Chapter 5

Reid’s POV

The car screeched to a halt outside the club, the neon lights burning against the night sky. The bass from inside throbbed in my chest before I even stepped out. My driver climbed quickly from his seat and hurried to me.

“Sir...Madam went inside hours ago. She hasn’t come back out.”

My jaw tightened. “Why didn’t you call me sooner?”

“I… I thought she only wanted to blow off steam,” he stammered.

I didn’t waste another word. I pushed through the entrance, the smell of sweat, alcohol, and smoke hitting me at once. Lights flashed across the packed dance floor where bodies moved in sync with the music.

“Karline!” I shouted above the noise, scanning the crowd. Faces blurred past me, strangers swaying, laughing, kissing, but not her. My chest ached as I shoved past the dancers, searching every corner, every table.

I pulled out my phone and dialed her, but the call went unanswered. Straight to voicemail.

“Damn it,” I muttered, raking a hand through my hair.

I went further in, toward the velvet ropes that marked the VIP section. A bouncer stepped in front of me until recognition flickered in his eyes. Being CEO had its advantages, I didn’t even need to argue. He stepped aside.

The VIP room was quieter, the music muffled, the air heavy with the scent of expensive liquor and perfume. Private booths lined the walls, curtains drawn on most. My gut twisted. Something felt wrong.

The curtain whipped back, and my world shattered.

Kar.

my karline.

My wife.

Curled against Adrian in the dim booth, her dress slipping off her shoulder, her hair wild, her lips parted as if she’d just been kissed. His arm was locked tight around her waist, his shirt unbuttoned halfway, smug satisfaction written all over his face.

I froze, my heart pounding like a war drum.

“Karline!” My voice roared above the muffled bass.

Her lashes fluttered. She stirred, blinking up at me with glassy eyes. “Reid?” Her voice was soft, slurred, like she was waking from a dream.

Adrian chuckled, stretching like a cat disturbed from its nap. “You’re loud.”

Rage surged through me. “What the hell is this?!”

She tried to push herself up, but her body swayed and collapsed back against the cushions. Her hand reached weakly toward me. “I don’t… I don’t know what happened. Reid, I was just dancing and then..”

Adrian cut her off smoothly, his voice dripping poison. “Don’t lie now, darling. You told me you were lonely. You said you were horny, begged me to touch you. You practically threw yourself at me.”

The words sliced me open.

Karline’s eyes widened in horror. “No! Reid, no, I never said that!” She struggled upright, her body trembling. “He’s lying..I swear on ..”

I stepped closer, my voice raw. “You’re not even drunk, Damnit. Don’t you dare pretend you don’t know what you were doing.”

Her face crumpled, tears spilling down her cheeks. “I’m dizzy, my head is spinning..I swear something’s wrong with me. Please, believe me, Reid, I’d never_”

Adrian smirked over her shoulder. “You seemed fine when you were grinding on me a little while ago. Maybe your husband doesn’t know what his perfect wife really wants.”

“Shut your filthy mouth!” I lunged, fisting his collar and slamming him against the wall. My fury shook through my arms. “If you touched her without her consent, I’ll bury you.”

Adrian only laughed, his eyes gleaming. “Consent? She was begging, Reid. Why don’t you ask her?”

Karline’s voice cracked through sobs. “Reid, he’s lying! I tried, but my body wouldn’t listen. You have to believe me!”

But the sight, the sight of her in his arms, flushed and weak, his hands all over her, was burned into my brain.

“How can I believe you?” My chest heaved as the words ripped from me. “Do you know what I see right now? I see my wife, not drunk, not unconscious, but sitting in another man’s arms at midnight, letting him touch her. Do you know what that does to me?”

Her lips trembled. “I didn’t let him! I couldn’t stop him, please, you have to trust me!”

“Trust?” I barked a bitter laugh, hollow and broken. “You begged me to stay tonight, Kar. Do you remember? You said you needed me. And I left hating myself because I chose duty over you. But instead of waiting, you’re here. With him. Tell me, how the hell am I supposed to trust you after this?”

Her sobs tore through the booth, her hands reaching for me. “Because I love you, Reid. Only you. Please, don’t let one lie destroy us.”

I looked at her, really looked, and for one fleeting moment I almost believed her. Almost. But the image wouldn’t leave my head, Adrian’s lips grazing her cheek, her body limp and pliant under his arm.

I turned away, voice sharp, final. “Don’t speak. Every word out of your mouth right now feels like a lie.”

Her gasp broke me in half, but I forced my legs to move, storming out of the booth before I shattered completely.

Behind me, I heard her crying, Adrian’s low chuckle threading through it like a knife.

And in that moment, betrayal burned hotter than love.

Karline's POV

The booth door slammed behind Reid, leaving me breathless, my tears dripping hot down my face.

“Reid, wait..please!” I tried to stumble after him, but Adrian’s hand caught my wrist.

“Let him go,” he said smoothly, that smirk still plastered on his face. “He needed to see the truth tonight.”

Something inside me snapped.

I raised my hand and slapped him, hard enough that his head jerked to the side. The sting burned my palm, but the sound of it was worth it.

“You disgusting bastard!” My voice cracked with rage and grief. “You spiked my drink, didn’t you? You made me like this you ruined everything!”

Adrian only chuckled, rubbing his jaw where I struck him. “Ruined? No, sweetheart. I just gave Reid a reason to doubt. The rest was all you, your laugh, your flirting, the way you let me touch your hand. Don’t act innocent now.”

“Stay away from me!” I spat, ripping my hand free and stumbling toward the exit.

I burst out of the club into the cool night air, but Reid’s car was already gone. I caught sight of Natalie slipping into the passenger seat beside him before the vehicle disappeared into the street.

My chest caved. Natalie. With him.

“No, no, no…” My voice broke as I staggered to the curb, praying I was wrong.

The driver hurried toward me. “Madam, are you alright? Should I take you home?”

I nodded weakly, wiping my tears with trembling hands. “Yes… take me home. Please.”

The house was dark when I arrived. Empty.

“Reid?” I called out the moment I opened the door. My voice echoed through the silence. No answer.

I searched every room, the living room, the study, the bedroom. Nothing. His shoes weren’t even by the door. His phone was off when I tried calling.

“Reid, please pick up,” I whispered into the phone, my hands shaking. I tried again. Straight to voicemail. Again. And again.

By the fifth time, my sobs broke free.

I sank to the floor in the hallway, clutching the phone against my chest. The silence of the house pressed down on me, heavy, suffocating.

“Reid, I swear I didn’t betray you,” I whispered into the darkness. “I tried… I don’t even know what happened to me. Please believe me. Please don’t leave me.”

The memories of Adrian’s words came back to haunt me. She said she was horny. She begged me not to stop.

“No,” I whispered fiercely through tears. “I never said that. I never wanted that. Reid has to know. He has to believe me.”

But he was gone. With Natalie.

My breaths came in short gasps, panic clawing at my chest. What if he never came back? What if he truly believed Adrian?

I curled up on the cold floor, sobbing into my hands until exhaustion blurred my vision.

And in that darkness, one thought screamed louder than my heartbeat.

I was losing him.