Chapter 3

I slowly sank into the sofa, pulled out a cigarette, and lit it with deliberate calm.

I took a deep drag, exhaling slowly as the smoke curled around him.

My wife couldn't even bother to pretend with me anymore. Jorge had already gotten his fill of her.*

I was just testing her. Even if Nancy had agreed, I still wouldn't have wanted her back.

"Elliot, you should get some rest. You've got an early start tomorrow," Catalina gently reminded me.

I just replied with a cold "Hmm."

I finished one cigarette, then lit another.

Of course I was hurt by Nancy's infidelity, but the rage burned hotter than the pain.

I stubbed out my cigarette. The phone on the sofa flashed. My wife had left it behind. I picked it up and saw a message from Jorge.

[Darling, when I close my eyes, it's your voice I hear, your body I feel.]

[Once your husband's gone, we'll have three days and nights of nonstop passion, darling.]

Staring at the phone screen, I let out a bitter chuckle.

Three days and nights without sleep? Perfect. I would make sure they got exactly what they deserved.

It reminded me of the miniature camera a friend had given me long ago.

I still remembered exactly what he said when he handed it to me.

He joked, "Just in case your wife cheats on you at home, you'll have solid proof."

I ripped open the box and, turns out, my friend really was a genius. He'd packed more than just one.

That night, I wasn't idle. I set up cameras in the living room, then made up an excuse to slip into the master bedroom and install another one.

That morning, I actually took a cab to the airport and even snapped a few photos there to make my alibi look convincing.

After all, if I was going to put on an act, I might as well go all the way—a lesson I'd ironically learned from Nancy and Catalina.

I took another cab to the hotel, and by the time I finished my preparations, it was nearly noon.

I glanced at the surveillance feed on my phone. Nancy had only just woken up, and Jorge hadn't shown up yet.

So I found a restaurant to grab lunch first.

I hadn't been seated long when a familiar figure walked in.

it was Jorge, and this time, he actually had a woman with him.

I immediately averted my gaze and pulled my hat low to keep from being spotted.

Coincidentally, Jorge and the woman sat at the table right next to mine.

"Honey, what would you like to eat today?" Jorge's voice dripped with sycophantic sweetness.

Suddenly, it hit me. Jorge had just called her "darling."

Wait, was he actually married? But judging by Nancy's reaction yesterday, she clearly had no idea.

The woman said, "Honey, do you really have to be away for so long on this business trip?"

Jorge said, "Yeah, I wish I didn't have to, but someone's got to provide for you and our little one on the way."

Those two short sentences packed a punch. My brain was scrambling to keep up.

Not only was Jorge married, but his wife was pregnant. He was about to be a dad.

What a piece of work! Cheating on his pregnant wife, two-timing both women, and keeping both plates spinning.

The woman said, again, "Honey, now that I'm pregnant... You won't go looking elsewhere, will you?"

Gotta admit, women really did understand men. Their intuition was spot on. Props to Jorge's wife for seeing right through him.

"Darling, pregnancy is making you paranoid. You're the only one in my heart," Jorge cooed.

Jorge, that silver-tongued devil—I could never match his level of deception.

They chatted about all sorts of random things, and I just waited patiently until they finally left.

As I stepped out of the restaurant, I spotted Margaret Clay at the intersection, staring at her phone with a troubled expression.

Jorge had already vanished without a trace.

Suddenly, a car sped toward us. With lightning-fast reflexes, I yanked Jorge' wife to safety.

"Are you Elliot Romero?"

I froze, completely caught off guard.

I had just saved Jorge's wife, yet she knew who I was.

Could she already know about her husband's affair?

"You don't recognize me? I'm Margaret—your old deskmate from middle school," Margaret said.

I paused for a moment, then realization dawned on me as I took a closer look at the woman in front of me.