Chapter 3

The wine glass wobbled in her hand and a single red drop splashed onto their pristine white carpet in solidarity with the single tear that betrayed Celine 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.", Phillip said staring directly into Celine’s eyes. Celine’s eyebrows rose sharply, and she blinked heavily a few times.

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

I never cheated on you.” He repeated as if she was slow and hadn’t understood him. He pursed his lips. “It was just sex. Celine, I don't love anyone but you. Look, I am sorry you had to see this. Especially tonight of all nights, but I am a man with needs.", he said nodding as if he was a third person agreeing with himself.

Heat rose swiftly like a torrent throughout her body and fueled her next words. “A man with needs? What more do you need? We have sex every day. Have I ever told you no?” Leaning forward she continued. “I have done every demeaning thing you have ever asked me to.” She shuddered and felt a flush of shame. “What was it that you needed that you were not getting? You say you love me. Where is that love? You don’t even feel remorseful. Who are you?”

Phillip didn’t bother to respond and despite her best efforts, the tears came. She asked another pivotal question. "Has…has this been going on throughout our entire marriage?"

"Yes.", he said, so matter of fact.

Gasping for breath, Celine put her hand back over her heart. “Why did you marry me if you wanted to have other women? Why pretend to make a vow that you were never going to keep? You could have been free to do what you wanted. Had whoever you wanted. Why go through the bother of seducing a seventeen-year-old virgin and marrying her only to cheat the entire time?”

Phillip leaned forward his eyes flashed, and he smacked his hand on the coffee table, “I married you because you are mine, Celine. You belong to me. And I loved you. I still love you. I told you, what I did with those other women was only sex.”

Exhausted, Celine didn’t want to know anymore. She didn’t want this ugliness mixed up with her thoughts about her mother. Her voice was raspy as she pled with him to get to the point. “I’m so tired Phillip. Too tired to argue anymore. You know very well, what you have done. For once, can you be honest and speak plainly.”

Phillip rested the tip of his index finger over his lip and tapped his finger while he thought. What he said next, was probably the only honest thing he had ever said to her. “Aside from the unfortunate time and the location, the problem we are having is your perception of the roles of men and women. Men have urges, the need to procreate. Some of us deny ourselves, but most of us act on them.”

He leaned back clearly comfortable with his beliefs. “Women don’t understand this and when a man finds a woman that he loves, he wants to cherish and protect her. Therefore, we are discrete, so we do not hurt her.”

He leaned forward again, and his voice became soft and irresistible. She saw his hand twitch to touch her, but he restrained himself. “I know I have hurt you. I know I should never have brought someone into our bed. I have never done that before, and I never will again. That I promise you. But I would be lying to you if I said I will never have sex with someone else, and now that you know I am not going to insult you by lying.”

Stunned, Celine could only gasp out a sob. He was completely deluded.

“In light of the loss of your mother, I think we should table this. I don’t want to add to your grief. We can talk about it more if we must, another day.” And just like that she was dismissed and he looked down at his phone.

“Did you block a car in the parking lot?”

She forgot all about that. So, it was his mistress who was in her spot. Celine nodded. “She can wait. It’s the least she can do.”, Celine said angry that he thought the conversation was over.

“That’s not reasonable is it, Celine? You were the one who chose to box her in and now you want to leave her there, indefinitely?”

Celine barked a humorless laugh through her tears. “You are the one who chose, Phillip. Chose to let some whore park in my spot,” her voice rose, “chose to bring her into my home,”, She gulped, trying not to sob., “Then you chose to screw her in our bed.”, she yelled, “And for the last six years, you chose to destroy us over and over again.”

Phillip shook his head and sighed. Like he was disappointed in her. “I will be back momentarily. If you feel the need to continue our conversation, then I would ask that you make an effort to calm down.” With that, he grabbed her spare keys and went downstairs.

Of course, she followed him.

Celine ran down the stairs. Out of breath, shoeless, and with runs in her expensive stockings. She peeked out the heavy door on the subterranean level where she left her car. She could see Phillip walking, with his back to her. She started to follow him, and then her phone buzzed. She ducked behind a pillar and looked at her phone. It was Kim, waiting to be let in.

Shoot!

Kim would have to wait. Celine wanted to see for herself what he was like with, that woman. Weaving and ducking behind cars like a maniac, Celine got as close as she dared and watched.

“Phi Phi. How long were you going to make me wait?”, the pouting blond asked.

“I’m sorry darling, but I’m here now. Let me move the car for you.”, Phillip said obviously used to this kind of banter with his mistress.

“Our whole night is ruined.”, she whined, and she pushed herself into his arms and snuggled into his chest turning a mournful face up to him.

“Did you get into a lot of trouble?”, she asked.

“Nothing for you to worry about.”, he said smiling down at her with a relaxed face.

“I shouldn’t have come here. It’s all my fault. I feel really bad. I just wanted you so much.”, she said.

Phillip kissed the top of her head and pinched her nose. Celine almost fell over on her butt. She had never seen a cutesy Phillip it was only passion dominance and obedience for her. Then they kissed and Celine covered her mouth to quiet her sobs and looked away.

Right into the eyes of a tall broad-shouldered man. He was standing by his car adjacent to her. His keys hung loosely in his hand. He was looking at Celine with a sad frown and then looked at Phillip and his face contorted with fury. Oh no, she knew him. He looked a lot different now, but she was sure it was Sebastian. The man she should have married. Of all the people to witness her humiliation.

She looked back at Phillip. She couldn’t think about Sebastian right now.

“I love you, Phi Phi.”

“Love you too baby.” Phillip opened the door for his mistress, and she got in. Then he got into Celine’s car and pulled out of the way.

That was the straw, the end of her limit. Celine had reached the border of her sanity. He said he loved her. So casually like they said it all the time. They were in a relationship. They were in love. The kind of love she had always longed for. The kind of love he never gave to her.

There was nothing left for her here. Grabbing at her chest Celine gasped for air. Within a few hours, she had lost her mother and her husband and discovered that her entire life was a lie. No longer caring if she was seen, Celine stood and staggered in the direction of the penthouse.