Chapter 2
Rafael never came back that night.
I stared at the dark bags under my eyes in the mirror.
I always knew it would come to this.
Rebecca was his childhood sweetheart. They ran in the same elite circles, and she was always the one that got away.
Then she fell in love with someone else, moved to another country, and got married.
After she left, Rafael completely shut down. He became cold and distant.
That was when we got married.
My family used to be a big deal in Westfield. But a bad investment three years ago left us drowning in debt.
The Morales family happened to want our company's real estate portfolio.
My father agreed to the marriage without even asking me.
Rafael hated the idea and forced me to sign a strict two-year contract.
His parents didn't care as long as the merger went through. They only asked that we try for a baby.
After the wedding, I poured my heart into playing the perfect trophy wife.
Rafael loved late night track racing. I swallowed my motion sickness and rode shotgun in the freezing cold.
He hated spicy food, so my favorite dishes never made it to the dinner table.
Whenever we attended his friends' parties, I stood quietly by his side and played the elegant, supportive partner.
Gradually, he started to warm up to me.
He bought me a massive diamond at a charity auction. He took me to Alacea to see the Northern Lights.
He kept track of my cycle and even put actual effort into our monthly scheduled intimacy.
But the second he heard Rebecca was getting divorced, he reverted to the man I met on day one.
He grew cold to me, desperately waiting for her to come home.
He even dusted off our forgotten two-year contract just to clear the way for her.
I rubbed my temples. If this was how it was going to be, then I was done.
*****
Rafael finally came home.
When he saw me sitting in the bedroom, he looked incredibly guilty.
"Rebecca was in a lot of pain. She didn't know which hospital was best, so I took her to the ER," he said.
I stayed quiet for a second before snapping. "She only lived in East Coast for a few years. It's not like she grew up there.
"How could she not know how to use Google Maps to find a hospital?"
Rafael looked instantly disappointed. "She hasn't been back in years. It's normal to feel disoriented. Are you seriously accusing me of cheating?
"You really need to pick your moments to act jealous. She was in agony. You have absolutely zero empathy."
He noticed my exhausted face and reached out to hug me. "Okay. I know you didn't sleep well either. I promise it won't happen again."
I stepped back, dodging his arms.
The cloying scent of Rebecca's perfume clung to his jacket, making my stomach turn.
As he saw me gag, Rafael's eyes widened in anger. "What kind of act is this? Rebecca is just a friend.
"I already told you nothing happened. Who are you putting this show on for?"
I frowned and swallowed my nausea. "Rafael, you know my stomach is ruined."
His temper flared. "You said it yourself last night. You said one drink was fine.
"Besides, you only ruined your stomach to prove you were useful to the company. Otherwise, why would my family even keep you around?"
He pointed at the door. "If you're going to throw up, get out. Don't do it in my bedroom."
It really was sickening.
And Rafael's memory was truly terrible.
He forgot that when things were good between us, he insisted on sharing our phone locations.
"Let's share our locations. That way, no matter where we go, I'll always know you're safe." He had looked at me with such tender eyes.
Last night, I watched his GPS dot for hours. It stayed planted at Rebecca's townhouse. It never moved once.