Chapter 2 A ruined anniversary

VICTORIA

“Simon!” I screamed and rushed towards him, my heart racing in horror.

He let go of the door jamb and fell into my arms, breathing heavily.

“What happened to you?” I asked. I wrapped my hand around him while digging my fingers into his wet hair.

“I should be dead by now, Victoria,” he whispered, and my heart clenched.

“Don't say that again, I beg you,” I muttered in clenched teeth.

“Master?” Mrs. Rachel’s voice came up from behind, and he raised his head from my shoulder. I turned around and faced mrs Rachel, my face scrunched up in distress.

“Prepare something for him to eat,” I instructed.

“No, no, no, it's too early,” he muttered, waving his hand in the air.

“You haven't eaten since yesterday!” I blurted out in alarm.

“I did have something last night…” he paused, and his lips thinned.

“I am going to take a shower. I went through a terrible ordeal last night,” he muttered and began to ascend the stairs, leaving me confused.

“Can you at least explain what happened to you?” I asked, and he stopped walking.

“I was attacked!” he growled.

“By who?” I pressed. He growled in response, glaring at me.

“Do you even care an ounce about me? I stayed back at work past midnight and got attacked by criminals on my way back. My car was taken from me, too! But you don't care about that, you only care about yourself and your reputation!” he spat, and my heart tightened. What have I done wrong aside from asking a question every caring wife would ask her husband if found in such a situation?

“You should have come back earlier,” I muttered in a trembling voice.

He scoffed, his lips twitching up as disgust swept past his eyes.

He turned around and walked away without saying another word to me.

My legs shook and I gripped the hem of my nightdress, staring at the wall clock across the room.

It was past 3 in the morning. Last year he came back at a few minutes to midnight.

“What car was it, Mrs. Rachel?” I asked, my eyes still fixed on the wall clock.

“The car you got him on his birthday three months ago.”

My throat knotted, and I dropped to the ground, digging my nails into my sweaty palm.

Why did it have to be the car? Why?

“Ma'am, I think you should go to him, who knows the trauma those rascals made him go through?” Mrs Rachel muttered and gripped my arm, pulling me up.

When I entered the room, he was already sound asleep on the bed, his clothes and shoes still on him.

Perhaps Mrs. Rachel was right. He must have gone through a lot outside for him to behave this way.

Of all days, it had to be on our anniversary night?

I sighed and sank into the bed, and began to pull open his shirt’s buttons cautiously to avoid waking him up.

I was sure he would have made it to dinner if he hadn't been attacked. I swore not to let them slide. I would find whoever the rascals were and make them pay.

I paused and reached for my phone, unable to control the anger burning in me.

I dialed the number of my partner, Silas, filled with nervousness. He picked at the second ring.

I was about to speak, but paused as the sound of a siren from the background filled my ears.

“Vikky?” he called, breathing raspily.

“Did we have an emergency last night?” I asked.

He shouted out an instruction to someone, grumbling in frustration.

“A family was murdered. A fucking family,” he muttered, cursing loudly.

“How bad is it?”

“Two children, a woman, and, funnily, the husband was taken,” he replied and cursed again. My throat knotted, and my lips began to tremble as goosebumps spread over my skin.

“Is anything the matter?” he asked.

I looked over at Simon, tears gathering in my eyes. What if it had been him instead?

I shook my head at the thought, silently slamming myself for thinking that way.

“No, my husband was attacked a few hours ago, but…but it's nothing,” I replied.

Silas gasped, cursing for the third time.’

“Is he okay?” his voice was raised with concern when he asked.

“Yes, his car was the only thing taken,” I replied, rubbing my burning forehead.

“That is much better than losing your life,” he replied. I nodded even though he couldn't see me.

“I am sorry I wasn't there to help,” I muttered, and he huffed.

“You had a whole-assed dinner to worry about. Don't worry, boss sent someone to help out,” he replied.

I mumbled a word of gratitude and made to end the call, but Silas stopped me.

“Hey, Vikky, can you ask your husband if the people who attacked him had a man in their custody or what they looked like?”

“I will ask him when he wakes up,” I replied. He hummed in response, and the line went dead.

I took a deep breath and moved close to Simon, feeling a bit relieved.

I reached for his shoes and pulled them off, along with the socks he wore. I pulled the unbuttoned shirt off his body and reached for his belt, pulling it off.

I pulled his pants off and picked his clothes to the laundry basket in the dressing room.

As I was about to fold the trousers into the laundry basket, my fingers brushed against something crinkled inside. I frowned, sliding it out in curiosity.

My chest tightened, and for a moment, I couldn't breathe. It was a packet of condoms.

With a shaking breath and hands trembling in fear and horror, I turned it over. Pain and the feeling of betrayal hit me hard on my face when I saw that the seal was broken. Two of them were missing, and this only meant one thing.

Simon was cheating on me.