Chapter 29

HD Photos Matthew seemed shocked at my question.

I said innocently, “That was our house savings, so we need that money back soon. I want to buy a place once I find a suitable one. We can’t afford to delay our move any longer, especially after Ava’s fall. I need to find her a decent kindergarten, preferably Sunnydale Institute.”

Matthew remained silent as I spoke. I feigned naivety and continued, “Why are you so quiet? I’ve noticed you’re so indifferent lately.”

Matthew chuckled awkwardly, saying, “How’s that? Honey, I’ve got everything under control. I told your what happened to the money, right? We invested in a project many people have their eyes on.

“We had to make an executive decision then, so I used our house savings as payment first. Do you think we’ll have trouble finding a good house once the company grows stronger? It’s all part of my plan, so don’t worry.”

He smiled and gently pinched my nose. However, I knew his smile wasn’t genuine.

We were preoccupied with our thoughts throughout lunch, and I lamented that money. Ideally, I must quickly trace it before Matthew tells me the project has gone south.

After returning to my office, I called Ivanna and updated her on what had happened. I also sent her a photo of Johnson, knowing Matthew wouldn’t show his face for the next few days.

I remained in my office that afternoon and focused on the “special” materials Matthew had prepared for me. I had to admit that the woman who took Matthew from me was impressive.

Meanwhile, Matthew stuck to his routined schedule the next few days while Johnson was frequently absent from the office. 1 Since Matthew was so cautious with me, I figured the other woman would be even more careful not to expose herself. It seemed I had greatly underestimated her.

Matthew and I went to the company together on Monday morning after dropping Ava off. I had just returned to my office when my phone notified me of a message.

I absentmindedly removed my coat and picked up the phone to see the text message containing a photo. I calmly opened it, but my hand shook when the image loaded. I saw two high–definition pictures on the screen.

The first picture was a close–up of Matthew sleeping on a hotel bed. His profile was prominent, but what caught my attention was the woman’s midsection nestled against him. The photo was detalled enough to The second photo was from a different angle but was slightly farther away. It showed Matthew’s hand resting between the woman’s thighs. The sheets were a mess, indicating the passionate encounter that had occurred the night before.

The pictures were detailed enough to resemble selfies, cropped to focus on the main action. My vision blurred after seeing those pictures. I plopped into my office chair and pressed against my chest while taking deep breaths.

I felt like I had gotten stabbed in the heart, and my veins were about to pop. Although I had mentally prepared myself for what may come, these explicit photos still shocked me.

The scenarios I had imagined seemed like child’s play compared to these pictures. They were impactful and sparked my wild imagination.

Soon after, I checked the phone number and realized I didn’t recognize it. Before I could gather my thoughts, I received another message from that number. The message was even more provoking than the last.