Chapter 1 - THE WOMAN BESIDE MY HUSBAND
The woman standing beside Eliam was my younger sister, Vanessa.
For three seconds, I couldn't breathe.
Vanessa had hugged me the night before, listened to me complain about my husband's exhausting work schedule, and promised we'd have lunch together that weekend.
Now she was standing outside a strange office building with my husband, laughing as he brushed a strand of hair away from her face.
Then he handed her an envelope.
She opened it, glanced inside, and suddenly grabbed his arm.
Even from across the street, I recognized that expression.
It was the same look she'd worn when our father died and she'd discovered he had left me the family house.
Jealousy.
Eliam leaned toward her and whispered something. Vanessa immediately stopped smiling.
Then she kissed his cheek.
My husband didn't pull away.
I raised my phone and took several photographs, my hands shaking so badly that the first two were blurry.
Before I could take another, Vanessa looked directly toward my car.
My stomach dropped.
Had she recognized me?
She whispered something to Eliam and pointed toward the street.
He turned.
For one terrifying moment, our eyes nearly met through the windshield.
I ducked below the dashboard.
When I finally looked up, both of them had disappeared inside the building.
My phone buzzed.
It was a message from Vanessa.
Hey, sis! Are we still having lunch on Saturday? I have something important to tell you.
I stared at the screen until the words blurred.
Then another message appeared.
This one was from my husband.
Crazy day at work. Don't wait up tonight.
I looked at the building across the street.
Neither of them was working where they claimed to be.
And suddenly, I understood something far worse than a possible affair.
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My sister knew exactly where my husband was going.
Because she'd been waiting for him.
