Chapter 3

Sheryl walked out of the hotel with heavy steps. As soon as she stepped into the elevator, it felt like all the strength had drained from her body.

So, had Brandon really cheated?

She didn't want to believe it, but everything that happened forced her to suspect otherwise.

How could there be such a coincidence?

Brandon had cancelled on her last minute, and Vivian just so happened to be on the fourteenth floor of the Kingston Hotel, the exact location mentioned in the anonymous text, where she was meeting her supposed boyfriend in room 1408.

If it was real, then when did it start? How did it start?

She didn't wait outside the hotel. She figured once Vivian knew she had shown up, she would definitely warn Brandon not to come.

On the way back, a soft drizzle began to fall. It was early autumn, and the temperature had already started to drop.

By the time she got home, Brandon called. She didn't answer. She parked the car and went straight inside.

Brandon heard the door and quickly walked over. "Why did you work so late tonight?" Before she could respond, he pulled her into his arms and apologised, "I'm sorry, Honey. I let you down today."

Sheryl felt numb.

A thought flashed through her mind. Had he hugged Vivian like this before, too?

That was a picture she didn't dare imagine. It hurt too much.

Brandon looked down at her and gently squeezed her hand. "Let's reschedule the restaurant for tomorrow, okay? I'll buy new movie tickets too."

She looked at him, the way he admitted his mistake, and how his brows arched downward from the center. His tone was humble and sincere.

That was just how he always was. Anytime they had even a small disagreement, whether or not he was in the wrong, he'd be the first to apologize and comfort her.

For the past six years, he had always been like this.

She wasn't angry anymore, but she still felt confused and conflicted.

"It's fine. It doesn't matter where we eat. Honestly, your cooking is better than most restaurants. That movie just came out yesterday. We can see it anytime."

Brandon smiled warmly, a mix of indulgence and helplessness in his voice. "You know, you should get mad at me sometimes. You're always so considerate, it just makes me feel guiltier. Did you eat tonight? Want me to make you something?"

He was handsome, had a gentle and warm personality, and was attentive in every little way. Sheryl still couldn't quite connect the man who loved her with the possibility that he might have cheated on her.

It just didn't feel real.

Flashes of their memories together played like a slideshow in her mind.

She remembered their first year together. He'd set off fireworks for thirty minutes, timing it exactly to midnight before he shouted, "Sheryl, I'm going to make you the happiest woman in the world."

Every New Year's Eve after that he had always surprised her with something new.

Once, she was sick during winter and down with a fever. She had been barely conscious. His car got stuck on a snow-piled road, so he had carried her for almost two miles. He ended up getting so sick himself that he had to stay in the hospital for over a week.

He was allergic to cat fur, but because she loved cats, he bought her a ragdoll kitten with heterochromia for her 25th birthday. While they'd had the cat at home, he was constantly sneezing and having allergic reactions.

Eventually, Sheryl couldn't stand to watch him suffer and had given the cat to Vivian to take care of. Unfortunately, it hadn't even lived past a year. It had developed feline infectious peritonitis and died after over two weeks of treatment.

All the little things he had done, scene after scene, flickered through her mind.

Sheryl had always firmly believed he loved her deeply. Because of him, she had always seen love as something beautiful and pure. She had never imagined what it would feel like if that love was tainted, or how sad and ridiculous that would be.

She had never imagined what she would feel when faced with that.

Brandon noticed she had spaced out and pulled her a little closer by the waist. "What's wrong, Honey?" he asked softly.

"I already ate, I'm not hungry." She came back to her senses, pushing down the bitterness that was rising in her chest. She bit her lip and tried to keep her voice steady. "I was just thinking about something."

"Hmm?"

"I stopped by the Kingston Hotel on my way home." She took a note out of her bag. "Someone called me from this number and said they saw you going into the hotel with a woman. I happened to be nearby, so I went."

Her rationality had returned on the way back home.

But once a seed of doubt was planted, it didn't take long for it to grow. It eventually snowballed into something that couldn't be contained.

Even so, Sheryl still couldn't help but hope. She hoped that it was all a misunderstanding. She even hoped Brandon would come clean and explain everything himself.

She had written the number from the anonymous messages on the note. She had looked it up a few days ago, but the number didn't exist. She didn't know why it couldn't be traced, but that made it a useful tool to test Brandon.

What if they really had both betrayed her?

Brandon frowned and took the note. "Do you know this person?"

"No."

"Was it a man or a woman?"

Sheryl really didn't know. She had only gotten a text.

She pursed lips and lied. "A man. Sounded like he was from Nexville, probably around thirty."

Brandon looked serious as he tucked the note away. "Leave this to me. I'll get to the bottom of it." Then he looked back at her and hugged her again, asking softly, "Honey, do you trust me?"

Whether it was because he was just good at acting, or because he truly had nothing to hide, Sheryl couldn't detect a single thing from his expression.

He appeared calm and was barely even surprised.

Sheryl pressed a hand against his chest, feigning stubbornness. But her voice wasn't steady. "Would you ever betray me?"

She stared at him hard, not wanting to miss a single flicker of emotion in his eyes.

Brandon paused before smiling. He took her hand and tapped his forehead. "You know what this is?"

"What?"

"People say I'm 'Sheryl-brained'." He chuckled and kissed the back of her hand, his voice deep and raspy. "And I think they're right. Sheryl, I only love you. I have nothing left to give anyone else."

The sweeter and more tender his words became, the worse Sheryl felt inside.

Over the years, she'd heard so many of his sweet promises. Back then, they made her feel so happy and loved. Now, they just felt faked sincerity.

Could he really not love anyone else? Had he said the same things to Vivian?

"Yeah, you're so good to me and love me so much. Of course I trust you." Her voice and heart both felt hollow.

She lifted her head with a smile, her eyes full of joy and affection. She looked lively, but it all seemed like a mirage. "Do you remember the vow we made at Broden Temple the year we got married?"

Brandon hesitated for a second. "Of course."

"You used to say that people who hurt others would always get what they deserve in the end. That's why I won't take that rumor seriously."

That had been two days before their wedding when they visited Broden Temple to give thanks. Brandon had held her hand and said those words in front of a statue.

"Yeah." Brandon pulled her into his arms again, quickly hiding the unease in his eyes. His voice was full of warmth and affection, as if he were trying to hypnotize both her and himself. "Sheryl, I love you. I'd never betray you. We'll grow old together."

Sheryl didn't respond. She let him hold her.

Yeah. He loved her. How could he ever hurt her or let her be sad?

Their vows and love felt the same as they were back then, but now there was an added uncertainty that made this goal seem impossible to reach.

Would they really grow old together?

The belief she once held so firmly had begun to shake.

That familiar pine scent filled her nostrils, yet her heart stirred with a sudden aversion.

Once she calmed herself, she stepped away from his embrace and smiled. "Alright, we're an old married couple now. No need to get so romantic. I'm going upstairs to shower."

Brandon smiled and gently pinched her cheek. "Old married couple? We've only been married three years. Whether it's three years, thirty years, or forty years, I'll still tell you I love you."

Sheryl chuckled and lightly slapped his arm. "You're ridiculous. I still have work to finish. Don't wait up. Go ahead and sleep."

"We haven't done it in a while."

Brandon grabbed her wrist, his always gentle eyes now tinged with a hint of desire. It was a clear signal.

Sheryl knew what he wanted, but that lingering unease told her to say no.

Feigning a sigh, she said, "Tomorrow's going to be even busier."

Brandon knew the art gallery was preparing a solo exhibition for a famous young female artist next month. As the curator, Sheryl had been working overtime for weeks.

He had no choice but to let go. "Alright then. Just don't stay up too late. Take care of yourself."

Sheryl nodded and headed straight for the study.

As soon as she closed the door, before her body could even relax from the tension, her phone chimed with a text.

She froze and quickly pulled it from her bag.

It was that same number again.

"Serenity Estates, Villa No. 11. Brandon gifted this marital property you two shared, valued at 27 million, to Vivian."

Sheryl's breath hitched. Her gaze grew dull.

Serenity Estates was a new high-end villa development that had just launched in May this year.

It had become popular due to its prime location and unique design. By the time construction was halfway done, most units had already been reserved.

If this was true, had the two of them already started their affair this last year?

Sheryl bit her lip. There was no way she could focus on work anymore. Her mind was already consumed by anxiety and unease.

-

She couldn't sleep that night. It wasn't until dawn broke that she finally drifted off. When she woke again, it was already half past eight.

When she went downstairs, Brandon had already eaten and was waiting for her.

She blinked in surprise. "You haven't gone to work yet?"

"I saw you sleeping in, and I was worried. Were you up late working again?" Brandon walked over. Concern was written all over his face. "You look pale."

"I just haven't been sleeping well lately."

"Then how about you go back to sleep after breakfast and head to the gallery in the afternoon?"

"Okay." Sheryl smiled and glanced at her watch. "It's almost nine. You should get going."

Before leaving, Brandon reminded her again, "Make sure to rest well, okay?"

Sheryl watched him leave. After finishing her breakfast slowly, she didn't head straight to the art gallery. Instead, she drove over to Serenity Estates.

Originally, she just wanted to confirm whether that unit really belonged to Vivian.

But before she even came to a complete stop,she spotted a familiar black Cayenne in the distance over 30 feet away. It looked exactly like the one Brandon had left home in just minutes ago.

Next to the car, two people were hugging and kissing each other passionately.

Sheryl's pupils contracted sharply. Her brain shut down on the spot.

The distance was too far to make out their faces clearly, but she could never forget the blue overcoat Brandon wore. It was the birthday gift she had given him last year.

If those text messages had only planted seeds of suspicion and unease in her heart, then what she saw now felt like a death sentence.

Like a slow, torturous blade peeling flesh from bone, it tore at her soul, again and again.

For a long time, the two didn't separate. Sheryl unclenched her fists, sniffled, pulled out her phone, switched on the camera, zoomed in, and was met with two painfully familiar profiles. Tears of disappointment streamed down her face.

It was Brandon and Vivian.

Just thirty minutes ago, he'd been at home, worried about her, caring for her. Now, here he was, in the coat she had given him, holding another woman, kissing her like he couldn't bear to part.

Her chest felt thick, like it had been stuffed with heavy, wet cotton. Her breathing turned labored as if she was trapped in a narrow, airless box.

Sheryl's mouth twitched. With trembling hands, she haphazardly pressed the shutter several times. She didn't even bother to look through the photos. At that moment, all she wanted was to get away from this place.

What did it feel like to be betrayed by the two people closest to you?

Sheryl couldn't describe it. She didn't dare try. All she knew was that something in her chest ached. It was swollen and sore, and a quiet, persistent pain surged through her until it felt like she could no longer breathe.

It turned out she was the only fool left in the dark.

She thought one of them truly loved her, and the other genuinely cared about her. How had she been so blind? How had she missed every sign?

She remembered how three years ago, on a day just like today, Brandon had proposed to her.

The hot air balloon had risen slowly into the sky. Halfway up, she had looked down to see a message spelled out in one million roses. "Sheryl, will you marry me?"

She had stood there in shock, while Brandon knelt on one knee inside the balloon. There was a two-carat diamond ring inside the ring box. His eyes had been full of warmth and tenderness.

He'd said, "Sheryl, marry me. I promise to love you for the rest of my life. I'll treat you well. I'll never let you shed a single tear."

He had kept that promise for six years. For the three years of dating and three years of marriage, he had always treated her with care and tenderness. Aside from the loss of her mother last year, she had never cried.

To her, those six years were nothing short of sweet and unfiltered joy. Everyone who knew them called them the perfect couple. They were happy, devoted to each other, and inseparable.

But what was it all now?

She let out a bitter laugh. Tears came faster and harder until her vision blurred, and she could no longer see the road ahead. She had to pull over.

Ding!

Her phone chimed again inside her purse.

Sheryl felt something twist inside her. Her heart clenched tight. She pulled out her phone and saw the message.

"Go to Peterson & Co. Steven Peterson can help you."