Chapter 1 — Suspicious Ties

Emelia’s POV

I was totally confused when my best friend, Alexis, texted me and said that she saw my husband and I at a restaurant.

Because I was at home currently. On the sofa. In a robe with a mask on my face.

And my husband, Victor, was supposed to be at work. At least, that was what he texted me a few hours ago.

Ding!

Alexis: I see you and Victor in the restaurant :P You two are just the sweetest couple! 

Me: Um, you might wanna get your eyes checked, bestie. :P I'm at home right now!

I sat my phone down and laid back against the sofa while I let my face mask settle. But my phone kept buzzing anyway.

Ding! Ding!

Alexis: I know what Victor looks like! But if that woman turning the back on me isn't you… there might be some trouble!

Alexis: OMG!! Listen to this NOW!!

Ding! 

It was an audio message. That made me sit up on the sofa immediately. I pressed play without hesitation.

"Oh, Victor, I know you still think of me.” The unknown woman's voice chimed in.

“I have always been thinking of you.” Victor's voice came through as clear as day.

"You're so kind, just as you always have been. It's like you're the only person who tries to understand me, and who really does."

"And you say I'm kind?" Victor laughed and it sounded so musical.

The woman giggled. "Because you are! Even though you used to always treat me like a child, it's because you were worried about me. I always felt so safe when I was around you back then—and even still now."

Her voice almost sounded… flirty… the way she said that, too.

“Madam,” another voice came through. It was perhaps the waiter. "If you don’t mind, may I ask how long have you two been married? You two have such good chemistry together!"

“Wow, so you think we're sweet?” The unknown woman sounded like she really enjoyed his question, “our relationship is as always.”

The audio cut out with her loud laugh, before I caught the response from Victor. 

Hearing how he spoke to her... It made me feel conflicted. 

Our marriage wasn't something that came out of love. We were introduced by his grandfather, and set to wed that same week.

While it was odd living under the same roof with a stranger who was meant to be my husband, it wasn't awful. We spent time getting to know each other and in time, I fell in love with my husband.

Victor had always been so thoughtful. He was a man of few words, but I could feel how much he cared through his actions.

But now...why Victor so...treasured her? Even his laugh was so carefree and happy that I had never heard before.

How long had they known each other? How come I've never heard of them before?

A sense of doubt made my skin crawl.

It took me years to build something intimate with Victor, and he'd never spoken to any other woman the way he was speaking to this one.

I had to know what was going on. Or at least get to the bottom of who this person was.

I clicked on Victor's number out of my Favorite Contact list, and he picked up after the fourth ring.

"Hey, Emelia. Is everything okay?” Victor greeted me in a rushed voice.

I took a deep breath and pretended nothing was wrong. “Hey. Yeah, I just wanted to know when you'd be home for dinner? Are you still at your office?”

“Yeah, I'm busy at a work meeting right now. Now's not a good time.” Victor stated.

Liar.

"I'm sorry." I kept my voice steady and even as I tried to find out more details. "You usually call me when you're going to be late at the office, and I thought you'd be home by now. Is everything okay? Why didn't you call?"

Instead of acknowledging anything I said, or even giving me some type of "call you later," he hung up on me.

Just like that. He hit the end button on his phone and completely ignored everything I had to say.

What the hell was that?!