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I sat on the floor,tending to my leg wounds.
Hearing the sound of key turning in the lock,I didn't look up.
He seemed surprised I was still awake.
"Not asleep yet?Good,you mentioned wanting shrimp the other day.I got two pounds..."
He set the bag beside me,then noticed my injuries,he seemed somewhat panicked at the sight."You're hurt?What happened?"
My tone was flat."Fell while delivering today."
He grabbed a new cotton swab,applied iodine on my wound,and carefully cleaned it.
Leaning closer,I smelled the scent of gardenias on the woman at the villa.
He was supposed to be doing construction work and driving in the eevening,yet I couldn’t smell a hint of sweat on him.
He didn't even bother hiding it.
Did he think I was that easy to fool,or was he too lazy to pretend?
After leaving the woman’s villa,a few flashy sports cars tailed me.
The rich kids inside swerved dangerously,cutting me off.
They laughed as I crashed,then sped off.
Their conversation reached my ears clearly.
"Won't Daniel be pissed we did this?"
"You're overthinking.Why would he care about her?"
"A rich guy like Daniel Pierce,he'd never fall for her."
"Besides,Melissa Rhodes is back.He'll dump her soon..."
Their drove away,but their words echoed in my head.
The sting in my knee snapped me back to the present.
I stared into Daniel's eyes,searching for guilt or shame.
He tossed the swab in the trashcan,noticing my silence."What's wrong tonight?You're so quiet."
He leaned closer,only then did he notice I was crying.
Tears fell,splashing on his hand.
His eyes locked onto mine,flustered,pulling me into a hug.
"What's wrong?Why're you crying?Met a tough client?"
"Or...because I came home late?"
My emotions surged again.
He gently wiped my tears."Not that?Then what?"
Unable to get an answer,he became increasingly worried.
I sniffled,forcing a smile."Nothing,just the wounds hurts so much."
He wiped my tears,still suspicious."Really?"
I nodded.
While he delt with the shrimps,I gave him a chance to come clean.
"Daniel,is there...anything you want to tell me?"
I held my breath,hoping for something.
He shook his head."We're together every day.I tell you everything every day"
His refusal to confess felt like ice water.
If I hadn't taken that order,how long would I have been kept in the dark?
I couldn't bring myself to voice the accusations I'd rehearsed all night.
I didn't know how to start,how to confront him.
Three years of love—not a year,a month,or a day.
The next morning,Daniel had breakfast ready for me on the table.
He grabbed his keys,kissing me on my cheek as usual.
"I'm off to work."
I stopped him."Daniel."
He turned.
"Got time tonight?I want to talk."
He hesitated,then nodded.
The door closed behind him,leaving me only silence.
Like a beast,devouring my love for him.
I knew he wasn't free tonight.
Last night,while he was taking a shower,I checked his phone.
Tonight was a biannual gathering of his elite circle.
Melissa Rhodes was the hostess.He wouldn't miss it.
