Chapter 2

02

Preston didn't get home until ten that night.

The moment he stepped through the door, he stripped off his clothes and tossed them into the laundry hamper.

He headed straight for the master bath, letting the shower run for half an hour.

When he emerged, he smelled of sandalwood body wash, as if washing away all dirt and guilt.

“Babe, there’s nothing like home.”

He slipped under the duvet and reached out to pull me close.

I rolled over, turning my back toward him.

“I had a brutal day at work. Let’s just sleep.”

His hands paused in midair before settling gently on my shoulder blades.

“What happened? Trouble at the firm?”

His tone was full of tender concern, without a single flaw.

I kept my eyes closed, but my mind was flooded with images of the pink tissue and that brown curl.

“No, just a bad headache.”

Preston leaned in and pressed a kiss against my earlobe.

“Let me massage your neck.”

His fingers were long and powerful.

They were the hands of a surgeon, hands that worked on teeth, and hands that had touched that woman.

A violent shiver ran down my spine, leaving goosebumps everywhere.

“No need. A good night’s sleep will fix it.”

I edged toward the side of the king mattress, putting distance between us.

Sensing my withdrawal, Preston pulled his hands back.

“Alright. Get some rest, honey.”

I stared at the ceiling all night.

The next morning, I got out of bed with dark circles under my eyes.

Preston had already prepared breakfast: avocado toast, scrambled eggs, and fresh orange juice.

A picture-perfect domestic partner.

“Babe, I have to head out early. I’ve got a tricky implant surgery today.”

He spoke while adjusting his silk tie in front of the hallway mirror.

I took a sip of juice and asked casually, “I heard you brought on a new assistant? Andy, right?”

Preston’s fingers froze on his knot for a split second.

It was barely noticeable, but I caught every fraction of that hesitation.

He turned around, wearing a helpless, easy smile.

“Yeah, a fresh grad. A bright kid, eager to learn.”

“Why do you ask out of the blue?”

A kid? A boy?

I set my glass down and looked directly into his eyes.

“Just curious. I thought I saw an unfamiliar figure when I dropped off the soup yesterday.”

Preston walked over and kissed my forehead.

“He’s very meticulous, just talks a little too much.”

“Babe, don’t tell me you’re getting jealous?”

“Relax, he’s a guy. I’m not into dudes, and I’m deathly allergic to any woman who isn't you.”

His smile was open, his gaze crystal clear.

If I hadn't seen the lipstick myself, I would have fallen for it again.

“Of course. Your phobia is quite famous.”

I curled my lips into a polite smile and straightened his collar.

“Go on. Don't be late for your surgery.”

The moment the front door clicked shut, my smile vanished.

My phone rang. It was Lois.

“The video files are in your inbox.”

“Mandy, brace yourself.”

“These two are wild.”

I opened my laptop and downloaded the clips.

The security camera was angled toward the private lounge.

The timestamp showed yesterday afternoon, thirty minutes before I arrived with the soup.

A slender figure in oversized men’s surgical scrubs walked inside.

She had short hair and no makeup, but the sway of her hips was undeniably female.

She approached Preston from behind and wrapped her arms around his waist.

Preston, reading a patient chart, didn't push her away. Instead, he leaned back into her chest.

“Preston, when is that old hag showing up?”

Her voice had been slightly muffled, but the flirtatious cadence was clear.

Preston set the chart down and squeezed her hand.

“Soon. Stop playing.”

“Once she leaves, we can finish what we started on the sofa.”

I stared at the screen, my hands clenching into fists.

An old hag?

So that was what they called me behind my back.

In the video, Andy pulled a small tube from her pocket.

It was the exact bubblegum pink lipstick.

She swiped it across her lips in front of the mirror, turned around, and pressed a hard kiss onto Preston’s mouth.

Then, she grabbed a tissue, wiped the residue from his lips, and tossed it into the empty trash can.

“You have the softest lips.”

Preston chuckled, pinching her cheek playfully.

“Keep it down. Walls have ears.”

“Be a good girl, and I’ll take you to that dental conference in Chicago next month.”

I slammed my laptop shut, fighting the urge to vomit.

His so-called phobia of women was just a fabricated pedestal.

A convenient lie to keep me obedient while he messed around in plain sight.