CH.2

The sky that started off bright this morning had now darkened into a soulless color above me.

It was heavy with thick, menacing clouds that seemed to cast everything in a dull, gloomy shade of gray. It felt ironic, like the universe was trying to warn me but I was too naive to pick up on it.

All I knew was the dreary weather outside perfectly matched the hollow, numb feeling settling into my gut.

I sat in the plush backseat of the car as it pulled away from the mansion, headed towards the hotel where that anonymous text claimed he was.

My hands twisted anxiously in my lap, trembling ever so slightly, as I stared sightlessly out the tinted window at the city streets passing by in a blur of lights and colors.

Part of me hoped desperately I would arrive and find the hotel devoid of any signs of Jason and his supposed mistress.

That it had all just been an awful prank or misunderstanding after all, and I could go home and finally have that long overdue conversation with my husband about making our marriage more of a priority.

Yet the other part of me...the part I had neglected and dismissed as unimportant for too long...worried that my worst fears were about to be realized. If Jason really was there, caught in the act of being unfaithful right under my nose on our anniversary of all days, then there would be no more denying the harsh truth I had tried so hard to blind myself to.

My throat felt unbearably tight as I wrung my hands, my carefully applied makeup already starting to smear from the sheen of nervous sweat on my skin. I had to know for sure one way or another.

If this was all just a big mistake, I could go home and have that serious discussion about prioritizing our marriage that was long overdue.

Yet I couldn't stop replaying the conversation over and over in my mind. Doubting everything, second-guessing his excuses and reassurances.

I stared blankly out the window as our chauffeur navigated through the busy city streets.

The world outside seemed blurred and surreal, both from the light drizzle streaking the windows and the dense fog clouding my mind.

Why was I even doing this? Chasing after some anonymous text like a desperate, insecure fool?

"This is silly, there's no way Jason is actually here," I mumbled to myself, fiddling with the hem of my dress.

I was trying to convince myself, to push aside that persistent nagging doubt. "He's out of the country on an important business deal, just like he said."

But I couldn't ignore the words of that disturbing text message, no matter how hard I tried to brush it off as a cruel prank.

I had laughed it off at first, thinking it was absolutely ridiculous.

Jason here in the city while I was home alone? No way. He was a powerful billionaire - the youngest and most influential in the country.

He was always working, always jetting off to make multi-billion dollar deals no one else could pull off.

But that nagging voice in the back of my mind wouldn't leave me alone. It gnawed away at me until I could no longer ignore it, no matter how irrational it seemed.

What if the message was true? What if Jason really was being unfaithful, right here under my nose on our anniversary of all days?

"We'll be there in five minutes, ma'am," the driver's voice broke me out of my daze.

I nodded stiffly, my fingers tightening around the hem of my custom dress.

I was more than a little disappointed and confused when he brushed me off so coldly earlier. After all, it was our anniversary.

I had taken great pains to look nice for him, picking out this beautiful black dress that was sleek and figure-hugging but still classy.

I thought that if he saw how elegant and mature I looked, we could actually celebrate together. Maybe go out for a romantic dinner, or even just cuddle up on the couch. Anything to spend some quality time together as husband and wife.

I had spent hours convincing myself it was fine. That this was just the life I signed up for when I became the wife of such a powerful, busy man. Trying to push aside the sting of rejection and tell myself he didn't really mean it like that.

But now? Now I wasn't so sure of anything anymore.

We finally pulled up to the grand entrance of the Harding Hotel gleaming even in the dim light of the gloomy, overcast weather.

The security rushed to open my door and I stepped out into the beginning of a light drizzle, hesitating as I stared up at the towering building.

"This is ridiculous," I muttered under my breath, wrapping my arms around myself.

My feet carried me forward, drawn to the truth like a magnet.

I made my way into the stunning lobby, my heels clicking on the polished marble floors. My heart was pounding in my chest and my throat felt dry as I approached the front desk.

"Welcome to Harding Luxurious Hotels and Suites. How can I help you today?" the kind-looking receptionist asked with a polite smile.

I returned her smile, trying my best to appear calm and unbothered. "Yes, hi, this is so silly," I let out an awkward, nervous laugh. "But um...my husband and I are staying here in the penthouse suite. I seem to have misplaced my key though. I was hoping you could help me get a new one?"

"Oh, of course! Can I have the name and some ID please?"

I nodded quickly, fishing out my wallet to show her Jason's ID as well as my own, making sure to point out our shared last name - his powerful last name that I had taken when we married.

"We're in the penthouse. I'm so embarrassed, I don't know how I could have lost my key like that," I said, my voice wavering slightly.

The receptionist's eyes widened in surprise when she saw the name on both IDs, but she quickly composed herself. It was as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing. After all, who would have thought that someone as eligible as Jason was married?

Her smile didn't falter as she typed something into her computer and then nodded. "No problem at all, Mrs. Harding. Let me just get you a new key card."

I exhaled in relief when she handed me the sleek black card.

I thanked her quickly before practically bolting towards the elevators.

My legs were already starting to feel like jelly from the fear of being caught in my lie. Well, I technically wasn’t lying. I was indeed Jason’s wife.

Luckily, I made it into the elevator without issue, the doors sealing me inside.

I stared at my reflection in the mirrored walls, checking my appearance.

“I look fine, right?”

My hair was perfectly styled, makeup still somewhat flawless, the figure-hugging dress showing off my body the way I knew Jason would definitely love.

I had gone all out for him today, hoping to surprise him and remind him of what we could have if he would just pay attention to me.

The elevator dinged when it reached the top floor.

I stepped out, the penthouse suite waiting in front of me like an ominous doorway holding all of life's secrets.

I swiped the key card and heard the soft click of the lock before swinging the door open. However, my eyes instantly landed on something in a far corner of the room and my heart dropped into my stomach.