Chapter 1

3:00 AM

The buzz of my phone jolted me awake.

The girl upstairs had posted another thirst trap in our Facebook group.

She wore sheer lingerie that barely covered anything. Her hands were bound across her chest with a tie, posed seductively for the camera.

I instinctively looked away, about to exit the app when—

My heart dropped.

That tie.

It was identical to the one I'd personally knotted around my husband's neck this morning. A deep navy Hermès.

The photo vanished seconds later.

But I was wide awake now.

Thunder crashed outside. Rain pounded against the windows. Then sounds drifted down from upstairs—her soft, breathy moans.

"Slower... oh..."

Laced with pain, but dripping with pleasure.

I could hear everything, even through their running shower. The bathroom echo made it impossible to ignore.

The rhythmic slapping continued. A man, pounding into her hard.

Her voice dissolved into breathless, gasping sobs.

Just listening made my ears burn.

"Baby... don't clench so tight," a deep, husky voice growled.

That voice.

My pulse hammered.

I opened David's chat.

He'd messaged two hours ago:

[Overtime's killing me. Miss you.]

[You asleep already?]

[Good night.]

I wanted to believe him.

But that tie, and the moaning upstairs, wouldn't leave my head.

I called him.

He picked up instantly.

"Claire?"

His voice was rough and tender, sending tingles down my spine.

"The thunder woke me. Just wanted to hear your voice."

"Let's stay on then. You sleep, I'll keep working."

His end was silent. Peacefully, reassuringly silent.

Not wanting to disturb his work, I reminded him to take care and hung up.

The second I ended the call, the girl upstairs cried out again—louder, wilder.

My heart lurched.

---

The Next Morning

I woke early and padded to the kitchen.

There stood David—the man who was supposed to be sleeping at his office.

I froze.

"How are you here?"

He leaned casually against the counter.

"Didn't want you driving alone. Came back."

"Made you pancakes too."

I wrapped my arms around his waist from behind. He turned and kissed me like it was the most natural thing in the world.

I went rigid.

When he tilted his head, I saw it—just below his collar.

A faint red mark.

He kept kissing me while my mind raced.

Soon he noticed something was off.

"Babe? You look like shit."

Concern flickered across his face.

The words tumbled out: "The girl upstairs was moaning all night. It was so... loud."

David raised an eyebrow and squeezed my ass.

"Well tonight, when I fuck you, you better scream louder."

I forced a smile. "Did you see that selfie she posted on Facebook last night?"

He rolled his eyes.

"Don't turn into one of those girls."

He released me and flipped the pancakes.

Sunlight streamed through the window, making his smile look soft and warm.

For a moment, doubting him felt stupid.

---

Waiting for the Elevator

Seeing the dark circles under his eyes, guilt twisted in my stomach:

"You don't have to keep driving back. I'm fine now—my leg's healed. If you're tired, just crash at the office."

The elevator dinged at our floor.

David turned and quickly kissed my earlobe:

"I know. But I want us to commute together."

My ears burned.

It felt like high school all over again.

When we were eighteen, he used to pretend to tie his shoes outside my house just to "accidentally" walk me to school.

After I called him out, he blushed hard and mumbled:

"I just want to walk you to school."

We stepped into the elevator. The girl from upstairs was already inside.

She wore an oversized hoodie and fuzzy socks, eyes glued to her phone. Gone was last night's sultry vixen.

First floor. She brushed past us to exit.

As she passed, something in her hair caught the light.

I looked closer.

Clipped in her golden hair was a beautiful silver accessory.

---

Outside My Office

David leaned over for a goodbye kiss.

I closed my eyes, placing my hand against his tie.

Suddenly, something flashed through my mind.

Everything clicked into focus.

That wasn't a hair clip.

It was David's silver tie clip—the one he'd lost months ago.

Chapter 2

I smiled and waved goodbye to David.

But the moment I turned away, ice flooded my veins.

The man I'd loved for over ten years was cheating on me.

And it wasn't recent.

It had been going on for months.

I'd been completely blind.

---

After finishing work, I asked my boss for a half-day and took a cab to David's law firm.

I didn't go see David.

I went to find his car.

I used my spare key and checked the dash cam.

Most footage had been deleted, except for this morning's drive.

After David dropped me off, he took a call.

From an old friend.

"You fighting with your side piece?"

"What's up?"

"She couldn't reach you, so she called me."

David's voice stayed calm:

"I told her not to bother Claire, but she deliberately showed up this morning when I was driving Claire to work."

His friend sounded exasperated:

"What the hell are you thinking, man? If you don't want Claire finding out, why'd you move your affair partner into the apartment upstairs?"

David went quiet for a moment, then said softly:

"Claire's still recovering from her leg injury."

"I... can't trust anyone else to take care of her."

His friend sighed.

"You know what Claire went through with her parents, how sensitive she is... Whatever, just watch yourself."

"Yeah. I know."

I stared at the blank screen, my mind numb.

---

That evening, I called David and told him I'd be staying at my friend Maya's place. He didn't need to pick me up.

He still offered to drive me there.

I declined.

David's voice carried a hint of hurt:

"Why?"

"Baby... don't you need me anymore?"

"I'll just drop you off and leave. I promise I won't bother you two."

"Maya's already coming to get me."

"Okay... but promise you'll come home early? I can't sleep without you next to me."

My chest tightened. I forced myself to agree.

Before getting out of the cab, I hid a voice recorder under his car seat.

---

Midnight

David's car finally returned.

The passenger door opened. A girl stepped out.

She reached for David's sleeve, smiling up at him as she spoke.

Then David pulled her into his arms, pressed her against the car door, and kissed her hard.

Her hand slipped inside David's belt. His body tensed, and the next second he carried her into the apartment building.

I stood frozen, my heart crushed in someone's fist. I could barely breathe.

I opened the car door. Everything inside looked... clean, normal.

I found the recorder and hit play.

---

After work, David had called the girl, telling her to wait at school.

The moment she got in the car, he asked:

"What do you want for dinner tonight?"

Her voice was syrup-sweet:

"I want to eat you."

"Behave. I'm driving."

"David, I wore the lingerie you bought me today. Do you like it?"

"Yes."

"Liar! You didn't even look properly!"

David sounded helpless:

"I'm driving!"

"Then pull over! I've been thinking about you all day, and you won't even glance at me."

David said nothing.

Soon, the car stopped.

Click—David's belt buckle opened.

He roughly tore off her bra. Her full breasts bounced in the air.

The man bit down on her pink nipple.

She gasped loudly.

Then came the static of clothes rubbing together.

"Your body missed me, didn't it?"

The girl was now naked, straddling David's lap.

She giggled and moaned.

David said nothing—

Only heavy breathing.

Then her voice trembled with moans:

"I'm sorry, David. I won't appear around your wife again, ah... I promise I'll behave... just please don't ignore me."

David's thrusts became more violent, his voice turning low and rough:

"Good."

Chapter 3

My phone buzzed.

Maya.

"Claire, where are you?"

Her voice sounded tense.

"David just called me, asking if you were at my place."

"I told him you were asleep. He didn't ask to talk to you."

Then she hesitated.

"Did you two... have a fight?"

"No."

"That's good..."

"He's cheating on me."

"...What???"

A long silence.

"Wait—WHAT?!"

"Claire, where are you right now?"

"I'm downstairs at my building."

"Why aren't you going home? Where's David?"

I looked up at the windows—our apartment was lit up.

The one upstairs was dark.

I laughed bitterly.

"David brought her home."

"Maya, I can't go back in there."

Maya panicked.

"Claire, don't move, okay? I'm coming to get you."

"Don't do anything crazy."

I checked the time:

"I need to go upstairs and return something first. I'll be quick. Meet you at the building entrance."

Maya's voice pitched higher.

"Claire, don't do anything stupid! I'm coming right now, wait for me—don't go up there alone!"

Maya was worried I'd lose it seeing the mess inside.

But—I gripped the student ID in my hand. I'd found it on the car floor.

She'd left it on purpose.

She wanted me to find out.

So I'd play along.

I hung up.

Opened my phone camera.

---

I entered my home.

Clothes were scattered across the living room floor. They couldn't wait.

Her voice drifted from the bathroom—sweet and teasing.

"David, can we go to your bed?"

Two silhouettes writhed behind the frosted glass door.

Her full breasts pressed against the surface.

David stood behind her, hands gripping her hips tight.

"No... the sheets would be messy. Next time, when she's on a business trip."

"Ugh! You always say no, but you say you like me..."

He silenced her with a kiss.

His fingers slipped inside her—

She gasped loudly.

Her thighs trembled, soaking wet.

Fluid ran down her legs.

"David..."

She moaned as David lifted her up.

Her legs wrapped around his waist.

He entered her.

She screamed as David gripped her ass, changing angles as he pounded.

Her body shook violently as she climaxed.

David held her waist tight, eyes closed, savoring how her walls clenched around him.

"Oh... David, so good..."

They weren't coming out anytime soon.

I walked through my home with my phone raised.

The piano lid in the study was open, her bra hanging from it. The keys were wet.

The bedroom nightstand drawer was open, torn condom wrappers inside.

Nausea hit me.

I grabbed a sewing needle and—poked several holes in each unopened condom.

Since he loved taking risks, let him go all the way.

---

The bathroom door opened.

Steam poured out.

David carried her out—still not finished.

He saw me. Froze.

His cock was still buried deep inside her.

I looked down.

David came.

The girl gasped, her whole body convulsing from the hot rush of his cum.

"David, you came inside me! What if I get pregnant?!" She beat his chest—more playful than angry.

David didn't answer.

Then she turned around—

And saw me.

She shrank into David's arms, clenching her legs tighter.

David groaned.

Their mixed fluids dripped down David's thigh onto the floor.

The room fell deathly silent.

I stopped recording.