All Chapters of TIT FOR TAT: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Chapter 21 VANESSA I had always loved money. There was never a time in my life when I could remember looking at something expensive and thinking I didn't need it. If anything, expensive things had always caught my attention faster than anything else. A beautiful dress displayed behind a glass window could make me stop in my tracks. A diamond necklace could hold my attention for minutes. A luxury car passing me on the road could make me turn my head and imagine myself sitting inside it. I didn't see anything wrong with that. Some people called it greed. I called it knowing what I wanted. I had grown up understanding that money changed the way people treated you. People listened differently when you had money. They respected you differently. Doors opened more easily. You could walk into places other people only dreamed about visiting. You could wear something once and never worry about repeating it. You could travel whenever you wanted, eat wherever you wanted, and surround yoursel

Chapter 23 Adrian glanced at me. "Yes." "At Azure Cove?" "Yes." I frowned. "Why?" "I don't know. He said something about work." I stared at him. Work. At a resort like Azure Cove? Then Adrian added the detail that made my curiosity sharpen, "He has a villa here." I blinked, "A villa?" Adrian nodded. I laughed softly because the idea sounded ridiculous, "Alex?" "Yes." "The accountant?" Adrian looked at me, "That's what I know him as." I sat up straighter, "How can he afford a villa here?" Adrian shrugged, "I don't know." I stared at him for a few seconds. That question bothered me. Alex had never looked wealthy to me. He didn't dress like Adrian. He didn't flaunt money. He had never showered me with extravagant gifts. Whenever I asked for something extremely expensive, he would usually explain that we needed to be responsible with our finances. I had accepted that because I believed I knew exactly what his situation was. An accountant. A decen

Chapter 25SERENAThe moment Alex's car disappeared beyond the gates, I remained standing in the driveway.I watched the vehicle become smaller and smaller until the darkness swallowed it completely. Even after the taillights vanished, I didn't move. My arms hung loosely at my sides, and the evening breeze moved through my hair, but I barely felt it.For the first time since I had entered this house three years ago, I didn't feel like I was coming home.I felt like I was trespassing.My fingers tightened around the strap of my handbag.I finally turned toward the house. The same house. The same walls. The same windows. The same carefully arranged flowerpots beside the entrance.Everything looked exactly as it had that morning.Yet somehow, everything was different. Or perhaps I was.I pushed the door open and stepped inside.Silence greeted me.Usually, coming home meant hearing the familiar sounds of my own life. Adrian might be in the living room watching television, talking on the

Chapter 27I leaned back against the headboard."Do you mean..."I paused deliberately."...if I miss the sex?"There was a short silence.Then Alex cleared his throat."Hmm..."I smiled."Yes. The sex."I bit my lip to stop myself from laughing, "I suppose I could use some right now."His breathing changed slightly, "Serena.""What?" I asked when I knew what I was doing to him."You shouldn't say things like that when I'm trying to behave." He said with a husky voice. I could tell he was hard as a rock right now.I laughed, "You're the one who asked.""Fair enough." He said.For a moment, neither of us spoke.Then—Ding. Ding. Ding.I froze.The smile disappeared from my face."Did you hear that?" We said at almost the exact same moment.Alex spoke through the phone, "Who could that be?"My eyes widened, "Someone's at your door?""Yes."I sat completely upright, "Are you expecting anyone?""No." He replied simply.Another ding sounded.My heartbeat accelerated.I climbed out of bed,

Chapter 29His expression changed, "What?""The same wife..." I took one step toward him, "...you haven't touched for four months?"His mouth opened.I continued."The same wife you kept giving excuses to?""Serena—""The same wife you left alone night after night?""Listen—""The same wife you allowed to wonder whether something was wrong with her?"He stared at me. I could see the shock spreading across his face. He had never seen this version of me.Neither had I.My voice became steadier, "You want to come home after four months and suddenly remember that I'm your wife?"He ran a hand through his hair, "Come on, babe.""No." I said. “Don’t give me that.”"You know how work has been." He said."Hmm." I just said."I work hard for us.""Hmm.""And you should know that you're the reason I rushed back from Singapore."I looked at him, "Really?" Your guilty conscience made you rush back and it’s definitely not me, I wondered."Yes." His voice became earnest, "I heard that you had been