Chapter 3

The barbecue had barely started when Selena and Robert each came up with an excuse to slip away.

On his way out, Robert deliberately left the sliding glass door to the patio open a crack.

A humorless laugh escaped me. Here we go.

Soon the first round came off the grill. David handed me a few skewers and looked around, puzzled. "Where are Selena and Robert?"

I shook my head, watching out of the corner of my eye as the gap in the glass door slowly widened.

Then I heard careful footsteps behind me.

They're here!

Without turning around, I wedged a skewer into my belt buckle and jabbed it hard behind me!

The skewer quivered in the "empty" air.

I almost burst out laughing.

Holding my breath, I pulled the skewer back. There was blood on the tip.

"Oh, no," I said, pulling the skewer out of my belt. "Why is there red stuff on this one?"

I frowned, sighed, and tossed it in the trash.

It was quiet for a long time.

Finally, the soft footsteps started again, moving away.

Then the water in the northwest corner of the pool suddenly rippled, followed by a small splash.

They're in.

I raised an eyebrow at the others, who were pretty buzzed by then. Grinning wickedly, I stood, grabbed an unopened bottle, and jumped into the pool.

I set it down underwater about six feet from the northwest corner.

I surfaced, pointed at the bottle, and called, "Let's have a slingshot contest. Whoever knocks over that bottle wins!"

Everyone was instantly into it and started hunting for anything they could turn into a slingshot.

The first "bullet" went flying at the bottle.

Too bad. It missed.

Then dozens more "bullets" went flying at the bottle.

I narrowed my eyes at the northwest corner, where the water was turning pink. I picked up a slingshot, aimed at the center of the discolored water, pulled back the band, and let go.

"Ahh!" someone screamed.

Everyone stiffened. Before anyone could speak, David shouted from the living room, "Something's wrong. Selena's gone!"

I put on a grave expression and looked at David's pale face. "Have you checked everywhere? We'll help you look."

With that, I went straight to the walk-in closet. I cut up the clothes Robert and Selena had hidden, stuffed them into a trash bag with the kitchen scraps, and tossed it outside.

The others started talking in the living room.

"None of us have been in the water yet. Whose wet footprints are these?" one guest asked.

"Could they be Selena's?" another guest said.

"No way. They're too big. It has to be a man," a third replied.

"Robert's, maybe?" someone else suggested.

I was about to go over when the comments lit up.

[Does Emma know something? It's like she's been going after Robert and Selena on purpose.]

[Did she just throw out Robert and Selena's clothes? What are they going to do?]

[All we can do now is hope they find a way to explain themselves.]

I looked down with a mocking little smile.

Will they just disappear if they get caught?

Now that would be interesting.

Soon, I heard rustling from the walk-in closet. Robert and Selena stepped out fully dressed.

Robert wore a long-sleeved T-shirt and pants. He'd bandaged himself up, but blood was still seeping through his sleeve. He must have been badly hurt.

I turned to Selena and froze.

She was wearing the outfit Robert had bought me for our first wedding anniversary.

It had been too big, so I'd never worn it. Yet it fit Selena perfectly!

So the outfit was never meant for me at all.

So they'd been betraying me for that long.

My nose stung, and my eyes burned.

I turned my head and forced the tears back.

I can't cry. The show's just getting started!

David suddenly pulled Selena to his side, looking upset. "We couldn't find either you or Robert just now. Why did you both change clothes?"

Selena looked awkward for a split second. Then she hooked her arm through David's. "I spilled sauce all over myself, so I went to rinse off. Why did you guys stop grilling?"

David relaxed a little, but then his eyes landed on the big footprints still drying on the floor.

He looked at Selena, worried. "Did you hear anything? Was someone breaking in?"

Selena frowned and glanced at Robert out of the corner of her eye. A moment later, Robert stepped forward and smiled at everyone. "That was me. I spilled a glass of water and didn't bother mopping it up before walking through it barefoot."

It was a lame excuse, but everyone except me bought it.

[Good thing Selena and Robert make such a great team. They almost got caught.]

[But they're both hurt. Who knows whether they'll still be able to do it in the bedroom tonight, right in front of Emma?]

[Relax. They've been at this for years. Of course they'll pull it off in the bedroom tonight!]

All these years, every day of our three-year marriage had been a lie.

I clenched my fists until my knuckles went white.

A far more ruthless plan took shape in my mind. This time, I'll make them pay.

Once our friends left, I went straight to the bedroom to get ready.

At ten that night, Robert slipped into the bathroom again.

Right on cue, the comments appeared.

[Robert's all set, and Selena's at the door. As soon as Emma falls asleep, the show starts!]

[Big moment coming up! Hold your breath!]