Chapter 26- THE LIES WE TOLD

My stomach dropped hard. I slowed the car, heart hammering. Marcus’s car wasn’t there yet, but Sophia’s sat crooked at the curb.

What did Ryan tell them? Did Sophia spill everything about the affair? Or was this about something else? I parked behind one cruiser, killed the engine, and sat there a second. My hands wouldn’t stop trembling. The thrill from sucking Marcus off, his groans, the risk. it all felt stupid now, distant.

I stepped out. An officer noticed me right away. “Bella? Mrs. Ryan?”

I nodded, forcing my legs to move. “Yes. What’s this about?”

The officer guided me toward the door. “We’re investigating a disturbance. Your husband and another woman are inside giving statements. Something about a trainer named Marcus.”

My breath caught. They knew the name. Sophia must have twisted it somehow. I glanced back at the street, hoping Marcus would pull up soon. We needed the same story. But as I crossed the threshold, voices drifted from the living room, Sophia’s steady barrister tone, Ryan’s clipped words.

This wasn’t going to stay hidden. Not anymore.

Inside, Ryan looked up first. His eyes met mine, cold. “There she is.”

Sophia turned, cheek still marked. “Good. Now we can get the full picture.”

The officers motioned for me to sit. Questions started coming. Where was I earlier? Who is Marcus to you? Training session or something else?

I opened my mouth, but the words stuck. Marcus’s car finally appeared outside. He stepped out, looking rattled. Our eyes locked through the window for a split second, pure panic.

The officer waved him in. “Mr. Kane? Join us.”

As Marcus entered, the room felt smaller. Four of us, plus the police. Lies about to unravel. Ryan shifted in his seat, Sophia watched like a hawk. I could still feel the locker room floor on my knees, the rush of it all.

But the questions kept coming. One wrong answer, and everything would explode worse than before.

What came next, arrests, confessions, or something uglier, hung right there on the edge. None of us saw the full crash yet.

I sat on the edge of the couch in our living room, knees pressed together tight, trying to keep my breathing steady. The officers had their notepads out, pens ready. The older one looked at me first. “Bella, let’s start with you. Walk us through your evening. Where were you, and what’s this about a trainer named Marcus?”

I swallowed hard, remembering the restroom floor still fresh in my mind. But I kept my voice even, like I practiced for my influencer videos. “Officers, I stepped out earlier this evening to look for a specific cream for my skin. I’m an influencer, you see. My followers expect clear, glowing skin in every post, and this particular brand is hard to find. I drove around a few stores, checked online too, but nothing. That’s why I wasn’t home when things started here.”

The younger officer nodded. “And Marcus? How does he fit in?”

“He’s my private trainer,” I said smoothly. “Ryan hired him months ago because I put on some weight after we got married. Marcus comes around the house for private sessions. It’s more comfortable that way. We work on exercises tailored just for me, in the home gym area or sometimes in the living room if needed. Nothing unusual. He’s professional.”

They asked why not just go to the gym like normal people. I leaned forward a bit, making eye contact. “I don’t like being around too many people. Crowds make me anxious, especially with cameras everywhere these days. As an influencer, my privacy matters. Strangers staring while I sweat and struggle? No thanks. Private sessions at home keep it discreet and effective. Marcus understands my schedule, my body goals. We’ve had several sessions here when Ryan is busy with work.”

One officer scribbled more notes. “Any idea why Sophia showed up looking for him?”

I shook my head. “I wasn’t home, like I said. Maybe Marcus mentioned the address to his wife by mistake. I really don’t know. I came back when Ryan called, and all this was happening.”

They kept going, asking about times, exact stores I visited, how long I’d known Marcus. I answered every one cleanly, filling in small details about my skin routine, the brand of cream, even a fake store name I remembered from somewhere. My heart raced but my words stayed calm. No slips. I could feel Ryan’s eyes on me, heavy, but I didn’t look his way.

After what felt like forever, they seemed satisfied with my part. “Okay, that checks out for now. Marcus, your turn.”

Marcus shifted in his chair across from me. Before he said a word, he glanced my way. Our eyes met for a split second. I saw the panic there. He had told Sophia he was coming here for training, but I just said I wasn’t around. It put him in a tight spot. His jaw tightened, but he turned to the officers.

In a deep voice, he started. “I’m Marcus Kane, Sophia’s husband. Yes, I’m Bella’s private trainer. Ryan signed me up for her fitness program. We do sessions either at my place or here at their house sometimes. It depends on schedules. Private because Bella prefers it that way, as she mentioned. Less distractions.”

He paused, rubbing his hands on his thighs. “Earlier, I called my wife Sophia and told her I had a training session at this address. But when I arrived, Bella wasn’t home. She had already left to get that skin cream she needed for her influencer work. So I didn’t want to waste the whole evening. I branched off to a bar nearby, just to relax with a drink or two. Time got away from me. I had a couple beers, checked my phone later, and saw the missed calls. That’s why I showed up late. No harm meant. Just a misunderstanding.”

Marcus went on, detailing the bar name, what he ordered, how long he stayed. He described the training routine we usually did, weights, cardio, meal tips, to make it sound routine and professional. He explained how he kept records of sessions on his phone, and offered to show them if needed.

The officers listened closely, nodding along. I could tell they bought it. The story lined up just enough. A good lie, clean and simple.

The older officer flipped a page. “Alright. Sounds consistent.” They turned to Sophia and Ryan, who had been listening the whole time in silence. Sophia turned her face away, looking ashamed for a moment, staring at the floor like she couldn’t bear it.

“Now, about the physical part,” the younger officer said. “Who hit who first?”

Sophia spoke up quickly, her barrister tone sharp. “He did. I came here looking for my husband, explained calmly, and this man got aggressive. Slapped me without reason.”

Ryan cut in, voice steady and rich. “That’s not accurate. She barged in, started yelling, and slapped me first. I only reacted after.”

The officers glanced between them. Ryan added, “Our security cameras captured the whole thing at the front door and living room. We can pull the footage if you want proof.”

Sophia started acting strange then. She shifted in her seat, crossed her arms, and stopped pushing as hard. She didn’t want them to watch it, I could tell. But the officers insisted. “Ma’am, we need to clarify. Either we review the camera or we go with the statements as they stand. Likely you initiated.”

Sophia’s face changed. She admitted it, but in that rude, lawyer way of hers. “Fine. I may have raised my hand first, but let’s be clear. It is against the law for a man to lay hands on a woman in this manner. Domestic violence protections exist for a reason. He had no right to retaliate with equal force. As a barrister, I know the statutes. Men cannot use physical responses like that.”

The officers ignored her argument, staying professional. They turned to Ryan. “Sir, would you like to press charges on her for the assault?”

Ryan thought about it, staring at the table for a long moment. The room went quiet. Finally he shook his head. “No. Just let it go. I’m not really interested anymore. Too much already.”

Sophia didn’t argue back. She stood up fast, grabbed her bag, and stormed out of the house without another word. We heard her car door slam, then the engine roared as she drove off.

Marcus stood next too. He looked at the officers and Ryan. “I’m sorry for all this behavior tonight. The confusion, the slap. It got out of hand. Won’t happen again.” He nodded once to Ryan, then left quietly.

Soon after, the police wrapped up. They gave a few warnings about keeping things calm, closed their notepads, and headed out. The flashing lights faded down the street. The house felt empty and heavy at the same time. Ryan and I were alone now. He didn’t say much, just sat there.

I went upstairs to our bedroom, closed the door, and pulled out my phone. My hands shook as I dialed Marcus. He picked up after two rings.

“What the hell, Marcus?” I shouted, voice cracking with everything held back. “This is all your fault! You told Sophia you were coming here. Now the police, the questions, everything almost blew up because of your stupid slip. I had to lie through my teeth about the cream and the sessions. Ryan knows something’s off. You dragged us into this mess. Blame yourself for not being careful!”

I kept going, words pouring out fast, blaming him for the timing, the calls, the whole night crashing down. My chest hurt from the anger and fear mixed together. The restroom felt like a lifetime ago, but the trouble was just starting.