Chapter 3

Chapter 3

For several minutes, I couldn't hear a single thing.

It felt like someone was physically ripping my heart out, leaving it bloody and exposed.

Sienna looked frantic with worry, repeatedly asking me questions.

"Nora, tell me what happened!"

"Why are you crying like this? Did Arthur do something to you?"

"Talk to me! If he dared to hurt you, I'll make him pay!"

I stared at her blankly. In the past, her protective words would have moved me deeply.

But now, looking at her indignant face, I only felt a chilling sense of horror.

I couldn't believe that the two people who had been in my life for ten years were betraying me together.

A wave of terror washed over me. I felt like I had been soaked in ice water, the warmth draining from my fingertips.

Eventually, I found my voice again.

I looked at my best friend, who had suddenly become a total stranger, and shook my head.

"It's nothing. We just had a little argument."

Sienna laughed and put her arm around me. "Oh, is that all? You scared me!"

"Honestly, Nora, Arthur has spoiled you. He's a rare find as a husband. Don't be too stubborn."

"I'm telling you, if he were anyone else's husband, I would have snatched him up long ago!"

A sharp pain hit my chest. Why had I never suspected her when she said things like that so boldly?

Why had I trusted them so blindly for all these years?

Was I really that stupid?

Sienna pulled me down to sit, and it took a while for me to stabilize my emotions.

I looked at her empty earlobe and asked in a low voice.

"Where is your other earring? Why are you only wearing one?"

Sienna instinctively touched her ear, a flash of panic crossing her eyes.

"Oh, I had it this morning. I must have dropped it while I was out shopping with some friends."

No wonder. No wonder Arthur suddenly claimed there was an emergency at the office this morning.

That filthy thing happened in the car just this morning.

Nausea surged in my chest, and I almost gagged.

"I don't feel well. I'm going home."

Seeing how pale I was, Sienna didn't push. She nodded repeatedly.

"Of course. We'll catch up another time. Go get some rest."

I didn't wait for her to finish. I bolted out of the cafe like I was escaping a fire.

The midnight wind chilled me to the bone.

Suddenly, I remembered that the dashcam in Arthur's car was linked to an app on my phone.

I stood on the street corner, my hands shaking as I opened the app and pulled up today's footage.

Sure enough, Sienna's familiar voice filled my ears after a few seconds of playback.

"Why are you so late? Don't you miss me at all?"

Then came Arthur's voice, sounding a bit impatient.

"I told you not to call me when I'm at home. Nora can unlock my phone. Do you have any idea what would happen if she answered?"

"Nora, Nora! She's all you talk about! If you love her so much, why are you in bed with me?"

A long silence followed.

Then Sienna's tone shifted, becoming soft and pleading.

"Fine, I didn't come here to fight. Arthur, it's been so long since I've seen you. Do you know how much I miss you?"

"I dream about you every night. I want to run to your house and find you, but I hold myself back."

"Because I care about you. I don't want you to be miserable."

"I don't care about a title or a public relationship. I just want you!"

The sounds that followed were the wet, shameful noises of two people entwined.

Sweet moans filled the video. The voice that used to whisper sweet nothings to me was now saying the filthiest things to another woman.

"Sienna, my sweet Sienna..."

"Only you can make me feel this alive."

"Nora is like a piece of jade. She's so fragile, it feels like she'll break at any second."

"You're different. You can satisfy every desire I have."

Every word they spoke felt like a knife being driven into my heart.

I clutched my chest and finally vomited, collapsing onto the ground in a pathetic heap.

Why?

Why was this happening to me?

How could they do this to me?

The agonizing pain made me wish for death right then and there.

I couldn't even cry out loud. I was gasping for air, unable to catch my breath.

Just as I thought I might die on that midnight street, a car screeched to a halt beside me.

A man rushed out and scooped me into his arms.

His voice was incredibly familiar, laced with urgent concern.

"Nora! Breathe! Don't be afraid, just breathe!"

I looked up and saw Quentin Pierce's face.

I grabbed his shirt collar and finally let out a piercing, uncontrollable sob.