Chapter 2

I set my phone on the table and put it on speaker. "Mandy, did Melissa ever think about how I'd feel when she took a photo in my kitchen wearing my pajamas?"

Mandy said, "She's young. What could she possibly know? Zane works around the clock. What's wrong with asking her to help him a little?

"You're never home anyway. He needs someone to take care of him."

I sneered. "Taking care of him? She wore my robe, drank from my mug, and called my home hers."

Mandy paused, then her voice turned sharper. "Your husband works hard. Of course, he needs someone to take care of him. Can you stop being so petty?"

I said. "Well, since you're so okay with it, why don't you give her your key and let her wear your pajamas instead?"

"Don't twist my words."

"I thought you said there was nothing wrong with it."

"Vivian, don't flatter yourself just because the company went public. The Graves family got where it is because of Zane. He earned everything he has. You happened to show up at that time and marry him. That's pure luck."

I let out a laugh. "Why don't you say that to Zane's face?"

Mandy said, "I absolutely will. Now go back to the office, apologize to Melissa and Zane, and tell everyone in that group chat this was all a misunderstanding."

"What if I refuse?" I shot back.

Mandy's voice dropped lower. "Then get a divorce. The Graves family doesn't want someone like you."

"Fine," I said coolly. "Have Zane send over the divorce papers."

There was a brief silence on the phone. She probably hadn't expected me to agree so quickly.

"Don't regret this," she said.

"Let's hope your son isn't the one who ends up regretting it." I hung up and blocked her number.

Right then, the doorbell rang. I peeked through the peephole.

Ava Hoffman was standing outside with breakfast in one hand and a stack of printed documents in the other. She looked like she was ready to fight.

I opened the door.

The moment she stepped inside, she blurted out, "Has Zane lost his mind? He actually brought another woman into your home?"

"Oh, he did more than that," I said, taking the documents. "He made her send me the photo."

Ava set the breakfast down on the table. "So, what's your plan?"

I flipped through the documents she brought. "We're going to see the property manager."

"To check the security logs?"

"Yeah."

"What if he deleted the records?"

I slipped the sticky note into a folder. "Then we'll check the housekeeping records.

"Every delivery. Every load of laundry. Every set of fresh sheets. People can hide an affair, but they can't erase every footprint they leave behind."

Ava stared at me. "Vivian, don't tell me you've known something was wrong this whole time."

I didn't say a word. I simply snapped the folder shut.

I hadn't shed a single tear, but that didn't mean I wasn't hurting.

The moment Zane brought Melissa into our home, he destroyed far more than a kitchen. He ruined the last thing our marriage still had.

I grabbed my car keys. "Before we go to the office, we're stopping by the house."

Ava muttered, "Alright, I'm with you. Let's see how many traces that little bitch left behind."

As I reached the door, my phone lit up again.

Zane texted: [Can you stop? Melissa cried because of you.]

I texted back: [You'll see.]

When Morgan, the property manager, saw me, his smile instantly went stiff. "Mrs. Graves, is there something I can help you with?"

I put my ID and property papers on the table. "Pull up the entry logs."

He rubbed his hands, forcing a smile. "I'm sorry, but only the house owner can apply for access to those records."

"Aren't I the owner?" I shot back.

"Of course, you are," he replied, nudging the documents back toward me. "But Mr. Graves spoke with us a few days ago. He asked us not to pull any records because of privacy concerns."

Ava leaned against the doorframe and laughed. "That's hilarious. The house belongs to her, yet one conversation with her husband is enough for you to ignore the actual owner, huh?"

Morgan's expression shifted. "Ma'am, we're following company policy."

I looked him straight in the eye. "Show me the policy you're talking about."

Morgan reached instinctively for the glass on his desk, only to find it empty. He quietly set his hand back down.

He said, "Mrs. Graves, there's no need to make this any messier. Mr. Graves has always been one of our most valued residents, and we've worked with him for years."

"Then I suppose Melissa qualifies as one of your valued clients too, huh?" I said.

Morgan fell silent.

I pulled the photo out of my bag and laid it on his desk. "She's wearing my pajamas in my kitchen. You let someone into my home without my permission. What if she'd stolen something?"

Morgan quickly replied, "We didn't let any strangers in."

"Are you suggesting Zane brought her in himself?" I pressed.

"I can't answer that."

"Let's see what the logs say then."

Morgan's forehead was slick with sweat.

Ava walked over to the table and tapped the folder. "Our lawyer is already involved. If you won't give us the records today, we'll take this up with your headquarters."

Morgan stood up. "Mrs. Graves, please wait. I'll check the computer."

However, as he reached the door, a soft voice called out from outside. "Vivian, what are you doing here?"

Melissa was standing by the entrance in a blue dress with a box of pastries in her hand.

When she saw me, she instinctively took a step back, thinking I was about to hit her.

Zane was right behind her.

It had only been two days, but he looked exhausted. His jaw was covered in stubble, his shirt was creased, and he looked like he'd barely slept.

He didn't look at me. His eyes went straight to the access log request in Morgan's hand.

"Vivian." Zane walked toward me, keeping his voice low. "Why are you checking the logs?"

"I'm finding out who walked into my house," I said coolly.

Melissa bit her lips. "Vivian, do you still not believe me? I really was helping Mr. Graves clean up the kitchen."

Ava shot back. "Since when does cleaning a kitchen require putting on pajamas? Is that standard procedure where you're from?"

Melissa's eyes welled up with tears as she glanced at Zane. "Mr. Graves, I told you Vivian would never believe me. I shouldn't have come. I've only made things worse for everyone."

Zane frowned. "Vivian, if you're upset, take it out on me. Leave her out of this."

"She put on my pajamas, made herself at home in my kitchen, and sent me a photo," I said, meeting his eyes. "And now you're saying I'm the one making things difficult for her?"

"I asked her to go that day," Zane said.

"Which day?" I pressed.

Zane froze.

I took a step closer. "Answer me. Are you talking about the day she took that photo or all the times before it?"

Melissa jumped in right away. "Vivian, don't try to mislead Mr. Graves. I swear, it only happened once."

I turned to Morgan. "Check the logs."