All Chapters of Room Key to the End of Our Marriage: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

...Nathan Phelps's flimsy excuse was almost laughable.When my best friend, Tracy Frye, became the hotel's manager and investor, she gifted me a lifetime VIP card for free stays as a birthday present, tied exclusively to my identity. No one else could use it.Yet the hotel claimed I'd checked into the presidential suite last night and used the room's condoms.I double-checked with the front desk, and they insisted it was me who had checked in.Fury surged through me. When I'd once suggested trying the hotel, Nathan had snapped, "Isn't our house good enough? You're such a big spender. I’ve never seen anyone spend money like you do."But it was my card, a gift from my friend. Why couldn't I use it? The more I thought about it, the angrier I got, driving straight to the hotel.With the holiday approaching, the lobby buzzed with guests checking in. I waited nearly half an hour for the front desk to clear."I'm Alva Phelps," I said, struggling to keep my voice steady. "You called m

Nathan let go of Carrie and strode toward me, raising his hand to deliver a stinging slap across my face."You witch!" he barked. "Have some shame. You hinted at sleeping with me to secure your internship, and when I refused, you held a grudge. Now you're harassing my wife in public?"I clutched my burning, swollen cheek, staring at him in disbelief.At that moment, he acted like a stranger. Just hours ago, he'd played innocent, soothing me with his usual patience and telling me not to overthink.Now, he stood here, twisting the truth without flinching and hitting me.He'd always had two faces. Looking back, the signs were there. He'd light up for the latest gaming console I bought him, but scoff at my research breakthroughs, calling them scraps.His care extended only to my bank account. Maybe he'd never loved me or bothered to know the real me....A cold clarity washed over me, drowning my anger.I lowered my hand, meeting his gaze with a calm that surprised even myself. "N

...Tracy's title as the hotel's investor was undeniable.The crowd, once scornful, exchanged shocked glances. The tide of opinion turned instantly."She wasn't lying?""This guy brought his mistress to pose as his wife? And he hit her? What a scumbag!""This pair is vile! Disgusting!"Families and couples in the crowd, repulsed by infidelity, grew louder in their condemnation. The guards flinched, releasing me.Tracy moved to help me up, but Nathan grabbed her arm, flashing a fawning smile. "Ms. Frye, sorry for the trouble. I'll get this troublemaker out of here. She loves playing the victim. Don't mind her."He added, as if they were old friends, "By the way, who is this friend of yours? I can look out for her when you're not around."Carrie chimed in, feigning sympathy, "Yeah, Ms. Frye, your friend has been through so much, betrayed by cheaters. Poor thing."I froze, realizing they still didn't believe I was Tracy's friend.Nathan doubled down, shouting at the guards, "Wh

I managed a weak smile, but before I could speak, the door burst open, revealing Nathan's dark face.His eyes blazed with accusation, not remorse. He stormed to my bedside, pointing a finger at my nose. "Why didn't you tell me your parents run the Hartman Group? If you'd said so, I wouldn't have crossed them or the Frye Group. Now I'm fired; my career was ruined. Everything is gone! Happy now?"His shamelessness made my stomach churn. I enunciated, "I told you multiple times. You never listened. You thought my family didn't matter. You brought this on yourself, Nathan."He exploded, deflecting the blame. "My fault? If you weren't always in your lab, looking like a disheveled mess, obsessed with your experiments, would I have strayed? You never cared about my stress. You had all these connections, but never helped me. You wanted me to fail!"Carrie slunk in, playing the victim. "That's right. Marriage is a partnership. Nathan stopped loving you ages ago but stayed out of duty. And y

"No chance," I said, closing my eyes to block out his pathetic face. "It's not up to you."The police arrived, hauling off both Nathan and Carrie.During my hospital stay, my parents and Tracy took turns to care for me, avoiding Nathan's name. They just did everything to lift my spirits, determined not to let the ordeal scar me.On discharge day, my mom held my hand, her eyes misty. "Alva, come home. Your dad misses you. Can we have a family dinner?"Her new wrinkles tugged at my heart. They'd given me everything growing up, their only wish that I be safe and happy.But I'd been stubborn, diving into research and cutting them off for five years after they opposed my career. I'd even married without inviting them, just to prove a point.I knew they were just worried about my well-being. They'd only wanted me to find a reliable partner so I could pursue research without worries.I hadn't thought much when I chose Nathan, who seemed kind at first. It was a big mistake.His mother