Chapter Two

Sophie's POV

“W..what did you just say,” I stuttered, not wanting to believe what I had just heard. "Your boyfriend's home?"

“You heard me right,” she replied. .

“In fact, let me call him, he needs to tell you my position in this house,” she added before digging her phone from her pocket.

My heart shattered as I stood, watching her dial Oliver's number. She must be joking or something because Oliver would never cheat on me. Never!

“Hey, please come home now,” she said in a cool voice.

After listening to the other end of the call, she added, “alright, sure.”

She ended the call, licked her lips and smirked. I was stunned by her audacity.

Anger and sorrow crashed over me. I wanted to scream, but no sound came out. It felt like a punch in the guts. In my own house? My marital home.

“How dare you,” I managed to say, swallowing hard. It took every ounce of strength to speak.

Ignoring me, she went and sat back on the couch. “No! Sophie, don't do anything stupid,” I whispered to myself, trying to calm the storm inside of me. I clenched my fist before taking my seat, right opposite of her, impatiently waiting for Oliver's arrival.

The room grew to an uneasy silence and the tension? It was thick to cut with a knife. I just hoped it would be some sort of prank or misunderstanding because I couldn't imagine how I would take it.

After a few minutes, which seemed like an hour, the entrance door cracked open and Oliver came in.

He walked to the living room and sat beside me. I turned, and my gaze met his.

“Oliver, who is this…. I mean, what the fuck is happening,” I asked, my voice breaking.

His eyes locked with mine, his composure unwavering.

“This is some sort of misunderstanding, and it's all my fault,” he said in a casual tone.

I narrowed my eyes as they pinned his lips, expecting an explanation.

“Sophie, the young lady here is Lucia, my high schoolmate. And Lucia, this is my beloved wife, Sophie,” he explained.

Lucia froze for some seconds, Oliver's words definitely hit her harder than she expected.

“Oh, I'm so sorry for the inconveniences, he never told me he was married. Nice meeting you, Sophie,” she apologized.

I forced a smile on my face which didn't even reach my eyes. I just don't like her. “How did you get here, Ms Lucia,” I asked.

Before she could open her mouth to talk, Oliver already started talking, “Well, I picked her up yesterday at the airport. She came from Canada last night and as we arrived here, you were already asleep and this morning I thought you would sort yourselves out.”

Sort ourselves out? When she addressed you as her boyfriend? In fact, why on earth did she decide to settle in our house?

“Doesn't she have any relatives here or someone?” I questioned, unable to mask the disbelief in my tone.

“Oh yeah, I don't. You know, my parents and I live in Canada now so I just got here for some business work. That's all, I suppose to be in our house here in London, but unfortunately It needs renovation as it was abandoned for years,” Lucia replied, her voice syrupy sweet.

I still wasn't convinced as my eyes shifted to Oliver, who plastered a smile on his face and gave me an assuring nod.

Lucia's words earlier reverberated in my head , ‘what are you doing in my boyfriend's house?’ I raked my hands through my hair trying to brush it off.

“She will be here for a while. After the renovation is done she will pack out. I promised.”

“OK,” I replied with a breathy sigh. I felt a bit relaxed, deciding to thrust Oliver, knowing he was not a cheat.

“And I'm so sorry for my behavior earlier. I knew I was out of line. You know, back then in high school, Oliver and I were in a relationship before I flew overseas,” she said. I could tell the apology wasn't coming from her heart.

I slightly frowned before nodding. She was rude. A thought suddenly flashed into my head. How come Oliver never told me about her? He narrated his story about high school to me and Lucia was never part of it.

“Can I talk to my husband in private?” I asked, my gaze fixed on Lucia.

“Uh.. Sure,” she stood up and headed to the visitors' room downstairs, definitely where she settled last night. Her hips swayed to an unspoken rhythm, each step leaving an imprint of allure that lingered in the air.

Alone with him now, I turned and faced him. “Oliver, you never told me about Lucia, what's going on? I sensed you are hiding something from me. Talk to me Oliver,” I urged.

He let out a heavy sigh. “Yeah it was my fault, I never told you about Lucia because our relationship lasted for a few days. And I felt telling you about her might make you think maybe I still miss her or something,” he said. I could see the sincerity in his eyes.

“You know I love you and if there was anything between us, I wouldn't have brought her home,” he added.

He was right after all, but I don't think I would get along with her because of her rude attitude.

“When is she leaving?” I asked.

“A couple of weeks… At most a month,” he said. I nodded repeatedly.

“Am I free to go back to work?” he chuckled.

“Sure,” I whispered before plastering a smile on my face. He gave me a peck on the forehead before standing up.

Just as he turned and was about to leave, Lucia came out. She definitely overheard our discussion because how on earth could she guess the exact time we finished discussing?

“You are leaving, right? I'm so sorry for making you come back home, and please take good care of yourself for me, OK?” she said.

Did she just say he should take care of “himself” for her? What! I quickly got up to my feet as each of her words felt like a dagger to the heart.