Chapter 3
After Wayne left, I sat alone in my office, staring at those photos.
Just like that, three years of marriage were trampled on and rendered utterly worthless.
I lit a cigarette, my mind racing as I wrestled with how to handle this betrayal.
Should I just lay it all out, or keep playing dumb and see how far she planned to take this game?
Finally, I made up my mind. I'd go home first and see what kind of act Rebecca would put on tonight.
When I got back home, Rebecca was cooking in the kitchen.
"Ben, you're home! I made your favorite barbecue ribs today." She beamed as she rushed to greet me, wrapping her arms around me in a tight hug.
I caught a whiff of perfume on her. It was not the scent she usually wore.
I asked, "Are you wearing a new perfume today?"
"Oh... It's a new fragrance my colleague recommended. Do you like it?" Rebecca replied nervously, her fingers fidgeting with her sleeve.
"It smells lovely," I said with a forced smile, pulling her into an embrace.
She stiffened slightly but still returned my hug.
"Ben, there's something about my company I need to discuss with you," Rebecca said cautiously over dinner.
"What is it?" I asked.
She hesitated, then said, "Well, the thing is... My company's been facing some issues with the cash flow lately, and I might need to bring in new investors."
I looked at her and asked, "So, are you saying you want me to put more money into your company?"
"Not necessarily," Rebecca said. "I've already been in touch with several investment firms, and Starry Investments' offer seems pretty decent."
Starry Investments.
I knew it.
"Devon, that sly old fox?" I frowned. "His terms must be pretty steep, right?"
"Well... It's not too bad. They just want a controlling stake," Rebecca said cautiously.
"A controlling stake? That means you won't be in charge anymore," I stated.
Rebecca shrugged. "It doesn't matter as long as I get my cut."
"Are you absolutely sure about this?" I asked, staring straight into her eyes.
"Yeah, I've made up my mind." Rebecca nodded, though her eyes darted away nervously, unable to meet my gaze.
I put down my fork and leaned back in my chair.
"Rebecca, we've been married for three years now," I remarked.
"Yeah, time really flies," Rebecca replied, forcing a smile.
Looking at her, I asked calmly, "What do you think of our marriage?"
She froze for a split second before forcing a smile. "It's great. We're very happy."
"Is that so?" I sneered. "Because to me, it seems like you've completely lost all attachment to this family."
"How can you say such a thing? How could I possibly have no attachment to this family?" she quickly retorted.
"Then why are you selling your company to Devon? You worked hard for it," I questioned.
"I... I just feel like running the business alone is exhausting. And now that we're expecting, I really want to focus more on our family," she replied.
"Focus on our family, huh?" I stood up and walked right up to Rebecca. "Tell me, Rebecca, do you have any idea what I despise most?"
"What?" Rebecca looked up at me, fear flickering in her eyes.
"Lies," I said, enunciating each word. "There's nothing I despise more than being lied to."
Rebecca's face instantly drained of color.
"Ben, wh-what do you mean?" she asked.
"It's nothing. Just a reminder—honesty is the bedrock of marriage." I settled back into my seat. "Let's eat before the food gets cold."
Rebecca forced a smile, but I could already tell she was starting to panic inside.
That night, she was out on the balcony again, whispering on the phone.
"Tobias, I think he's onto something... I don't know. He was asking me all these weird questions today... What do we do? Okay, got it. You watch your back too..." she said.
Lying in bed, I listened to Rebecca's hushed whispers, and with every word, the rage inside me burned hotter.
Since she was so keen on playing games, I would play along to the bitter end.
The next morning, I made up my mind.
I was going to the gym myself to confront Tobias, the guy who cuckolded me.
"Rebecca, I'm thinking of dropping by your gym this afternoon to check it out—maybe meet that personal trainer of yours while I'm at it," I said casually over breakfast.
"What? Today?" Rebecca's hand trembled, and the spoon she was holding nearly clattered to the table. "It's not really a good time. Tobias has other clients scheduled..."
"It's fine. I'm just curious to check out the place. I don't have to meet him," I said with a smile. "Or do you not welcome me there?"
She managed a smile. "Of course you're welcome! Then... I'll just skip my afternoon gym session and go with you instead."
"No need, just stick to your schedule. I'll go there myself," I insisted.
Rebecca's face darkened, but she couldn't stop me.
"All right, then. I'll be there at 3 p.m.," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "What time will you get there?"
"Probably around four," I said, deliberately picking a later time. "I just wanted to see how you usually exercise."
Rebecca nodded, but I could see right through her. She was a nervous wreck beneath the surface.
Back at the office that morning, I deliberately pulled up Tobias' profile.
He was 25 years old then, graduated with a degree in sports science, and worked at the gym for two years. With his good looks, he was a hit with the female clients.
Most importantly, Tobias was indeed in debt to loan sharks—a crushing 160-thousand-dollar burden that left him desperate for cash.
And Rebecca was his cash cow.
At 2:30 p.m., I left my office early and made a beeline for the gym.
This upscale chain gym was nestled in a downtown office tower, featuring luxurious decor and cutting-edge equipment.
I didn't go in immediately. Instead, I settled into a seat at a café across the street, keeping a watchful eye on the gym through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
At 3 p.m. sharp, Rebecca showed up.
She was dressed in a form-fitting workout outfit—her figure as toned as ever, showing no sign of pregnancy.
The moment she stepped into the gym, a tall, well-built man immediately came over to greet her.
It was Tobias.
Even through the window, I could see the unmistakable intimacy between them.
Tobias relieved Rebecca of her gym bag. As they chatted, they stood very close, their arms occasionally brushing.
I ordered a coffee and watched them patiently.
Half an hour later, I witnessed a scene that made my blood boil.
In a corner of the gym, Tobias was guiding Rebecca through her stretches. His hand rested on her waist, a posture I found disturbingly intimate.
What was even more infuriating was that when no one else was looking, Tobias audaciously leaned in and whispered something in Rebecca's ear, making her blush and smile.
I clenched my fists so hard my knuckles turned white. I was on the verge of storming in there and beating Tobias to a pulp.
But I held myself back.
It was not the time yet.