Selena had just gotten into the taxi. Her body was still warm, the scent of Dominic's perfume still lingering faintly on the collar of her blouse. She sighed, then opened her bag and picked up a small mirror to make sure her makeup was still perfect. Today, she intends to go to the office as usual-or, rather, continue her morning session with Dominic in the air-conditioned and closed room.But before she could put the mirror back, her cell phone vibrated. An incoming call with a name that instantly made her heart stop for a split second, Mrs. Morena. Hesitantly, she answered the call from her mother-in-law."Hello, Mom?""Selena. Where are you right now?" the voice on the other end sounded sharp, matter-of-fact. "At the office, Mom," Selena replied, trying to keep her tone calm."You need to go home right now."Selena frowned. "What's wrong, Mom? I'm still working, and I can't just leave work...""I don't want to know, you have to go home, Selena," Morena cut in, "I'm already at home
The room was quieter than usual. The curtains were half closed, letting in a thin stream of sunlight. David stood with his back to the large mirror, trying to look busy on his cell phone. But his eyes couldn't avoid the reflection in the glass for long-Selena was standing in front of him, slowly unbuttoning her blouse one by one."If you're uncomfortable, don't look," Selena said flatly, without looking at him.David swallowed hard. Not because he was uncomfortable, quite the opposite. It was the first time in their year of marriage that he had actually seen Selena so exposed - wearing only lace panties and a beige satin bra. David's face flushed, and he hurriedly looked away, pretending to be busy with his cell phone. "Selena..." he murmured softly, not knowing what to say.Selena smiled faintly, then grabbed some clothes from the closet. As she turned around, without realizing it, a small dark blue book fell from her pile of clothes-a diary.David turned his head at the sound of th
That afternoon, the aroma of grilled salmon and asparagus cream soup filled the dining room. Outside the window, the sky was clear, but the atmosphere inside the dining table was tense. Selena sat next to David, while Lilian sat opposite, and Mrs. Morena was at the end of the table with her usual critical expression.Selena picked up a spoon and began to fill a plate for her mother-in-law. "Mom, Selena made the mashed potatoes using the recipe that Mommy taught her last time," she said kindly with a smile."Hm," Morena replied briefly. "You're a good cook like Mommy."Selena just smiled, and then she began to fill David's plate. David was silent, but his gaze was thoughtful. He realized just how gentle Selena was today - and how much he had overlooked that.Lilian, in a tight red dress that was too flashy for lunch, leaned against the back of the chair and opened the conversation."Oh yeah, when are you moving out of this house, Lilian?" asked Mrs. Morena sarcastically."It seems to h
After lunch, the room was quiet. There was only the sound of glasses clinking softly on the table. Selena sat gracefully beside David, while Lilian helped clear the dishes with a contrived smile.Mrs. Morena stood up, picking up her clutch from the chair."I have to go home. I still have a community event this afternoon," she said, then turned to Selena. "But before I go..."Selena lifted her face, waiting."Selena, you should start considering quitting your job. You're the wife of a CEO, and household responsibilities are more important."Selena kept smiling politely. "I've already signed a contract for a project that runs for the next three months, Mom. But I promise, work won't get in the way of my role as a wife."Morena snorted softly. "All right. But don't let David come home to be greeted by another woman. Especially since Lilian is still here. Huh, Mommy is very worried."Lilian was silent, but her eyes glanced sarcastically at Mrs. Morena. David could only sigh, then put his
The sky was suddenly dark. Clouds rolled thickly over Manhattan. Lightning flashed in the distance, followed by rain that fell in torrents as if hunting the earth. The sound of heavy rain hitting the windowpane of the room, accompanied the quiet atmosphere inside.Selena was still closed, her back to David, her body huddled small under the thick blanket. But her breathing wasn't exactly calm. Her senses were empty-not hot, not cold, just... flat.David stared at his wife's back in silence. The light of the bed lamp illuminated a part of his restless face. He bit his lower lip, then slowly pulled back the blanket and slipped into it. His hands touched Selena's waist, then curled around her body.Slow, but firm. Tight.It was no ordinary hug-there was anxiety, fear, and something Selena couldn't explain. So tight, it made Selena open her eyes slowly."David?" she mumbled sleepily. Her voice was hoarse, lazy. "Why are you holding me like this?"David didn't answer immediately. Only his b
The wind was blowing gently, but it couldn't cool David's hot head. He stood on the second floor balcony, staring blankly at the rain-soaked city. One hand clutches a wine glass, the other rests on the cold metal railing.Streetlights danced in the puddles, but the sight meant nothing to David. His face was tense. Every now and then, he took a deep sip of wine, hoping the alcohol would drown out the feelings raging inside his chest."What the hell am I doing?" he muttered under his breath. "Damn it... I'm hurting Selena. Over and over again."Images of Selena's face danced in her mind. That cold look in her eyes. The honest words that came out without drama: "I'm on my period."But that wasn't what hit his chest. That's not what made the wine taste like vinegar.What broke her was-Selena didn't look hurt. Didn't even try to explain. Didn't defend herself. She just kept quiet. And that hurt more than a thousand curses.David swore under his breath, then took another sip of wine from th
David opened the bedroom door slowly. The rain was still falling heavily outside, creating a slow rhythm that could be clearly heard through the window. His eyes were puffy, his breathing was heavy, his body felt empty... but regretful at the same time.Inside, Selena was sitting in front of the dressing table. Her hair was neatly combed, her face fresh even without excessive makeup. She wore a white blouse with a long navy blue skirt, simple but elegant.David was standing in the doorway.Selena turned her head briefly, noticing his presence, then looked back at her reflection in the mirror."What's wrong with you?" asked Selena lightly, her hands still busy fixing her loose hair.David didn't answer. He just walked slowly, then immediately hugged Selena's body from behind. Strong. Tight. Her breath caught, like a child who had just found a safe place after being lost for too long.Selena was silent. Her hands hung at her sides.David lowered his head, resting his face on her shoulde
David was stunned at the door, his breathing ragged, his eyes kept staring at Selena's retreating back."Selena! Wait-!"He stepped quickly to catch up, but suddenly his head throbbed violently. The world seemed to spin, his vision blurred. Her body swayed."A-akh..."Her steps came to a halt. She touched her temple, then held onto the wall for dear life. But it didn't last long. His body collapsed instantly, falling on the floor with a loud thud."David!" cried Lilian, as she ran towards him. Meanwhile, Selena drove in the rain that was still falling slowly. Her face was blank, but her hands gripped the steering wheel tightly. Her heart was still tight, but there was one place that made her feel a little breathable. That was Dominic's apartment.As soon as she arrived, Selena rang the bell. Before long, the door opened.Dominic stood in the doorway in his casual clothes-a gray T-shirt and dark jogger pants. His hair was slightly disheveled, his face looked tired but his smile was wa
In the restaurant, the clinking of spoons and the conversations of other diners provided the backdrop for Selena and David's lunch. But Selena barely tasted the flavor of her own food. Her mind was far away, thinking about Dominic's offer.She glanced at David who was busy stirring his drink, as if looking for the right time to open his mouth."David..." Selena said quietly."Hm?" David turned his head, his eyes calmer than before."I want to talk about something. It's about my work."David took a sip of his drink. "What?"Selena sighed. "Next week I've been asked to join a business trip to Paris."David frowned. "Paris? With whom?""My boss, and some of the management team," Selena half-lied. "He said it would be a refreshing trip too. But mostly it's still work."David put down his glass and leaned back in the chair. "How long?""A week."David looked at Selena skeptically. "A week? That long?"Selena bit her lip. "I know it's impromptu, and you definitely won't let me go. But this
At fifteen minutes past eleven, David was standing beside his black car in the underground parking lot of the DRAKE GROUP building. His navy blue tie had been partially removed, leaving the collar of his shirt slightly open. He looked agitated, occasionally glancing at the employee entrance.His mind was still stuck on one moment last week-when he accidentally saw a man who looked a lot like his father enter the building. Silvery gray hair, tall sturdy build, and... the same look in his eyes. But David couldn't be sure. It could be an illusion. Or maybe...The automatic parking lot doors opened, and Selena emerged from the elevator with hurried steps. Her hair was tied low, her lips looked pale. Before exiting, Selena and Dominic kissed on the lips. Selena forgot she hadn't put on lipstick. "Sorry I'm late," she said as she got into the car.David smiled briefly, starting the engine. "Relax. I just got here too."The car drove slowly out of the basement. There was no music, just the
At ten in the morning, the office air was quite calm. The sound of typing on the keyboard and the whirring of the air conditioner were the only sounds that dominated the floor. Selena, cream-colored folder in hand, stood tall in front of Dominic's room. Her hand knocked lightly."Come in," Dominic's voice sounded from inside.Selena stepped inside, her steps sure, though her heart still held a residual beat of panic from this morning's events. She handed in the report she'd just finished at dawn-the deadline had been tight, but she'd managed to get it done."This is this week's report, Mr. Dominic. I have recapitulated all the data. Including the revisions from yesterday's meeting," Selena said in a professional tone.Dominic took the folder, opened it sheet by sheet, then nodded slowly. "You work fast and neatly. As usual.""Thank you, my sugar daddy."Dominic placed the folder on his desk, then looked at Selena with his trademark lopsided smile. "Selena, you know what, since you cam
Selena had just gotten out of the office car, her steps stopped, Mr. Dominic's personal assistant approached her. "Good morning, Miss Selena. Mr. Dominic asked you to go straight to his office. It's important."Selena furrowed her brow. Having just parked her steps in the lobby, she now had to return to striding quickly to the highest floor-the floor where Dominic's power was located.Arriving at the door of the large dark wood room, Selena took a breath and knocked twice."Come in," Dominic's heavy voice sounded from inside.Selena pushed open the door and entered quietly. Before she could say anything, Dominic immediately stood up and grabbed Selena's hand roughly but passionately, pulling her body into his warm embrace. "Selena... you finally came too," he whispered hoarsely in Selena's ear.Selena was startled. "Mr. Dominic, don't start teasing me..."But Dominic didn't care. His hands wrapped around Selena's waist, his lips began to move down towards her neck-until his eyes cau
The room air was still warm, left over from the heated battle that had just ended. The blankets were rumpled, the pillows scattered, and both of them were still breathing hard. David hugged Selena from behind, his chest pressed against his wife's sweaty back."Thank you, wife..." whispered David softly, as he gently kissed Selena's forehead.Selena was silent. Then, she slowly smiled a small smile. It wasn't entirely genuine, but it was enough to put David at ease."I'm going to take a shower first," Selena said as she got out of bed. She picked up the towel lying on the floor and started walking towards the bathroom.However, before she could go any further, David's hand grabbed her wrist."No work today," he said. "Just take a pass, honey. Or, resign altogether. I want quality time with you."Selena turned her head, her expression both surprised and amused. "Resign? Are you serious?""Very serious. You must be tired, honey. I'm also tired of seeing you work all the time. Besides, wh
It was five in the morning when Selena opened her door. The sound of the key turning in the lock was soft, barely audible. The house was still dark, only the small lamp at the corner of the stairs was lit.She had taken off her high heels at the door. Now she walked slowly, silently, towards the main room. Once inside, her eyes immediately caught David's body still lying on the bed. He seemed to be fast asleep."CIH! That bastard must be exhausted from having sex with that female fox," Selena said to herself. Selena didn't say anything. She just stared at him for a while, then walked towards the bathroom. Every step was heavy, but her mind was focused. She undressed, stepped into the shower and let the warm water pour over her body. It was as if she wanted to wash away all the disgust, pain, and anger that had built up since last night.A few minutes later, Selena came out of the shower. Her hair was still wet, her body wrapped in a towel. When she opened the bedroom door, David was
Rose's small apartment was on the third floor, with no elevator. Selena stepped out with stumbling steps, and Rose was already standing at the door, her face full of questions. As soon as the door opened, Selena hugged her best friend tightly."Selena... " Rose immediately greeted Selena with a warm hug. "I don't know where to go, Rose," Selena's voice was barely audible, but full of hurt.Rose nodded, not asking many questions. She knew that if Selena came over at this time of night, there must be something big going on. They went inside, sitting on the worn sofa that had witnessed many of Rose's life stories."You must not have eaten yet, right? I'll make you some noodles. ""Don't bother, Rose. I'm not hungry," Selena replied shortly. She stared blankly at the window.Rose sat down beside her. "Tell me about your problem, Selena," she whispered softly.Selena closed her eyes briefly, took a deep breath, then opened them again. "I saw them, Rose. On my own bed. My own husband and b
Dominic grinned, then leaned down to whisper something near Selena's ear. His voice was low, almost a murmur."You'll find out soon enough, Baby."Then Dominic grabbed Selena's face, looking down at her. His lips slowly drew closer to Selena's. Selena closed her eyes when Dominic's lips touched hers. "Ah ... " Selena sighed when Dominic's lips moved to kiss her neck.After that, Dominic stood up and walked towards the door, glancing at Selena once more before exiting. The look in his eyes was full of meaning-full of something that had yet to be fully spoken. As the door closed again, Selena sighed, shaking her head softly with an amused smile. Her hands went back to typing."What a perverted CEO," she muttered.Meanwhile, at homeDavid had just finished showering. His hair was still wet, his body clad only in a thin T-shirt and casual shorts. He walked out of the bathroom while wiping his hair with a small towel. His steps towards the closet are halted when the door to the room slow
David had just parked his car in the garage when his eyes caught the shadow of someone behind the living room curtains. His steps were fast, his body tired, his mind no less chaotic.As soon as the door to the house opened, the smell of cooking greeted him. But that's not what made his forehead immediately crease. Standing at the door, with a sweet smile and a strawberry apron, was... Lilian."Welcome, darling," Lilian greeted him softly, as if this was her home, as if there was nothing awkward between them.David stepped inside, hanging his coat on the hanger. His eyes swept the living room, not finding the person he was looking for."Where's Selena?" he asked directly."Not home yet," Lilian replied casually as she walked into the kitchen. "Probably still busy."David nodded slowly, though his heart was a little uneasy. It was late, and Selena hadn't heard from him at all.He turned around, looking at Lilian with a serious expression. "By the way... why haven't you moved into my mom