ANNE

MARIANNE

I stepped on my brake pedal and gave myself a minute to catch my breath. My hands were shivering and I felt chilled to the bone.

I still could not believe what I had just seen. I opened my phone and watched for the umpteenth time, the pornographic video that had been sent to me anonymously.

My husband of almost two years was in bed, having sex with a woman that wasn't me. His face was revealed in the video, while hers was concealed. The only thing I could make of the woman was her slender wrist and the gold bracelet around it. It seemed oddly familiar but I could not remember where I had seen it.

For two years, I believed my marriage was the best in the world because my husband, Tony adored me and worshipped the ground I walked on.

I was the richest woman in the city and my company, RAY INDUSTRIES was the number one in the country, yet, my happiest moments were the ones spent with my husband. That was how much I loved him.

How could he betray my trust? Hands still shivering, I called my best friend, Britney's number again.

"I just pulled up in front of your house," she told me. "Your husband's car is parked outside so I am guessing he is still at home."

"Thank you, Brit. I'll be there soon," I sniffled before hanging up.

I breathed in and out and continued driving. Britney was my best friend and one of the few people I trusted most. When I first received the video, I was so shocked that I forwarded it to her.

She called me immediately, expressing her shock and disappointment in my husband whom we had all believed was a saint.

Since her office was closer to my house, and I was on my way home, she started heading there to meet me because she knew how devastated I was.

Ever since I watched the video, I had been trying to reach my husband but he wouldn't take my calls.

I finally arrived home and saw both my friend's and husband's car parked outside. I went inside the house and met her pacing up and down sadly.

The moment she saw me, she ran to me and hugged me.

"I'm so sorry, Anne," she whispered as tears fell from her eyes.

Unable to hold back anymore, I broke down in tears and cried my heart out. Britney kept stroking my back as she comforted me.

More than thirty minutes passed before I finally calmed down and wiped my tears.

"What are you going to do now?" She asked me. "I met your maid leaving when I arrived and she told me your husband is asleep in your bedroom."

I scoffed, "Asleep? How dare he sleep soundly after betraying me? I will confront him right away."

Britney offered to go upstairs with me but I refused because I knew I had to confront Tony alone. I went up the stairs and pushed the door to our bedroom open.

I came face to face with Tony but nothing about his facial expression showed that he had been asleep. I glared at him with eyes full of tears, "Why, Tony? How could you betray my love and trust?"

Without a word in reply, he walked past me and began to leave.

"Tony!" I yelled as I suddenly lost it and went after him. He descended the stairs, taking two at a time while I charged behind him.

Just as I reached out my hand to pull his shirt so he could stop moving, his foot slipped and he tumbled down the stairs.

There was a loud cry from him and it attracted Britney's attention. She ran to the foot of the stairs and stared at him in surprise.

She looked up at me and asked almost inaudibly, "Did you push him?"

I shook my head and proceeded to descend the stairs as I said angrily, "Get up, Tony because today, the sky is going to fall."

Tony did not move but lay on the ground unconscious. Britney took a step back as she suddenly noticed that blood was oozing out of his head.

Seeing her reaction, I went closer and inspected his body. I drew my breath when I also realized that he was bleeding. Despite my anger toward him, I could not let him bleed to death.

"I will call an ambulance," I told Britney who seemed frightened.

The door to my living room was suddenly kicked open. I heard footsteps of men approaching but could not be bothered by them as I kept staring at Tony's unconscious body while requesting for an ambulance to quickly arrive.

After speaking on the phone, I finally looked up and noticed that the three men who had barged into my house were policemen. I was about to ask them why they barged into my house forcefully when one of the policemen ran to Tony, squatted and touched his neck, and then declared, "He is dead."

My phone fell off my hand as I gasped in shock.

Britney cried out, "No! How is that possible when he merely fell off the stairs?"

One of the policemen approached me at this point and held my hands together. I barely moved as I was still in shock from the news of Tony's death.

"You are under arrest, Mrs. Tony, for the murder of your husband," the policeman stated. "You have the right to an attorney and you have the right to remain silent because whatever you say now can and will be used against you in the court of law."

My mouth fell open as I was handcuffed and led out of the house by two policemen while the other one attended to Tony.

As I was being taken away, everything began to feel surreal. The voices around me became echoes and the last thing I remember hearing was Britney's voice assuring me, "I know you didn't push him, Anne. I saw everything with my eyes.

Don't worry. I will get in touch with your lawyer and get you out as soon as possible."