Chapter 1

Natalie spent hundreds of thousands of dollars renovating the largest suite in our boutique hotel.

She used top-tier materials and stocked an entire wall with imported vintage wine.

I honestly thought it was a surprise gift for our tenth wedding anniversary.

Instead, I walked in to find her roleplaying in cosplay with her first love’s younger brother.

They were tangled on the bed, passionately making out.

When I confronted her, she sneered at me.

“What do you know? We’re just acting out a scene!”

It was beyond pathetic.

Without another word, I turned around and walked away.

1.

Red rose petals were scattered all over the king-sized bed.

A young guy in a black gothic uniform and a styled wig sat against the headboard.

Red lipstick marks stained his neck and collarbone.

My wife, Natalie, was also wearing a wig and a revealing maid-style corset dress.

If I had arrived two minutes later, they would have been completely naked.

“Did you sleep with him, Natalie?”

My voice sounded eerily calm, though rage was surging through my veins like a tidal wave.

Natalie’s face twisted in fury.

“Are you crazy? Stop making wild assumptions!”

“We’re doing immersive character cosplay, you dinosaur!”

A dinosaur?

I scoffed under my breath.

“Maybe I don’t understand cosplay, but I know what cheating looks like.”

This suite used to be the crown jewel of our hotel.

Now, it had been completely remodeled in a dark, gothic video game aesthetic, filled with collector figurines.

An entire wall was lined with rare, expensive wine.

Every inch of the room reeked of money.

Natalie had spent a fortune on this place.

I had known about the renovations for months, assuming it was a grand surprise for our ten-year anniversary today.

I had rushed over with excitement in my chest.

I never imagined I would walk into this nightmare.

“Sean, don’t misunderstand,” the boy on the bed spoke up, stepping toward me.

“Natalie and I both love cosplay, so we booked this room to shoot some scenes.”

“You might not get our subculture, but please don’t disrespect it. We’re totally innocent.”

His eyes were filled with smug arrogance.

He acted as if he were taking the moral high ground.

That was when I recognized him.

His name was Landon, the younger brother of Natalie’s high school crush.

He was also a front desk clerk at my hotel.

“Landon is right,” Natalie snapped, glaring at me.

“There’s a generational gap between us, so keep your mouth shut if you don’t get it.”

“Now get the hell home and watch the baby!”

To let her live freely without stress, I had stepped back from daily hotel operations after our daughter was born to be a stay-at-home dad.

“Natalie, I only have one question for you,” I said, clenching my fists.

I was usually a calm, composed man who rarely raised his voice.

“Did you remodel this entire room specifically for Landon?”

“Give me the truth.”

I stared straight into her eyes.

She shrugged with utter indifference.

“So what if I did?”

“What’s wrong with treating someone who feels like a little brother to a nice room?”

“Do you have a problem with that?”

She let out a harsh laugh and jabbed her sharp acrylic nail hard against my chest.

“Even if you do, it doesn’t matter. I paid for the renovation with my own money, so it’s none of your business!”

Her words sliced right through me.

We had been married for ten years, and I thought our hearts were entwined as one.

Now, she was telling me she poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into a luxury room for her ex-crush’s little brother.

How sickening.

What was I to her after all these years?