Chapter 3

The next morning, I had just finished setting up the table when Nicolas walked in. His hair was disheveled, and from the corner of my eye, I noticed him fidgeting, trying to adjust his collar to cover his neck, where a hickey was visible.

As his hands wrapped around my waist, I gripped the plate I was holding so tightly it would have shattered if I had stronger muscles.

“Darling, I’ve missed you so much,” he whispered, kissing my earlobe.

The faint smell of vanilla clung to his shirt.

I stiffened, my stomach twisting as I gently stepped away from him with a curt, “hi.”

He casually walked off and kissed Alessia’s cheek.

“I’m sorry I came home only this morning. I know we were supposed to spend our angel’s birthday together, but something urgent came up at the office. How about I make it up to you guys?”

I nodded with a tight-lipped smile plastered on my face.

Nicolas’s smile faltered.

“Look, Serena, you have every right to be mad. I already missed our anniversary, and I missed Alessia’s birthday. I’m sorry to both of my ladies.”

I blinked back the tears threatening to fall and excused myself.

As I walked out of the room, he and Alessia started speaking in hushed tones.

“Daddy, Mommy was in my room last night. Thankfully, she didn’t find anything. How is Miss Celeste today?”

“She’s doing fine, darling. We will go and meet with her right after we come back. Make your mommy tired so she will sleep off as soon as we return, okay?”

She nodded. “I really like Miss Celeste. I wish she could live with us too. Then I’d have two mommies,” she cheered, clapping her hands..

“I’m glad you like her too. She’s fun to be around,” Nicolas smiled, a dreamy look in his eyes.

“Yes, Daddy. Mom… I mean Miss Celeste lets me eat ice cream and candy whenever I want. She even let me stay up until midnight watching movies last week. Mommy never lets me do any of that. She even says I’m too young to have a phone. Miss Celeste doesn’t mind.”

I clenched the wall to stop my trembling legs from meeting the floor.

Mom?

Then who was I?

And she preferred Celeste because I enforced rules meant to care for her well-being?

Nicolas placed a hand on her hair. “It’s okay to call her Mom. She already takes care of you like a mother, so don’t feel guil—”

He stopped talking as I walked in and cleared his throat.

“Serena, how about we go out today so I can make it up to you? My parents want to celebrate with us.”

“That won’t be necessary. I don’t feel too well.”

His face twisted into a frown.

“Yeah. I noticed you look pale. Are you okay? Didn’t you sleep well? Were you crying?”

I shook his hand off my shoulder and met his concerned gaze.

“I just had some urgent work to handle, so I couldn’t sleep well. About your parents…”

He raised a brow.

“I think you should just take Alessia there. I won’t be able to join you guys.”

He shook his head and wrapped his arm around me again.

“Darling, I’ve told you, my parents will like you, okay? You’re the only woman I’ll ever love.”

My eyes caught sight of the hickey on his neck peeking through his collar. My fists clenched.

“My parents will eventually like you, but you can’t avoid them forever.”

I scoffed under my breath at how smooth his lies were.

For all twenty years of our friendship, dating and marriage, I had tried to impress his parents to no avail.

Even his mother, who was my mom’s best friend, hated me. Two weeks ago, I had personally picked fruits and gifts to take to them only to be met with insults. Perhaps they even knew of their son’s infidelity.

“You guys go ahead. I won’t be joining,” I said with a straight face.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Alright, rest well. We’ll be home soon.”

“Bye, Mommy. We love you,” Alessia kissed my cheek with a sad smile.

At the same time, a message popped up on my phone.

“This is the address of his penthouse in the city. I’ve already gotten you access into it. Is that all?”

I typed back: Yes, that is all for now. Thank you.

Thirty minutes later, I stood before the penthouse, my heart racing. Deep down, I was still hoping that all of this was a dream. That last night never really happened. And that I’ll find out this penthouse was just a getaway place for when he wanted to be alone.

My thoughts kept tangling as I swiped the key card and heard two beeps.

Access granted.

My investigator had confirmed Celeste wasn’t around, so I quickly walked inside and froze.

Two pairs of house slippers and Alessia’s flip flops, were placed neatly by the door.

I walked into the first bedroom, decorated in purple and blue, Alessia’s favorite colors. The walls were lined with drawings, each one squeezing my heart even more.

Alessia loved drawing, and I always supported her. Until now, as I stared with glossy eyes at the little family of three on the paper. Even with no recognizable faces, the mother was a blonde. I had black hair.

My lips trembled as a sob broke out. I wrapped my arms around myself, scurried out of the room, and into the master bedroom.

I wrinkled my nose at the untidied state of the room. White lace lingerie lay on the floor along with Nicolas’ shirt and shoes. A watch I had gifted him for his last birthday lay on the nightstand.

My gaze wandered into the closet, filled with all brands of designer clothes. The color drained from my face as I glanced through. Dresses and jewelry I had lost over the past months, they were all here.

I had been extremely worried, not that I couldn’t afford more, but because my stuff was disappearing from home.

Nicolas had only said, “Don’t bother, my love. We’ll buy new ones. Whoever the thief is, they clearly just want your style.”

Now I could see he was stealing my clothes and dolling up his mistress to look like me.

I swallowed hard, pulled out the little camera my investigator delivered to me, walked to a flower vase, and gently attached it inside.