Chapter 2

Chapter 2

By the time I arrived at Azure Cove, my heart was beating so violently that I could feel every pulse against my ribs.

The resort looked even more beautiful in reality than it had in the photographs. Tall palm trees lined the private driveway, their leaves swaying gently in the afternoon breeze, while the enormous white building stood against the blue horizon like something out of a dream. Everything about the place screamed luxury and privacy. There were no crowds, no curious tourists wandering around, and barely any vehicles in sight.

Adrian had chosen this place carefully and that thought made my stomach twist.

I parked some distance from the main entrance and remained inside my car for several minutes, staring at the resort through the windshield. I had imagined this moment so many times since seeing the reservation on his phone, but now that I was actually here, fear was beginning to replace my determination.

What if I found nothing?

What if Adrian really was telling the truth?

What if I had come all this way because I had allowed a hotel reservation and a few strange incidents to poison my mind?

I almost started the car again. Then I remembered his face that morning. The casual lie. The different location. The three-day trip.

I took a deep breath and stepped out.

I had already made arrangements before leaving home. Through a discreet conversation with one of the resort employees, I had managed to convince a young female worker named Lily to help me. She had initially been terrified when I explained what I wanted, but after I promised her enough money to make the risk worthwhile, she reluctantly agreed.

She met me near a staff entrance.

“You're sure about this?” she whispered nervously.

I nodded, “I'm sure.”

Lily looked around before handing me a uniform, “Once you're inside the private section, don't draw attention to yourself. The guests aren't supposed to be disturbed.”

“I won't.” I simply answered.

She hesitated before giving me a temporary staff identification card, “This should help if anyone stops you.”

I took it, “Thank you.”

She nodded quickly and disappeared.

I changed into the uniform in a small staff room. I tied my hair tightly into a bun, tucked every loose strand away, wore the face cap and pulled the provided nose mask over my face. I looked at myself in the mirror.

I barely recognized the woman staring back at me and that was exactly what I needed.

I slipped the identification card around my neck and picked up a stack of folded towels. Then I walked toward the exclusive section.

My heart hammered each time I passed another employee.

When I reached the first security checkpoint, one of the guards looked at me, “Where are you going?”

I lifted the towels slightly, “Guest service.”

He glanced at my identification card. Then at my uniform, “Go ahead.”

I nodded, “Thank you.”

I continued walking.

Every step took me closer to the truth. The closer I got, the more I felt my body becoming numb. Eventually, the sound of music reached me.

I slowed.

There were voices ahead. Sounds of people laughing. I tightened my grip around the towels. Then I stepped around a line of palm trees.

And stopped.

My entire world went silent.

There he was.

Adrian. My husband. The man who had kissed my forehead that morning. The man who had looked directly into my eyes and told me he was going away for work.

He wasn't with a client. He wasn't in another country. He wasn't even alone.

He was with Vanessa. My cousin.

For several seconds, I couldn't breathe.

Vanessa lay sprawled on a wide beach towel, her body displayed in a barely-there swimsuit that left almost nothing to the imagination. The top was a micro triangle of shimmering gold fabric, the strings tied so loosely that the triangles barely covered her nipples; with every breath the material shifted, threatening to slip aside. The matching bottoms were little more than a thong, the front panel so narrow it disappeared between her smooth, oiled thighs, while the back consisted of a single string that vanished between her ass cheeks. Golden body oil glistened on her skin, highlighting every curve.

On the other hand, Adrian was wearing dark swim shorts. His chest was bare. He was looking so full of life, I even struggled to believe that this was my husband because I had not seen him like this before.

Adrian knelt between her spread legs, his mouth moving hungrily over hers. He kissed her again and again—deep, possessive kisses that made Vanessa arch and moan softly into his mouth

My fingers tightened around the towels.

I waited for the tears. They didn't come. Instead, something strange happened.

I laughed.

A small, broken sound escaped my throat. I covered my mouth quickly, but another laugh followed.

It wasn't because anything was funny. It was because the truth was so painful that my mind didn't know what else to do with it.

“So this is your business trip,” I whispered.

I watched them for another moment.

Vanessa touched Adrian's arm. He smiled at her. That smile hurt more than anything.

I had seen that smile. I had spent years believing it belonged to me.

And suddenly, everything made sense. The late nights. The sudden exhaustion. The disappearing weekends. The perfume I couldn't identify. The private hotel receipt. Vanessa's strange behaviour.

My husband hadn't simply been keeping a secret. He had been making a fool of me.

I lowered the towels. Then I pulled out my phone. There was only one person I wanted beside me now.

Alex. Adrian’s cousin and Vanessa’s husband, he needed to see this.

I found his number and called. He answered after several rings, “Serena?”

“Where are you?”

There was a pause.

“Why do you suddenly want to know where I am?”

“Alex, just tell me.”

“I'm at a meeting.”

“Where?”

“Azure Cove.”

My eyes widened. I looked toward the private section.

“You're here?” I said wondering how fate could play out.

“Yes. Why?”

I swallowed, “Stay where you are.”

“What is going on?”

“Just wait for me.”

“Serena—”

“I'll explain when I get there.”

I ended the call.

I didn't waste another second. I made my way back toward the main section of the resort, following the directions Alex had given me.

A few minutes later, I saw him standing near the reception area.

The moment he spotted me, his eyebrows rose.

He stared at my uniform. Then at my mask. Then back at me.

“Serena?”

I pulled the mask down.

Alex's expression changed immediately, “What the hell are you doing here dressed like a resort employee?”

“There isn't time.” I simply said.

“What do you mean there isn't time? Why are you even here?” He inquired.

I grabbed his arm, “Come with me.”

He resisted slightly, “Serena, slow down.”

“No, I can’t, ” I looked directly into his eyes, “Just trust me.”

Something in my expression must have convinced him because he stopped questioning me, “Fine. Where are we going?”

I started walking and he followed.

As we approached the private section, Alex tried again.

“You're acting strange.”

“I know.”

“Did something happen?”

“You'll see.”

We reached the security checkpoint.

The same guard who had allowed me through earlier stepped forward.

“I'm sorry, ma'am. The private section is restricted.”

I nodded toward Alex, “He's a client.”

The guard looked at him, “I was instructed to take him directly to the guest who booked that section.”

The guard hesitated.

Alex looked at me.

“Serena…”

I didn't answer.

The guard took a good look at Alex and thankfully he was dressed so casually in a black suit and a tie just like a proper business man, “Go ahead.” The guard said.

We walked through.

Alex leaned closer, “Would you like to tell me what this is about now?”

I kept walking, “Not yet..”

He frowned, “Then what am I doing here?”

I stopped.

For a moment, I couldn't move. The private beach was just ahead. The music was still playing. The laughter was still drifting through the air.

I looked at Alex.

Then I pointed toward the pool.

“This.”

His eyes followed my finger. And then he saw them.

Adrian and Vanessa.

Together.

Alex's entire expression changed.

I watched him process what he was seeing.

Then I looked back at my husband and cousin.The man who had lied to my face. The woman I had trusted. The marriage I had defended.

Everything was right there in front of us.

I folded my arms slowly across my chest, “This,” I said quietly, my voice trembling despite my attempt to control it, “is what I wanted you to see.”