Chapter Three

The sitting room clock struck four. Selene had not moved from her spot.

The coffee had dried into dark stains across the tiles, the mug shattered hours ago. Her phone buzzed beside her, the screen lighting up with the alarm she had set earlier. A reminder to get ready for the anniversary dinner. She silenced it without looking.

Still, she didn’t move. Not even the dull gnaw of hunger could stir her.

She whispered into the empty room, “Cole will be back soon. You can’t let him see you like this. You’re not weak. You’re a businesswoman. Think like one. Handle it.”

The words were flat, lifeless. Yet speaking them out loud anchored her just enough to act.

She pushed herself off the couch, her limbs heavy, and went for the broom and dustpan. The shards of porcelain scraped against the floor as she swept them into a neat pile. The sound was harsh in the silence, but it steadied her. When she was done, she pulled out the cleaning supplies and began her usual stress cleaning.

One task at a time. Wipe the stain. Scrub the tiles. Clean the counter and every surface. She worked till she was sweating, her body moving faster, as though scrubbing away her thoughts.

Once finished, she walked into her bedroom and tucked the note carefully in the place she kept her medication, the one place she knew Cole would never look.

By the time she was done, it was six. She stood in the kitchen, staring blankly at the sink.

“Good evening, my love.”

The deep masculine voice startled her.

Selene turned sharply. Cole was standing behind her, a smile easing across his face as if he’d been there long enough to watch her drift.

She wasn’t surprised to find him there. He was supposed to have been back sooner.

Selene stared at him, drinking in the details of a man she used to love.

The way the late sunlight struck his hair, a golden halo that once charmed her. The piercing blue eyes that always stared warmly at her. The chiseled jaw she had traced a hundred times in the dark. Even the freckles scattered across his nose—the ones she used to call constellations—looked foreign to her now.

He wasn’t overly built, nor was he lean, just the perfect mix. He had the most beautiful smile, and stood a bit above average height.

But now, Selene didn’t feel the old flutter of pride at marrying a handsome man.

All she felt was revulsion.

And she was very, very good at hiding it.

“What’s wrong, my love?” Cole’s brows furrowed as he stepped closer, his thumb brushing across her damp cheek. “Why are you crying?”

She blinked. She hadn’t realized tears had fallen.

“I just… I was thinking about us,” she murmured, pausing as though finding the right words, “and how being with you has been the most beautiful part of my life.”

Cole’s smile widened into that same dazzling curve that had once melted her. He chuckled softly, the sound reverberating.

Selene forced herself to mirror it, reaching up to cup his face. Her thumb hovered over the faint stubble along his jaw. “You love me, right, Cole? You’d never do anything to hurt me?” she asked, her voice low, her eyes searching his for something—anything real.

His reply came without hesitation. “Of course I do. I loved you yesterday, I love you today, and I’ll love you tomorrow and forever. I’d never hurt you, Selene. You’re the meaning of my life.”

The words slipped out too smoothly, too perfectly rehearsed.

He pressed a kiss to her forehead, then drew her into his arms.

The meaning of his life.

Her breath hitched at the novelty of it. That was new. He had never said that before. And God help her, she wanted to believe him. Wrapped in his embrace, there was safety, warmth, the illusion of devotion. For a moment, the note seemed foolish. Just a lie on paper. Why doubt him when his love felt this real?

But under the warmth, something whispered: this wasn't the whole truth.

She tightened her grip, as if holding him tighter could drown the whisper. She would not let a letter ruin her marriage. Especially from someone who didn’t even have the courage to sign their name. It had to be from someone bitter. She would not lose Cole to doubt.

She wasn’t going to pay attention to the voice she heard in the phone call, but the feeling of love right in front of her. She must have heard wrongly. It truly might have been Yeshua.

She wrapped her arms around Cole tighter, resting her head on his chest, a soft smile blooming on her lips as she closed her eyes in bliss.

Cole was all she needed. His love was real. They were real.

Nothing else mattered.

Especially not tonight.

By half past seven, Cole and Selene arrived at the restaurant downtown. He had reserved the entire five-star establishment for their anniversary, just as he had promised weeks ago.

Cole looked sharp in a midnight-blue suit with white stripes, white shirt crisp, burgundy silk tie chosen to match Selene’s gown. His polished Oxford shoes clicked against the marble floors, his presence commanding without effort.

But Selene stole every glance. Her deep crimson satin gown flowed like liquid fire, the high slit catching the light with every step. Silver earrings glimmered beneath her low bun. A thin bracelet graced her wrist, and her black heels tapped softly in rhythm with Cole’s stride.

Together, they looked like perfection.

Inside, about twenty-five guests filled the room. Cole’s business partners, Selene’s collaborators, family friends, Yeshua with his dramatic flair, Eileen, Selene’s ever-efficient secretary. Scarlett radiant in icy blue, and Damien—Cole’s older brother, casual but too watchful. Even Cole’s father was present, though his mother had long passed.

“Well, here comes the power couple,” Robin, one of Cole’s longtime partners, called out, lifting a glass. Heads turned, applause scattered lightly.

Selene smiled, slipping easily into her role beside Cole.

“You know,” Scarlett said with a smirk, her gaze lingering a shade too long on Cole, “for the hosts, you really did make everyone wait. I was starting to think you hated us.”

Cole only laughed, raising his glass. “oh, come on Scarlett, I'll always love you. All of you.”

The room chuckled, but the sound felt thinner to Selene. Damien’s eyes flicked toward her, as if he’d noticed the stiffness in her smile.

Scarlett arched a brow, her grin sharp. “Cole Harrington, everyone. Always with the jokes.”

Soon enough, conversations picked up. Everyone found someone to talk to while waiting for dinner. Soft music played in the background.

Selene was mid-conversation with Eileen, Yeshua, and Scarlett, when Cole walked up to them.

“Sorry to interrupt, but I need my wife for a moment,” he said with a smile.

“Say you just hate singles,” Yeshua teased, and the group laughed.

Selene excused herself, following Cole to where his father and Damien stood with the Carls.

“There she is,” Mr. Carl said warmly. “We had to send Cole to fetch you.”

“Well, here I am,” she replied with a polished smile.

Mrs. Carl leaned closer. “Three years married already. When should we expect grandchildren?”

Selene laughed lightly, hiding the familiar sting of the question. “Maybe it’s part of the news we’re sharing tonight.”

“You’re pregnant?” Cole’s father asked, his tone hopeful.

Selene shook her head. “Not yet. But soon, I hope. Maybe twins. Or would triplets be better?”

“Triplets sound perfect,” Mrs. Carl said.

“Two girls and a boy,” Mr. Harrington added, and they laughed together.

Damien smirked, sliding his hands into his pockets. “Come on, I’ll introduce you to someone,” he said, leading the group away.

Cole lingered behind, leaning close to Selene. “They’re asking about kids. If only they knew our little secret.” His smirk deepened as he winked before walking away.

Selene stood still. It was a joke, she knew. But that kind of joke hit differently. How could Cole joke about something like that? A chill ran down her spine as she remembered the one mistake she could never undo.

She stopped by a passing waitress, took a glass of champagne, and downed it in one go. But it didn’t help.

The guilt was still there.