we stood paralyzed in the center of the room.

Adrian gasped, his grip tightening on my hand until it hurt, but he didn't pull away.

He couldn't. We were both frozen like statues, caught in the worst possible position, completely exposed to whoever was forcing their way inside.

The heavy wood hit the stopper against the wall with a dull thud.

My eyes locked onto the widening gap, my breath trapped completely inside my throat.

The silhouette of the intruder shifted, stepping forward into the light of the parlor, their hand still resting firmly on the edge of the brass handle.

I felt the sheer weight of the silence stretching between us, punctuated only by the thudding of my own heart. Every instinct in my body screamed at me to run, to dive behind the sofa, or to grab the discarded towel, resting just a few feet away, but my limbs refused to cooperate.

I was completely trapped under the gaze of whoever was entering.

My mind raced, spinning through a thousand desperate possibilities.

If it wasn't Leo, who could it possibly be? Did Leo give his keys to someone else? Had I left the front door unlocked after Adrian arrived? The reckless carelessness of my actions tonight was crashing down on me all at once.

I had been so consumed by the thrill of the affair, so intoxicated by Adrian’s touch that I had forgotten the most basic rules of survival in this dangerous game.

Adrian’s breath hitched beside me. I could feel the tension vibrating through his frame, his muscles locking tight as he realized the utter ruin, this moment, represented. He wasn't just my lover; he was Leo’s closest confidant, the man my husband trusted above all others.

After a while, the intruder stood at the door. It wasn't Leo; I froze.