All Chapters of The Lace Lingerie Mystery: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

It took a while, but eventually, I saw the indication that he was typing. [Babe, don't worry. I'll handle it. We haven't done anything wrong.] He took forever to come up with that flimsy reply, and I couldn't help but laugh. It was such a half-hearted response. I simply typed that I was tired, turned off my phone, and went to bed. That night, I couldn't sleep. Memories rushed in like an uninvited thief, barging into my mind when I wasn't paying attention. I thought back to when I first met Milton. It seemed like no one could escape the pressure of being pushed into marriage, even though I was only 25 at the time. My mom had thrown me straight into the matchmaking scene. After meeting several bizarre candidates, my best friend, Kay Brown, mysteriously told me she knew a man who was smart, kind-hearted, and good-looking. She quickly set up a meeting for us. I met the guy at a café. Just as Kay had described, he was tall, handsome, and well-spoken. We hit it off and

I stood up and rummaged through the closet for what felt like ages until I finally found an old photo album. It didn't take long to flip through it and find the woman. In one group photo, she stood behind Milton; in another, just her half-face appeared beside him and his friends. There was even a candid shot of Milton alone, but in the background, I could see her hanging out with friends. I had no doubt about it—they had been involved, or at the very least, Milton had been secretly in love with her.It didn't really hurt, though. I'd always had a strong sense of self-preservation, but the feeling was still revolting—like chewing on a piece of gum someone else had spit out. Just as I was about to put the album back, I noticed a crumpled photo of Milton and me, which he'd promised to keep safe. Instead, he had tossed it aside and used it like a mat for the album containing that woman's picture. It was so pathetic it almost made me laugh. Once I had a lead, everything else came e

Uncle Stanley seemed upset. [Who makes jokes like that? Your girlfriend is completely unreliable. How could she joke about something that affects Olivia's reputation?]Aunt Josephine agreed. [That's true. What will people think of Olivia if this gets out?]Milton was panicking, but I was busy reading a message from Kay.[I found her. The woman's name is Lindsay Salazar. She works in sales and was a college classmate of Milton's. Turns out, she has a fiancé.]I froze. Great. Two people got cheated on.Kay had always felt guilty for introducing me to a playboy back in the day, so she fully supported my free-spirited relationship with Milton. But now, with this mess unfolding, Kay was more upset than I was.Kay added, [If you need anything, just let me know. I've been practicing my kicks—one punch, and that disgusting couple won't even have a chance to speak!]I chuckled and sent her a smiling emoji before turning back to the family group chat, just in time to witness a show.It t

Lately, I'd been ignoring Milton a lot. When he asked me for something, I just pretended I didn't hear him. Whenever he tried talking to me, I didn't bother with a kind response. I always found an excuse to pick a fight.After Milton left, I opened his social media account.[If it weren't for love, who would choose to live in the dark? My rose, please wait for me. I'll get you a piece of fertile land!]I felt a twinge of bitterness. I quickly switched to the chat interface with Lindsay.Lindsay wrote, [Sharon, you were right. Money really does show whether someone loves you or not. He hasn't bought me any gifts lately.] I replied, [If he doesn't buy you stuff, you just have to push. Men have a tipping point. The more you spend his money, the more they'll feel invested, and they'll love you more.]Lindsay eagerly agreed. [Sharon, you're so amazing. This time, I want a car. Let's see if he agrees!]I wrote back, [Go for it!]I told Kay to spread the word that Lawrence Enterpri

Lindsay was crying and hiding, screaming in pain as she was struck while desperately shouting for Milton to save her, but Milton could barely protect himself. The man seemed experienced, his punches landing with force, until finally, Milton was on the ground, apologizing to them. The man humiliated him further, making him grovel and kiss his shoe. I knew this kind of degradation could break a man's spirit. Kay sent me the photos she had taken. I didn't want things to escalate further, so I instructed the staff to step in and separate them before I drove away. That night, Milton told me he was out with friends and wouldn't be home. I reminded him to take care of himself. The next day, I called Milton and asked to meet him at a hotel. He hesitated, but eventually agreed after some time. When he arrived, wearing a cap pulled low over his face and a long-sleeve t-shirt, not daring to look up, I tried my best to suppress a smile. I walked over, pulling him toward a grand hall th