Chapter 2

My dad moved quickly.

I had just gotten home when a divorce lawyer added me and sent me 3GB of evidence and materials.

I clicked on it. Besides photos and hotel records, there was a video account I'd never seen before.

Eighty-three videos, each with Jensen's shadow in them.

I learned that their first kiss was on my twenty-third birthday.

I went upstairs to get the cake. They were in the living room, kissing passionately.

In that video uploaded on my birthday, Violet's caption was just two words—"Thrilling."

I learned that their first time sleeping together was during that citywide rainstorm.

Violet's neighborhood had a power outage. I knew she was afraid of the dark, so I drove through the storm to her place to keep her company.

Outside, lightning flashed and thunder roared. Rainwater reached my knees. I was completely soaked.

Violet's door was locked. She had gone on a business trip with Jensen.

Kansas, three days and two nights. She didn't tell me.

Afraid something had happened to her, I knocked on her door for half an hour in the darkness.

She and Jensen were in a hotel suite, eating a carefully prepared candlelit dinner, completing their first intimate encounter.

And the most recent video was uploaded ten minutes ago.

The background was Violet's home. She was still wearing that nightgown, smiling innocently at the camera.

"Almost got caught sneaking around for our date, but luckily Mr. Jensen said he'd make it up to me."

"He's not allowed to go home tonight."

Her tone was so natural, without a trace of guilt.

I replayed that video twenty times, finally confirming.

That little sister who had followed me around since age seven, who needed my protection, had grown up.

The cost was destroying my family.

My hand gripping the mouse was white-knuckled. Suddenly I remembered the day Jensen and I got married.

Violet wore the bridesmaid dress we'd chosen back in high school, crying with snot and tears everywhere.

She grabbed my hand and threatened Jensen:

"Christina is my best friend for life. If you ever dare bully her, I definitely won't let you get away with it!"

I crossed through the crowd and handed the bouquet directly to Violet.

"Violet, I hope you'll be happy too."

She froze for a moment, then burst into tears, shouting loudly in my ear:

"Christina, you must be happy forever!"

Scene after scene flashed back before my eyes.

I sat on the sofa, tears flowing silently.

My phone rang. It was Jensen calling.

I answered. The man's voice came through, half probing, half complaining.

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming back? If Violet hadn't told me, I wouldn't even know."

"Where are you now?"

"Should I come pick you up?"

I stayed silent, my gaze moving to Violet's latest video. She said she didn't want Jensen to go home.

"I'm at the airport. The work issue isn't resolved yet. I came back to get a file, leaving right away."

"Day after tomorrow at 8 AM, come pick me up at the airport."

Hearing my words, Jensen on the other end was obviously relieved, with a few women's laughs mixed in.

"Okay, I'm still at the office, so I won't see you off."

"Let me know when you land."

The call ended. The lawyer looked at me hesitantly.

"Ms. Christina, you..."

I smiled and pulled out a tissue to wipe away my tears.

"Attorney Foster, if we catch them in the act, wouldn't the divorce case be more favorable for me?"