I couldn’t sit in that empty house another second. The silence pressed against me like a cage, every tick of the clock mocking the fact that Reid had left me again. For her.

When the driver looked up in surprise as I came down the stairs in a fitted black dress and heels, I didn’t even give him the chance to ask.

“Take me to a club,” I ordered.

“Madam… at this hour?” he hesitated.

“Yes. And wait outside for me. Don’t follow me in,” I said sharply, sliding into the car.

The city lights blurred past the window, neon signs glowing against the dark sky. By the time we pulled up to the club, the music was already pulsing from inside, bass vibrating through the pavement. I stepped out, the night air brushing against my bare shoulders, and walked straight in without looking back.

Inside, it was chaos in the most intoxicating way, flashing lights, bodies pressed together, the smell of alcohol and perfume thick in the air. For the first time that night, I felt alive.

I made my way to the bar, ordering a glass of red wine, when a familiar voice caught me off guard.

“Well, if it isn’t Mrs. CEO,” Adrian drawled smoothly from a stool nearby, his glass of whiskey in hand.

I turned, startled, but quickly composed myself. “Adrian.”

He grinned, his eyes scanning me slowly. “You look… different tonight. Not the elegant hostess from the restaurant. More like a woman who came to forget something.”

I sipped my wine, meeting his gaze without flinching. “Maybe I did.”

He leaned closer, lowering his voice. “Let me guess. Reid’s busy again?”

The way he said it, with that mocking edge, made my chest tighten. I gave a small laugh, more bitter than amused. “What else is new?”

Adrian chuckled, taking another sip of whiskey. “And so you came here. Alone. Brave… or dangerous?”

“I told the driver to wait outside,” I said casually, though my heart thudded faster under his gaze.

His lips curved. “So technically not alone. But still lonely.”

I turned away from him, letting the music pull me. “Maybe I don’t want to talk. Maybe I just want to feel.”

Before I could overthink it, I walked toward the stage where the DJ’s lights flashed and the beat was strongest. A few people were already dancing, but I climbed onto the platform, the spirit and anger giving me courage I didn’t know I had.

From the stage, my eyes caught Adrian’s. He was leaning back at the bar, his gaze locked on me, a slow smile spreading across his face. He lifted his glass in a silent toast.

I laughed, breathless, spinning under the lights, but inside my chest, something twisted. Freedom felt good, but it also burned. Because no matter how high the music lifted me, a part of me still wished Reid had been the one watching.

The club lights spun faster, colors bleeding together as I sat back at the bar. My glass of spirit was nearly empty, the last drops burning as they slid down my throat. I wanted the heat, the numbness, anything to quiet the storm inside me.

But as I set the glass down, the room tilted slightly. My vision blurred, the edges softening in a way that made my stomach twist.

“Another?” Adrian’s voice came smooth beside me, though it sounded far away, as if underwater.

I shook my head, pressing a hand to my temple. “No… I think I’ve had enough.”

He chuckled, low and amused. “Funny, I thought you came here to let go.”

I tried to laugh, but it came out weak. “Not like this…” My words slurred faintly, and I hated how heavy my tongue felt.

Adrian leaned closer, his face much too near. “Then how about a dance instead?”

I blinked, trying to steady my gaze. “No. I don’t… I don’t want to dance.”

But before I could push back, he was already tugging at my hand, strong and insistent. My legs wobbled as I stood, the floor swaying beneath me.

“Adrian..stop. I said no.” I tried to pull free, but my strength was slipping, my body betraying me. The music thundered in my ears, drowning out my words, drowning out everything.

He led me to the stage, my heels stumbling on the steps, my heart pounding in confusion. I wanted to resist, to shout, but all that came out was a faint, broken sound.

And then I felt it..his lips brushing against my cheek, his mouth grazing the sensitive skin of my neck.

“No…” I whispered, my hands pressing weakly against his chest. But my arms felt like water, useless, sliding off him.

“Shhh,” he murmured, the crowd cheering around us, mistaking my struggle for play.

The lights were too bright, the music too loud. My vision tunneled, his face the only thing clear, his breath hot against my skin. I tried again to push him away, but my body wouldn’t listen.

Everything blurred into noise, into heat, into helplessness. And then there was nothing but the dizzy thrum of the music and the weight of him holding me there.

Reid’s POV

By the time we stepped out of the police station, the clock on my dashboard read past midnight. The streets were quiet, the city lights muted, as though the world itself had gone to sleep while I was still running.

Natalie walked beside me, her steps heavy, her eyes red. Her hands fidgeted with the strap of her tote bag, the one she always carried to the hospital. I knew what was inside, scrubs, her stethoscope, half-used notepads. Even in her worst moments, she never left them behind.

“I don’t know how much more of this I can take,” she whispered, voice breaking. “I spend all day saving lives, watching strangers breathe again because of me, and then I come home to… nothing. My house is gone. My parents are gone. And now the case keeps dragging on. I feel like I have nowhere left.”

She sank down on the curb, covering her face with her hands. The sob that tore out of her chest wasn’t graceful, wasn’t restrained it was raw, wounded.

“Natalie…” I crouched beside her, unsure what to do. I wasn’t the man to comfort with soft words, but seeing her break like that tugged at the part of me that remembered our childhood. She had once been a girl with scraped knees running after me in the fields, begging me to let her play with us. Now she was a woman who kept everyone else alive but couldn’t keep herself from falling apart.

“You can’t stay like this,” I said quietly. “Come to my house tonight. Rest. We’ll find a solution in the morning.”

She sniffled, lifting her face. “I can’t impose on you and Karline, especially not after the shift I just came from. I probably still smell like antiseptic.”

“You’re not imposing,” I cut in firmly. “You’re in trouble. And I help the people I care about. That’s final.”

She gave me a watery smile, murmuring a thank you, brushing at the sleeve of her cardigan where a pen was still clipped, another trace of the hospital she couldn’t leave behind. But my chest tightened. Because even as I said it, all I could think of was Kar waiting for me at home. The look in her eyes when I left her earlier… the anger, the hurt. I clenched my jaw, speeding the car toward my house.

When we finally arrived, I stepped out quickly, scanning the windows. The living room lights were off. The house was too still.

“Kar?” I called softly as I entered, placing Natalie’s bag by the door. My voice echoed through the hall. No answer.

My heartbeat picked up. She always waited for me, no matter how angry she was. Even if she pretended to sleep, I would still find her curled in our bed. But now, the house felt empty, wrong.

I checked the bedroom first, bed neatly made, no sign of her. The kitchen, plates untouched, the lasagna she’d made for me earlier still covered on the counter. My throat tightened at the sight.

“Natalie, stay here,” I ordered, sharper than I intended. She opened her mouth, but I didn’t wait.

I searched every room, calling out her name louder now. “Karline! Where are you?”

Nothing.

A flicker of panic shot through me. My phone buzzed in my pocket, and when I pulled it out, I saw a message from the driver.

“Sir, Madam is at the club. She told me to wait outside.”

My blood ran cold.

Reid’s POV

The car screeched to a halt outside the club, the neon lights burning against the night sky. The bass from inside throbbed in my chest before I even stepped out. My driver climbed quickly from his seat and hurried to me.

“Sir...Madam went inside hours ago. She hasn’t come back out.”

My jaw tightened. “Why didn’t you call me sooner?”

“I… I thought she only wanted to blow off steam,” he stammered.

I didn’t waste another word. I pushed through the entrance, the smell of sweat, alcohol, and smoke hitting me at once. Lights flashed across the packed dance floor where bodies moved in sync with the music.

“Karline!” I shouted above the noise, scanning the crowd. Faces blurred past me, strangers swaying, laughing, kissing, but not her. My chest ached as I shoved past the dancers, searching every corner, every table.

I pulled out my phone and dialed her, but the call went unanswered. Straight to voicemail.

“Damn it,” I muttered, raking a hand through my hair.

I went further in, toward the velvet ropes that marked the VIP section. A bouncer stepped in front of me until recognition flickered in his eyes. Being CEO had its advantages, I didn’t even need to argue. He stepped aside.

The VIP room was quieter, the music muffled, the air heavy with the scent of expensive liquor and perfume. Private booths lined the walls, curtains drawn on most. My gut twisted. Something felt wrong.

The curtain whipped back, and my world shattered.

Kar.

my karline.

My wife.

Curled against Adrian in the dim booth, her dress slipping off her shoulder, her hair wild, her lips parted as if she’d just been kissed. His arm was locked tight around her waist, his shirt unbuttoned halfway, smug satisfaction written all over his face.

I froze, my heart pounding like a war drum.

“Karline!” My voice roared above the muffled bass.

Her lashes fluttered. She stirred, blinking up at me with glassy eyes. “Reid?” Her voice was soft, slurred, like she was waking from a dream.

Adrian chuckled, stretching like a cat disturbed from its nap. “You’re loud.”

Rage surged through me. “What the hell is this?!”

She tried to push herself up, but her body swayed and collapsed back against the cushions. Her hand reached weakly toward me. “I don’t… I don’t know what happened. Reid, I was just dancing and then..”

Adrian cut her off smoothly, his voice dripping poison. “Don’t lie now, darling. You told me you were lonely. You said you were horny, begged me to touch you. You practically threw yourself at me.”

The words sliced me open.

Karline’s eyes widened in horror. “No! Reid, no, I never said that!” She struggled upright, her body trembling. “He’s lying..I swear on ..”

I stepped closer, my voice raw. “You’re not even drunk, Damnit. Don’t you dare pretend you don’t know what you were doing.”

Her face crumpled, tears spilling down her cheeks. “I’m dizzy, my head is spinning..I swear something’s wrong with me. Please, believe me, Reid, I’d never_”

Adrian smirked over her shoulder. “You seemed fine when you were grinding on me a little while ago. Maybe your husband doesn’t know what his perfect wife really wants.”

“Shut your filthy mouth!” I lunged, fisting his collar and slamming him against the wall. My fury shook through my arms. “If you touched her without her consent, I’ll bury you.”

Adrian only laughed, his eyes gleaming. “Consent? She was begging, Reid. Why don’t you ask her?”

Karline’s voice cracked through sobs. “Reid, he’s lying! I tried, but my body wouldn’t listen. You have to believe me!”

But the sight, the sight of her in his arms, flushed and weak, his hands all over her, was burned into my brain.

“How can I believe you?” My chest heaved as the words ripped from me. “Do you know what I see right now? I see my wife, not drunk, not unconscious, but sitting in another man’s arms at midnight, letting him touch her. Do you know what that does to me?”

Her lips trembled. “I didn’t let him! I couldn’t stop him, please, you have to trust me!”

“Trust?” I barked a bitter laugh, hollow and broken. “You begged me to stay tonight, Kar. Do you remember? You said you needed me. And I left hating myself because I chose duty over you. But instead of waiting, you’re here. With him. Tell me, how the hell am I supposed to trust you after this?”

Her sobs tore through the booth, her hands reaching for me. “Because I love you, Reid. Only you. Please, don’t let one lie destroy us.”

I looked at her, really looked, and for one fleeting moment I almost believed her. Almost. But the image wouldn’t leave my head, Adrian’s lips grazing her cheek, her body limp and pliant under his arm.

I turned away, voice sharp, final. “Don’t speak. Every word out of your mouth right now feels like a lie.”

Her gasp broke me in half, but I forced my legs to move, storming out of the booth before I shattered completely.

Behind me, I heard her crying, Adrian’s low chuckle threading through it like a knife.

And in that moment, betrayal burned hotter than love.

Karline's POV

The booth door slammed behind Reid, leaving me breathless, my tears dripping hot down my face.

“Reid, wait..please!” I tried to stumble after him, but Adrian’s hand caught my wrist.

“Let him go,” he said smoothly, that smirk still plastered on his face. “He needed to see the truth tonight.”

Something inside me snapped.

I raised my hand and slapped him, hard enough that his head jerked to the side. The sting burned my palm, but the sound of it was worth it.

“You disgusting bastard!” My voice cracked with rage and grief. “You spiked my drink, didn’t you? You made me like this you ruined everything!”

Adrian only chuckled, rubbing his jaw where I struck him. “Ruined? No, sweetheart. I just gave Reid a reason to doubt. The rest was all you, your laugh, your flirting, the way you let me touch your hand. Don’t act innocent now.”

“Stay away from me!” I spat, ripping my hand free and stumbling toward the exit.

I burst out of the club into the cool night air, but Reid’s car was already gone. I caught sight of Natalie slipping into the passenger seat beside him before the vehicle disappeared into the street.

My chest caved. Natalie. With him.

“No, no, no…” My voice broke as I staggered to the curb, praying I was wrong.

The driver hurried toward me. “Madam, are you alright? Should I take you home?”

I nodded weakly, wiping my tears with trembling hands. “Yes… take me home. Please.”

The house was dark when I arrived. Empty.

“Reid?” I called out the moment I opened the door. My voice echoed through the silence. No answer.

I searched every room, the living room, the study, the bedroom. Nothing. His shoes weren’t even by the door. His phone was off when I tried calling.

“Reid, please pick up,” I whispered into the phone, my hands shaking. I tried again. Straight to voicemail. Again. And again.

By the fifth time, my sobs broke free.

I sank to the floor in the hallway, clutching the phone against my chest. The silence of the house pressed down on me, heavy, suffocating.

“Reid, I swear I didn’t betray you,” I whispered into the darkness. “I tried… I don’t even know what happened to me. Please believe me. Please don’t leave me.”

The memories of Adrian’s words came back to haunt me. She said she was horny. She begged me not to stop.

“No,” I whispered fiercely through tears. “I never said that. I never wanted that. Reid has to know. He has to believe me.”

But he was gone. With Natalie.

My breaths came in short gasps, panic clawing at my chest. What if he never came back? What if he truly believed Adrian?

I curled up on the cold floor, sobbing into my hands until exhaustion blurred my vision.

And in that darkness, one thought screamed louder than my heartbeat.

I was losing him.

Reid POV

The car felt like a coffin the moment I left the club, Natalie’s presence beside me suffocating. She spoke softly, her voice like syrup.

“Reid, I warned you… I told you she was getting too close to Adrian. You deserve better than this.”

“Stop.” My voice was hoarse.

“But..”

“Stop!” I snapped, my hand tightening on the wheel. “Not another word, Natalie.”

She flinched and went quiet. By the time I pulled up at the lake on the edge of the city, I couldn’t stand her silence either.

“Get out.”

Her eyes widened. “Reid, it’s dark..”

“I said get out!” My tone was sharp, final. She scrambled from the car, and I slammed the door, leaving her behind as I walked down toward the water.

The night air was cold, biting at my skin. I sat on the damp grass near the edge of the lake, staring at the rippling water that reflected the moon. My hands trembled as I raked them through my hair.

Karline’s face wouldn’t leave me. Her laughter. Her warmth when she curled into my arms. The way her eyes lit up when she called me hers.

And now the image burned in my mind..her lips parted, flushed, sitting in Adrian’s arms.

I pressed my fists into my knees, my voice breaking as I whispered, “Why, Kar? Why? Why did you do this to me?”

The wind didn’t answer. Only the water moved, mocking me with its calmness.

Memories assaulted me.

Her running barefoot through the garden. Her curling against my chest in bed, whispering, “You’re my world, Reid.”

Her tears that night when I left for Natalie’s call. “Don’t go now. Stay with me.”

And I had gone. Like a fool. Like a man who didn’t deserve her.

I wanted to scream, but the sound strangled in my throat.

The pain burned through me, deeper than anything I’d ever felt. She was my safe place, my anchor. And now I felt like a man adrift, shattered, unworthy.

I clenched my jaw, tears pricking my eyes. “Maybe I was never enough for you, Karline. Maybe I never deserved you.”

I dug my hands into the grass, grounding myself against the storm inside me.

But no matter how hard I tried to push her away from my thoughts, her voice kept echoing in my ears. “I’d never betray you, Reid. Never.”

My heart ached so violently I thought it might tear out of my chest.

If she was lying, then everything we had was a lie.

If she was telling the truth, then I’d destroyed us with my mistrust.

Either way, I had lost her.

The lake swallowed my reflection as a sob tore free. For the first time in years, I felt small. Broken. Unworthy of the love I thought was mine forever.

“God,” I whispered to the night. “Tell me how to live without her.”

But the silence was my only answer.

Karline's POV

The night dragged on like torture. I didn’t sleep. I sat curled on the sofa, eyes red and swollen, clutching my phone as if staring at it long enough would make it ring. Every sound outside made my heart jump, thinking it was him.

When dawn finally bled through the curtains, I dragged myself into the kitchen. My hands shook as I cracked eggs, sliced bread, and set the pan on the stove. It was the only thing I could think to do, cook his favorite breakfast, the way I always did when he came home exhausted. Maybe the smell, the warmth, the familiarity would soften his anger.

I laid everything neatly on the table, toast, eggs, coffee. My chest ached, waiting for the sound of the door.

At last, I heard it. The lock turning.

“Reid?” My voice cracked.

He stepped inside, his shirt wrinkled, his eyes shadowed, exhaustion and something darker carved into his face. For a second, hope flared in my chest.

“You’re home,” I whispered, hurrying forward. “I made breakfast. Please, eat something..”

But he brushed past me, his expression blank, his footsteps heavy.

“Reid,” I called, panic clawing up my throat. “It’s your favorite. Just sit down for a moment, let me..”

“I’m not hungry.” His voice was flat, empty, and it cut through me like a blade.

He headed for the stairs. I grabbed his arm, desperate. “Reid, please, listen to me! Nothing happened last night..I swear it on everything I love. I didn’t cheat on you!”

He shook me off, his eyes finally meeting mine. They were filled with a pain so deep it stole the air from my lungs. “Don’t.”

“Reid..” My voice broke into sobs. “I would never do that to you. I don’t even know what happened, I was dizzy, I couldn’t think, I, please, you have to believe me!”

“Enough, Karline.” His tone was harsh now, final. He turned away and climbed the stairs, every step echoing like a sentence.

When he reached our bedroom, he shut the door with a heavy thud.

I stood frozen at the bottom of the stairs, staring up through a haze of tears. The plate of food sat untouched behind me, steam curling upward as if mocking me.

“Reid!” I screamed, my voice cracking, raw with pain. “I didn’t cheat on you! Please believe me, please!”

The silence that followed was worse than any insult, any curse. It was the silence of a man who no longer wanted to hear me.

I sank to the floor, clutching my chest, sobbing until the sound of my own heartbreak filled the empty house.

Reid’s cold dismissal: “I’m not hungry.”

Her pleading and screaming, contrasted with his silence and slammed door.

That suffocating, devastating emotional wall between them.

I was still sitting on the floor when I heard the door upstairs creak open. My tears hadn’t even dried yet, but I scrambled to my feet, hope flaring again. Maybe..maybe he was ready to listen.