Chapter 2

Two bodies twisted in ecstasy her husband thrusting into another woman on their bed. Bryson Tiller was singing in the background. “Pull up the skirt, get in the ride. Left hand is steerin’ the other is grippin’ your thigh.”

This is what he has been doing when she needed him the most. This cannot be happening. Why? Why? Why? She ran to the guest bathroom in the hall and vomited until she was panting, her head hanging in the toilet. Then she stood washed her face and mouth and looked in the mirror. Anguish was etched into every atom. 

She was startled when her phone rang. It was her best friend, Kim. Automatically she picked up, “Hello.”

“Honey, I heard. I’m so sorry. Are you okay? Of course, you’re not; stupid question. Where are you? I’m coming right over.”

Celine sat heavily on the cool tile of their bathroom floor. Glancing around she said, “I’m at home.”

“Is Phillip there?”

Celine hesitated then responded in a monotone voice, “Yeah.”

“Let me talk to him.”, Kim said and there was silence as Celine figured out how to answer.

“He can’t talk.”, Celine said, and trembled knowing Kim would not leave it alone.

“Why? What is he doing?”, asked Kim her voice sharper than before.

Celine did not have the energy to dodge her friend’s question, so she said it like she was spitting out a bad mouthful of food. “He is having sex with some woman in our bed. I just got home.”

“WHAT?”, Kim screamed so loudly that Celine dropped the phone. “Are you kidding me?”

Kim’s big emotions cracked Celine open, and she began to sob. “I don’t know what to do?”, she said, wailing.

“Oh, hell no. I’m coming over.”, Kim said.

“No!”, Celine said, the last thing she wanted was for Kim to come in like a feral guard dog. This was a private matter between her and her husband. Luckily Kim had the brain of a squirrel.

“We need to get evidence.”, Kim said.

Celine recoiled, “I am not going in there and taking pictures.”

“No, gross. His phone. Go find his phone. Do you know the password?”

Celine didn’t need to search for Phillips’s phone. She knew where it was. ‘A place for everything, everything has a place.’ was the creepy verse he recited in a singsong voice every time she left anything out.

“No. I don’t know his password. I am not allowed to touch his phone.”, she said thoughtlessly. There was a lot she did not tell Kim about her marriage.

“What? Why not? Never mind. Figure it out. Like special dates or names.”, Kim said, making Celine’s chest ache with dread.

She was exhausted, and she wanted to leave. The penthouse felt stifling and that playlist, with its slow and rhythmic music, was a constant reminder of what her husband was doing in their bed. “Can’t I just leave and go to my dad’s?”, Celine asked.

“Do not, run away. Celine, he is your husband and that is your home. And you need evidence to catch that Billionaire Club playboy. Otherwise, he and his lawyers will bury what he did in an unmarked grave like it never happened.”, Kim said.

On a roll now, Kim dredged up an oldie but a goodie. “We all told you he was no good, but you wouldn’t listen. You should have chosen Sebastian”, Kim said.

For the first time, Celine agreed and that was why the familiar words hurt. “I can’t believe you are bringing that up.”, Celine said, her voice wobbly.

“I know, it’s just, I hate to be right. I hate that I am on the phone with you teaching you how to hack your shitbag of a husband’s phone. I wish you never married him because he has turned out to be such a despicable human. You deserve the best Ci Ci.”, Kim said.

Interrupting the unwanted monologue Celine said, “I have his phone.

All business, Kim began barking commands. “Get in there and look for anything. Start with text messages and call logs.

“What do I do if I find something?” Celine did not want to rifle through his phone. It was icky and felt wrong, but Kim was right. Phillip would deny everything and make her out to be crazy.

“Use your phone and take a video of everything you do. Hurry and don’t forget to record what he says.”, Kim said.

Guilty by Taemin was playing when Celine flipped the bedroom lights on and off to get the attention of her husband and the woman, he was having sex with. Phillip jumped up naked and she turned her back. She did not want to see any more than she already had.

From the bedroom door, she heard him slam into something in his haste. “Celine, wait. Celine.”, Phillip said. The music abruptly stopped.

Shaking with betrayal Celine snapped out instructions. "Get dressed I will be waiting outside.” She paused and steadied herself. “She can leave."

Celine was sitting on the couch drinking wine when her bedroom door opened. Phillip looking pale and stern-faced stepped out of their room. Followed by a petite woman who was peeking out from behind a mop of curly blond hair. Celine was relieved to see the woman was no one she knew.

As Phillip escorted the woman past her, the tiny blond made a point to stare directly at Celine. When she was certain that Celine was looking, she smiled smugly. Seeing the woman’s lack of remorse was but a grain of rice in her shitty rice bowl of a day.

Arriving at the couch, Phillip sat facing her with all the arrogance of his class. A tactic he liked to use to gaslight her. Normally Celine would be anxious and eager to please him. Not today. Today she felt numb.

"How is your mother.", Phillip asked.

"Dead." She saw him flinch and part of her felt vindicated. She wanted him to feel horrible.

"I'm very sorry to hear that.", Phillip said and reached to take her hand. Celine snatched her hand away.

"Don't touch me.", Celine said, disgusted. He had her all over his hands.

Phillip’s lips pressed together, and his nostrils flared. He only liked subservience and the carefully curated demeanor he had spent the last six years molding her into.

"When did it happen? Why didn't you call me?", Phillip asked.

She tossed his phone, and it bounced on the empty cushion in between them. His eyes narrowed and he grimaced. She was not allowed to handle his phone. Today she was breaking all the rules. “Take a look for yourself.”

After some swiping and tapping, Phillip saw all her texts and phone calls. He put the phone down. "I'm sorry Celine."

Quick to retort Celine snapped, "Sorry, for what exactly? Sorry for abandoning me to have sex the day my mom died or for letting me discover you having sex. In our bed! The day my mom died?"

Phillip’s eyes widened and his eyebrows arched into his hairline. In the six years they had been married she had never talked back to him. But today, she couldn’t find it in herself to care.

"Your mom. Was that why you came home early?" Typical Phillip thinking of himself. He was wondering how he got caught. She had no energy for his narcissism today.

"Who is she?", Celine asked taking back control.

"An acquaintance from work." Now she knew why she was banned from surprise work visits.

She asked the most important question, "Is it serious?"

"No.", Phillip said, she wanted to feel relieved, but she knew Phillip, there was more.

"For how long?"

"Two years.", Phillip said, and she drew back and clutched her chest. Two years was a relationship.

Celine took another sip of wine. She was shaking so hard that her teeth clattered on the lip of the wine glass. "Is she the only one?"

"No.", he said with little emotion.

A single tear betrayed her and ran down her cheek. No longer able to keep her emotions at bay she asked, "How long have you been cheating?"

"I have never cheated on you." Celine’s eyebrows rose sharply, and she blinked heavily a few times.

"Pardon?", Celine asked surprised by his denial.

"I have never cheated on you, Celine.”