001

Selene's POV

  I wanted tonight to be special. A soft smile played on my lips as I lit the last candle in the dining. The aroma of roasted meat and creamy mashed potatoes filled the air, mixing with the subtle fragrance of the deep red roses I had picked out just for him.

  Adrian had been so distant lately. Always working late, always coming home exhausted, barely sparing me a glance. But tonight was supposed to remind him of us—of what we had built together, of the love we had promised each other five years ago.

  I smoothed my hands over the black lace dress hugging my figure, excitement bubbling in my chest. He’s going to love this.

  The clock on the wall read 8:47 PM.

  He was late. Again.

  My stomach twisted, but I forced myself to stay positive. He’s probably just caught up at work.

  I picked up my phone, dialing his number. It rang once. Twice. Then went straight to voicemail.

  A frown tugged at my lips.

  I tried again. Same thing.

  A strange feeling crawled up my spine, but I shook it off. Adrian was a busy man. I had to be understanding.

  But then—why did this feel so damn familiar?

  The late nights. The unanswered calls. The dismissive attitude.

  No. I shook my head. Don’t be ridiculous, Selene. He wouldn’t.

  Wouldn’t what? Cheat on me?

  The thought sent ice-cold dread trickling through my veins.

  I needed to see him.

  I grabbed my coat, slipped into my heels, and headed for the door. Entering my car, I drove off.

  The city lights blurred past me as I drove, my fingers gripping the steering wheel tighter than necessary.

  My heart pounded against my ribs as I pulled up to Adrian’s office building. The towering glass structure was mostly dark, except for the faint glow on the top floor.

  Which was his office.

  I stepped out of the car, the cold night air biting against my exposed skin. With each step toward the entrance, unease coiled in my stomach.

  I’m overreacting. He’s just working. That’s all.

  But my instincts screamed at me.

  Something was wrong.

  By the time I reached his office door, my hands were trembling. I wasn’t sure if it was from the cold or from the sheer terror of what I might find.

  But then—I heard it. A moan. My body locked up.

  No.

  Another moan followed, this one unmistakably feminine.

  No. No, no, no.

  My throat tightened. My vision blurred. But I had to know.

  With a deep, shuddering breath, I pushed open the door immediately.

  The scene before me shattered my entire world.

  Adrian was there—his bare back glistening under the dim office lights, his body tangled with hers.

  Lina. My best friend. My assistant. The woman I helped get this damn job.

  A strangled sound escaped my lips before I could stop it.

  Their heads snapped toward me.

  For a second, everything froze and then they scuttled.

  Lina scrambled off him, clutching the sheets to her chest, her face twisting in horror.

  “Oh my God—Selene, I—”

  I couldn’t hear her. Couldn’t hear anything over the deafening roar in my head.

  Adrian cursed, grabbing his pants. “Selene—listen, I can explain—”

  I laughed.

  A sharp, bitter sound that didn’t even feel like it came from me.

  “Explain?” My voice wavered, but I forced myself to stand taller. “Go ahead, Adrian. I’d love to hear your explanation for this, I would love to hear how you'll justify your dick mistakenly moving in and out of her in your office? A coincidence, perhaps?.”

  He opened his mouth, then shut it.

  I turned to Lina, my hands curling into fists at my sides.

  “You,” I whispered.

  Lina flinched. “Selene, please—”

  “You were like a sister to me.” My voice trembled. “I trusted you. I defended you when people doubted you. And this is how you repay me? It's how you reciprocate my kindness Lina? How you thank me for begging my husband to make you his assistant since you couldn't secure a job?” 

  She paled, shaking her head. “It just...happened.”

  “Oh, it just happened?” I let out a choked laugh. “You tripped and landed on my husband’s dick right?”

  Lina’s face crumpled, but I wasn’t done.

  “How long?” I turned to Adrian, my nails digging into my palms. “How long have you been screwing my best friend?”

  They went silent. My breath hitched. “How. Long!” I screamed, fighting to control the anger that coursed through me.

  There was a long pause. And then, he muttered nonchalantly “Six months.”

  The air rushed from my lungs. Six. Months.

  So for half a year, they had been doing this behind my back.

  My stomach churned violently, bile rising in my throat. I felt sick.

  I forced myself to swallow it down, blinking rapidly. I wouldn’t cry. Not in front of them.

  I took a shaky step back.

  “I was planning a surprise for you,” I whispered, voice cracking. “A romantic dinner. I thought we could fix...whatever was wrong. But you—you never planned to fix anything, did you?”

  He remained silent and I continued.

  "The least you could do was keep me waiting at home with the excuse that you're caught up with whatever damn work. But you're here screwing someone else? Do you have any conscience? My voice choked warily as I struggled to hold back my emotions from spilling.

  Adrian’s lips pressed into a thin line. He didn’t even have the decency to look guilty. "You know what Selene, I don't care and it's even great you finally found out, I thought you would remain dumb forever" He finally raised with a tone of indifference, stunning me.

  Something inside me snapped. "I would remain dumb?" I repeated trying to understand if I really heard him well.

  "Yes, Selene, we've been married for Five fucking years yet nothing to show for it, I can't get stuck with a barren woman! Don't you understand?" He barked out angrily, not even a hint of regret flickered through his eyes. "You can't get pregnant for me, you can't give me at least one child Selene"

  In things like this, I should be the one angry and flaring but instead, it looked like I was the one at fault.

  "So all these comes down to getting pregnant for you Adrian? And you think fucking her was the right thing to do? You think this is all my fault?" I asked, not believing that Adrian was actually splitting me apart with those words.

  I've gone for check-ups so many times but nothing has been said to be wrong with me, I had been patient enough that maybe, just someday, God's time is the best.

  "Call it whatever you want Selene, but Lina here—". he paused as he turned and pulled her close to his body shamelessly " She's pregnant for me"

  The words slithered through me like a sharp blade. The air seemed to have left my lungs. I tried to form words but couldn't, it all hung in my throat.

  The sheer betrayal. The pain was worse. I clenched my fists, feeling my knees tremble slightly.

  "You're pregnant for him?" I asked turning to face Lina, wanting to be sure.

  She nodded, giving me a pathetic look, feigning—pity."I'm sorry Selene, I just thought it was the best way to be of help to him" She replied. I couldn't mistake the amusement that laced in her voice.

  I forced myself to calm my nerves as I swallowed a breath and lifted my chin, my voice cold. “I hope you two rot in hell.”

  And then, before they could say another word, I turned and walked out. Reaching outside, I slid into the car immediately and sped off to a bar, it was the best place to cool down the tension in my body right now.

  I arrived minutes later and ordered three bottles Hennessy brands. The first gulp burned as it slid down my throat.

  The second was smoother.

  By the third, my hands had stopped shaking.

  The bar was dimly lit, the music low, the air waxed with the scent of whiskey and my—regret.

  I wasn’t sure how I had ended up here, only that I needed to be anywhere but home.

  The bartender eyed me warily as he poured another drink. “ Are you okay ma'am?”

  I let out a hollow laugh. “Do I look okay?”

  He hesitated. “Want me to call someone?”

  “No.” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “There’s no one to call.”

  I had never felt more alone.

  I stared into my drink, my mind replaying the last hour in excruciating detail. The betrayal. The lies. The fact that I had been nothing but a fool all these while.

  “Having a rough night?” A deep voice startled me.