Chapter 4

A week later, I found the perfect chance—when Scarlet brought that man home again, I called the cops to tell them that a burglar had broken in and asked them to send help as soon as possible. After hanging up, I rushed home at top speed, and found my neighbors standing outside my doorstep after hearing the commotion.

The cops then stood behind me, asking me to stay calm and back away after opening the door.

My heart began to pound as I wiped the sweat on my brow, and briskly opened the door. Three officers charged inside right then, barking orders like “Don’t move!” or “Stand by the wall!”

Minutes later, my neighbors and I watched as they led a skimpily dressed Scarlet and a man with a naked upper body out of the house.

Silence ensued, and everyone stared at me with different expressions, ranging from mocking, sympathy, to expecting me to cause trouble… and it was natural that I couldn't let them down after planning all this.

Taking a deep breath, I charged at that man with a raised fist, but a tall officer promptly caught me and talked me out of it. “Calm down, sir—physical assault is against the law. You have all the time you need to talk it through at the precinct.”

I struggled out of his grasp, and started shrieking at a pale, downcast Scarlet. “Why the fuck did you do this to me? What have I done wrong? I spent every dime I had on you, bought everything you wanted, and quit smoking because of you! You told me your parents wanted a massage chair, so I worked as a Uber driver for two months and almost got into an accident! How have I wronged you that you have to fuck another man behind my back?! Why would you do this…”

Even the best director would probably be left speechless by my performance at this very moment.

My eyes were red and I had cried myself hoarse as I acted the part of an aggrieved husband, who somehow couldn’t raise a hand against my own wife. Now, in everyone’s mind, I was nothing less than a tragic victim.

And when it comes to a contest between the chick and the eagle, everyone sides with the chick… As long as they don’t have to get involved in the mess.

“What the hell is wrong with that woman? Does she even have a conscience?”

“Sigh. I’ve always said that the pretty ones are unreliable. To be honest, that man must be blind—he would have spared himself such trouble if he had looked for a proper wife.”

“What crappy logic is that? It’s clearly that woman’s fault, and you still blame it on the man? From where I’m standing, those two cheaters should be in prison.”

“Yeah, doing that in broad daylight at her own home. She’s really scum…”

As the mob argued on, even the police officers looked at Scarlet in slight disdain now.

She kept her head down, her body shaking without end, and there was no telling if it was from fear or embarrassment.

I then glanced at the man crouching beside the wall, who looked around thirty, having average looks and on the pudgy side. The fat around his belly could well be a swimming tube, and it disgusted me that Scarlet had cheated on me for a man like that.

After a simple report at the precinct, the police asked me if I would settle the matter civilly or privately. In turn, I made a request to meet the man’s family—parents, wife, or even children—anyone would do.

We had waited for just half an hour when the man’s wife stormed in, furiously slapping him across the face the instant she entered. It was obvious that she was quite the demon, and though she was quite burly and had a gruff voice, the jewelry she wore indicated that she was quite rich.

I spoke to her for over ten minutes, scolding the adulterers together and exchanged numbers— those two would get what was coming to them if we found that they were still up to no good.

And with that, the first act was over.

As we returned to our apartment, I walked silently while Scarlet followed gingerly. Everyone around us was pointing and gesturing along the way, and being in the digital age, I was sure that everyone now knew about the bombshell that had taken place at my own home. Several men even greeted, suggesting that I be open-minded since I shouldn’t do anything foolish over a woman like her.

I scowled even as I thanked them and hurried upstairs.

The instant I closed the door, Scarlet was on her knees, crying and insisting that this was the first time it had ever happened, that she must have lost her mind, begging that I forgive her, and that it wouldn’t happen ever again.

Even as her tears rolled endlessly off her cheeks, I was laughing in my head—once? I had been cucked so many times that I’d be a fool to believe her!

I said nothing, and continued to smoke cigarette after cigarette.

Then, I eventually asked, “How did you two know each other?”

“We were high school mates, but we haven’t been in contact for a long time.”

“Did he know that you have a husband? Did you know that he has a wife?”

“W-We were drunk, I’m… sorry.”

The more she spoke, the tinier her voice became—perhaps because she felt a lack of confidence.

I rose to my feet and left to wash my face, and she was still on her knees when she came out. Her eyes seemed swollen like walnuts even as she leveled a tearful look at me.

It goes without saying that I had always taken the bait when she played up her sympathy. In fact, I would have been so soft-hearted that I would forgive her if I didn’t know everything.

“Let’s both think this through.”

I headed to my study, slamming the door shut loudly behind me.