TWO

I stood in the doorway, my body trembling, my heart pounding so loud I was sure they could hear it. Davina’s smirk was like a knife twisting in my chest, and Marco just stood there, buttoning his shirt like nothing had happened. Like this was normal.

“Catrina,” Marco said again, his voice calm, almost bored. “Don’t make a scene.”

“A scene?” My voice cracked, and I hated how weak it sounded. “You’re in bed with her, and you’re telling me not to make a scene?”

Davina sat up, the sheets dropping around her waist. She looked at me like I was some pathetic stray dog she’d found on the street. “Oh, honey,” she purred, her voice filled with mock sympathy. “Did you really think you could keep a man like Marco satisfied? You’re so…what's the word? Vanilla.”

My face burned, and I clenched my fists at my sides. “Shut up,” I whispered.

She laughed, a low, cruel sound that made my stomach churn. “I mean, come on. Do you even know what he likes? Or were you too busy playing the perfect little wife to notice he was bored out of his mind?”

“Davina,” Marco warned, but there was no real anger in his voice. Just… amusement.

"Oh, come on. She needs to hear it." Davina continued, the gloating in her voice more evident now than ever. She turned to me, the smirk still lingering on her face. "Do you know how he likes to be touched? How he likes to be kissed? To be felt. How he likes it when my lips are wrapped around his—"

My ears burned as I looked back at my husband—or whoever it was standing before me, my chest tightening. “You’re just going to let her talk to me like that?”

He shrugged, his expression cold. “She’s not wrong.”

The words hit me like a slap. I stumbled back, my vision blurring with tears. “How could you do this to me?” My voice broke, and I hated how whiny I sounded. “I’ve given you everything, Marco. Everything.”

Davina rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. You’re acting like you’re the victim here. Maybe if you weren’t so boring, he wouldn’t have had to look elsewhere.”

"I said—shut up!"

To think I'd been so excited to tell him about Wesley. About what he'd done to me today on my way home.

"Face it, Catrina. Your husband got tired of you and decided to go for an upgrade."

Something inside me snapped.

I didn’t even think. I just moved. I walked closer to Davina and before I could stop myself, my hand connected with her cheek in a sharp crack, the sound echoing in the room. Davina’s head snapped to the side, and for a moment, there was silence.

Then Marco was on me.

His hand struck my face so hard I stumbled, my hip hitting the edge of the dresser. I touched my cheek, my fingers trembling, and looked at him.

“You hit me,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

“You hit her first,” he said, his voice cold. “Don’t act like you’re innocent.”

Davina was still on the bed, her hand pressed to her cheek, but she was smiling like she’d won.

I couldn’t breathe. The room was too small. I immediately felt claustrophobic, feeling their eyes on me as my cheeks grew warm. I turned and ran, my feet carrying me down the stairs and out the door before I even realized what I was doing.

The rain had started again, soaking through my clothes as I fumbled with the car keys. My hands were shaking so badly I could barely get the key in the ignition. I didn’t know where I was going. I just knew I had to get away. With my eyes still filled with tears, I made a quick reverse out of the driveway and drove out of the house. My hands gripped the steering wheel as I headed for the stretched out highway.

I wiped my face with the back of my hand, my breath coming in ragged gasps. I couldn’t believe this was happening. I couldn’t believe he would do this to me.

I’d known something was off. The late-night calls, the messages he’d send from the bathroom, the way he’d pull away when I tried to touch him. But I’d told myself it was just the business. The life. I’d told myself it was normal. Maybe he had stuff to deal with in his organization. I thought it was all casual and told myself not to pry further.

I was such a fool.

The intersection was coming up fast. I didn’t see the incoming truck until it was too late.

I slammed my brakes hard and felt immense pressure crash into me as the truck practically dove straight into my car The impact was deafening and before I was able to do something, everything went blank.