I locked my gaze with Isabella, letting the silence stretch between us. She held my eyes, her expression shifting and then her cheeks flushed crimson. Her voice broke through, tremulous yet urgent, as she pulled me into a desperate embrace.

"Claude," she whispered, her tone cracking, "you don’t think this is mine, do you?"

Her voice trembled as she continued, her arms tightening around me.

"I know you better than anyone. I know how much you hate strawberry-flavored things. After all these years, you think I’d let something like this into our home?"

Tears glistened in her wide eyes, the sincerity in her expression nearly palpable. She leaned closer, her lips brushing against mine, murmuring, "Darling, you’re my life."

Her hands cupped my face, her gaze unwavering. "If you don’t trust me, I’ll march back to the office right now. I’ll find out who it belongs to and fire them this instant!"

Her resolve seemed unshakable. Her voice, her gestures—all of it carried the weight of truth. She turned away, already moving toward the door to prove her point.

I reached out, tugging gently on the corner of her sleeve.

"There’s no need," I said softly.

She turned back instantly, searching my face for reassurance. I held her gaze as I spoke slowly, deliberately.

"I believe you won’t lie to me."

Her face broke into a smile as she exhaled a relieved breath. She leaned in to ruffle my hair affectionately before heading to the kitchen.

“I’ll go prepare your lunch for tomorrow,” she said, her voice light once more.

From my vantage on the second-floor railing, I watched her move about the kitchen with the practiced ease of routine. My thoughts began to spiral.

Six years of marriage and not once had Isabella shirked this ritual. No matter how demanding her schedule, she always made time to prepare meals for me—hand-picking fresh ingredients, crafting dishes with her own hands.

Her devotion baffled others. My colleagues often teased, “Why does Madam Waterlow bother cooking herself? With her fortune, she could hire the best chefs in the world!”

To this, Isabella always gave the same answer, with a hint of a smile, "Claude likes what I cook."

Her love, so constant and absolute, had always seemed indestructible. But could she have forgotten my vow? The one I whispered to her on our wedding day, amidst promises of forever.

If you ever betray me, I’ll vanish from your world entirely.

A sudden crack of thunder shattered my thoughts. My head turned toward the sound, and in its wake, I heard Isabella’s light footsteps approaching. Convinced I was asleep, she tucked the blankets carefully around me. Her fingers lingered on my shoulder as if seeking reassurance, before she began to retreat.

The stillness broke with the sharp trill of her phone. Under the dim light, I saw her brow crease as she glanced at the screen. Her eyes flicked to me before she answered in a hushed voice, moving toward the staircase.

"Didn’t I tell you not to call after hours?" she hissed. "If it’s urgent, handle it tomorrow at the office. Don’t disturb my husband and me—"

Her voice faltered. Then, sharper, more panicked.

"What? You’re here? At my house?"

My heartbeat quickened as I watched her rush downstairs. Moments later, I slid out of bed and approached the tall French windows. From here, I had a clear view of the villa’s entrance.

There, standing soaked under the pouring rain, was Samuel, his figure outlined by the storm.

Isabella opened the door, an umbrella shielding her from the rain. Her voice was firm but low, though I could still catch her words.

"Why are you here? Didn’t I tell you never to come near my house, especially not in front of my husband?"

Samuel tilted his head upward, his face an open book of anguish. "I’m scared of the thunder, Isabella," he admitted, stepping closer. "I... I miss you."

Without warning, he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers.

I froze.

Isabella stiffened for a moment, the umbrella trembling in her hand. Then, as if succumbing to gravity, she steadied Samuel with her other arm, her palm resting on his waist.

"Stop it," she whispered, her tone soft, almost playful. But her actions betrayed her words. She didn’t resist; she didn’t pull away.

When he finally drew back, her fingers gently brushed the rain from his face. She frowned slightly, an expression I once thought reserved only for me.

"How did you handle storms before you met me?" she murmured.

Her gaze fell to his drenched clothes and I saw her swallow hard.

"You’re soaked. You’ll catch a cold. Come inside—I’ll make sure you dry off."

Samuel’s shirt clung to his sculpted frame, each curve accentuated by the waterlogged fabric. Isabella’s eyes darted away, but the tension in her expression was unmistakable.

"Isabella," Samuel asked softly, his voice tinged with hope, "can I take a shower inside?"

Isabella’s expression hardened at Samuel’s plea, her usual composure replaced by an icy resolve.

"No!" she snapped, her voice firm and unyielding. "If my husband finds you in the house, it will cause unnecessary trouble. I’ll take you to a hotel."

Without hesitation, she stepped back into the villa, grabbed her coat and draped it over Samuel’s shoulders. She tossed him the car keys, her tone leaving no room for argument.

"Wait for me in the car."

Handing him the umbrella, she turned to head inside. The quick efficiency of her movements betrayed her nerves as she went upstairs to change her clothes. Before leaving, she entered the bedroom to turn off the lights, her hand hovering over the switch.

“Don’t turn off the lights," my voice broke the silence, cutting through the dim room.

Isabella froze, her hand suspended mid-air. Slowly, she turned to face me, her smile shaky and forced.

"Darling," she said, her tone light but strained, "when did you wake up?"

Feigning grogginess, I propped myself up slightly.

"What are you standing there for, my dear? Come to bed."

My gaze dropped to her attire, catching the subtle change. My brow furrowed.

"Didn’t you have your pajamas on just now? Are you going somewhere?"

Her reply came quickly, almost too quickly. "No, I just tried on what I planned to wear tomorrow. I’ll go to bed now."

She urged me to sleep first, but I shook my head, insistent that I watch her join me. Isabella hesitated but relented, returning to her pajamas and slipping into bed beside me.

"Darling," she murmured, pulling me close, "I’ll hold you while you sleep."

I closed my eyes, her familiar warmth enveloping me. But my mind was elsewhere, replaying the scene from earlier—Samuel’s lips on hers, her body frozen but unresisting.

Samuel, the male secretary, had worked for Isabella for two years. Until now, I had never doubted her. After our marriage, Isabella had insisted on hiring only female assistants, ensuring that no man could intrude on her professional or personal space.

But Samuel’s entry into her life had been... unconventional. I remembered that day vividly. I had come to her office to surprise her with fruit, only to find Samuel being rejected during his interview. He had collapsed to the floor in despair, his desperation palpable.

"Please, Madam Waterlow," he had begged, his voice raw, "if I don’t get this job, I’ll die!"

Isabella had remained cold and indifferent, unmoved by his pleas. But Samuel had escalated his desperation, running to the rooftop and shouting his ultimatum.

"Madam Waterlow!" he had cried, his voice echoing through the city. "I met all the requirements! Why am I being rejected just because I’m a man? I won’t accept this! If you don’t hire me, I’ll jump right now!"

Fearing the damage this spectacle could cause to the company’s reputation, I had urged Isabella to hire him. "Just give him a position," I had said. "Have him assist someone else. Keep him out of your way."

For a time, Isabella treated him with the same coldness, keeping their interactions strictly professional. So when had this connection begun?

Now, as she lay beside me, I felt the tension between us like a chasm. She shifted restlessly, her hand attempting to slip away from mine, but I tightened my grip.

After a long silence, I heard her sigh softly. The faint glow of her phone lit up her face as she began typing a message. I squinted, catching the words she sent to her assistant.

[Samuel is in my car. Take him to the hotel. I can’t leave right now.]

The assistant’s reply came swiftly and Isabella visibly relaxed, setting her phone aside. She leaned back into me, her hand gently resting on my chest as though trying to dispel the unease in the air.

By morning, I rose and prepared for work, my thoughts heavy with questions. When I arrived at the office, the atmosphere was noticeably off. Something had shifted, an unspoken tension lingering in the air.

Samuel had made a scene. His disheveled appearance caught everyone’s attention. His eyes were red and swollen, his posture slouched with exhaustion.

Colleagues surrounded him, their tones a mix of teasing and concern.

"Hey, Sam," one quipped, "did you fight with your girlfriend? Those bags under your eyes are giving you away."

Another chimed in, "Yeah, did she have her way with you? Toss you around all night, huh?"

Someone scoffed, trying to defend him. "Cut it out. Can’t you see Sam’s in a bad mood? His girlfriend probably mistreated him. Women, I tell you—they’re all trouble."

At that moment, I entered, Isabella following closely behind me. The room fell into a hush as Samuel’s puffy eyes locked onto hers. His lips twisted into a bitter smile.

"You’re right," he said loudly, his voice dripping with venom. "Women are trouble. They’re all liars."

His pointed words were ambiguous, yet unmistakably aimed at Isabella. With exaggerated gall, he leaned closer to the female assistant, whispering something that made her giggle nervously, all while stealing glances at Isabella.

I watched as Isabella stiffened beside me, her composure cracking ever so slightly.

Isabella’s demeanor remained calm throughout the office’s murmurs, betraying no outward reaction. But I knew her too well—her body language told a different story. She was tense, a taut string ready to snap.

She brought me my morning coffee, her routine flawless as always.

"Darling," she said softly, her voice a practiced melody, "I added more sugar today. You’ll love it."

From behind, her arms wrapped around my waist, a gesture that felt more performative than affectionate.

"You work hard now and I’ll ask my assistant to heat up your lunch later," she added before leaving my office briskly, heading into her day with mechanical precision.

Moments later, as we crossed paths, I overheard her call Samuel in an icy, measured tone, "Come to the office."

The office murmured in response.

"Looks like Samuel’s about to get another scolding," one whispered.

"Yeah, remember last time? They were locked in there for two hours and poor Samuel came out with red, swollen eyes. That woman’s a tyrant with him!"

"Well, what do you expect? Madam Waterlow only has eyes for her husband. She doesn’t even look at anyone else!"

Hearing this, a bitter chuckle escaped my lips.

Only me, huh?

Doubt gnawed at me and on impulse, I opened my laptop, accessing the hidden camera I had installed in Isabella’s office just days ago. It was meant to test the device’s clarity—an innocent curiosity—but now, it served a darker purpose.

The feed clicked on and the scene unfolded before me.

The office door was firmly shut. Samuel stood there, sulking, his expression dark and brooding. Isabella sighed heavily and stepped toward him, wrapping her arms around his waist with unsettling familiarity.

"You’re trying to upset me, aren’t you?" she murmured, her voice dripping with a mix of exasperation and indulgence. "I told you—last night was a special situation. My husband woke up; I couldn’t leave."

Her voice softened into a coaxing plea. "Don’t be angry. I’ll use a business trip as an excuse tonight and stay home with you all night. Does that make you happy?"

Samuel’s face twisted with hurt and accusation. "How do I know you’re not lying to me again?"

His tone sharpened, a mix of jealousy and bitterness. "Every day, you cook for him, pamper him. What about me? Why can’t I ever taste the food you make?"

He punctuated his words with mock defiance. "Maybe I’ll just eat the food you brought for Claude today. What do you think of that?"

Isabella’s expression darkened in an instant, her tone turning cold and sharp.

"You wouldn’t dare." Her voice was laced with quiet venom.

"I’ve told you—don’t drag our affair into my husband’s life. If he hears so much as a whisper of this, I’ll fire you on the spot and cut you off completely. No more meetings, no more chances. You’ll be done."

Samuel’s bravado crumbled under her glare. He grabbed her hand hesitantly, his tone softening to a pitiful murmur.

"I’m sorry. I was just joking. I was still mad from last night. You left me, didn’t comfort me... I felt abandoned."

His vulnerability softened her and Isabella’s gaze shifted, her eyes filling with a possessiveness that sent a chill down my spine. She reached up, hooking her arms around his neck and kissed him with a feral intensity.

As their passion escalated, Samuel’s hands fumbled impatiently, pulling at her collar and loosening her belt.

"Is the door locked?" Isabella rasped, her voice heavy with urgency.

"Yes," he stammered, nodding fervently. "Locked tight. Your husband won’t find out."

I sat frozen, staring at the screen as the scene unfolded in all its sordid detail. My chest tightened, my breath catching in my throat. Tears burned at the corners of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.

They were reckless, consumed by their lust, unwilling to wait until night. They tangled themselves in disheveled passion, oblivious to the consequences.

Several times, I fought the urge to storm in and confront them, but I held back, my shaking hand hitting the record button. If nothing else, I would have my evidence.

The minutes dragged on like hours. When it was finally over, they clung to each other, both breathless and flushed.

"You’re impossible," Isabella murmured, her voice caught somewhere between chastisement and indulgence. "All you ever do is push my limits. My waist hurts so much now; I can’t even walk..."

Her words trailed off as Samuel smirked, leaning into her once more.

My world crumbled around me as the screen dimmed to black.

Isabella, I thought bitterly, you’ve been lying to me all along.