Booki Chapter3
When Emma came to clean, I noticed the glow of satisfaction radiating from her entire being. She smiled at me in greeting. I nodded back with my usual smile.
The moment I turned away and closed the door, my heart sank to new depths. My husband was having an affair with our housekeeper. It had been going on for at least a year. And I’d been completely blind to it.
After my hospital check–up, instead of going home, I went to Ryan’s office. Not to see him – but to visit the parking garage. Using the spare key, I opened his car and checked the dash cam. The playback screen was clean. Only this morning’s footage remained, not yet deleted.
On his way to work, Ryan took a phone call. It was his college friend and secretary, Chris. “Mr. CEO, I’ve sent Emma’s monthly allowance.” “Good. Her power was out last night have someone check on that.” “Sure thing. By the way, she wants that pearl necklace you were going to give Autumn. Should I…?” Ryan’s voice turned cold. “Tell her she can have anything else, but not Autumn’s things. Give her that sapphire necklace we got at auction and transfer her an extra hundred grand as compensation. And warn her if she’s going to play housekeeper, she needs to do it properly. No more slip–ups in front of
Autumn.”
–
Chris sighed. “Man, who puts their mistress in their house as the housekeeper?” Ryan was quiet for a moment before saying softly, “Autumn’s sick. She needs someone to look after her. Emma’s been pretty good… and it’s exciting having her in the house.” “Watch yourself,” Chris warned. “You know Autumn’s still sick, and you’re fooling around at home? If she finds out, you’re dead.” “Don’t worry. She’ll never know.”
Sitting in the car, watching Ryan’s casual smile in the footage, I felt my heart shatter. So everyone knew about him and Emma. They were all putting on a show for me. Their conversation continued, but I couldn’t bear to listen anymore. My whole body had gone numb with cold. Before leaving, I hid a voice recorder in Ryan’s car.
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Booki Chapter4
When Ryan called, I told him I was having dinner at his uncle James’s house. He begged to come along. I refused. A hint of jealousy crept into Ryan’s voice: “Baby, I want to come with you!” “Just thinking about how you used to have feelings for that old man makes me nervous!” “Please, honey, let me join you?” “Maybe next time… I have to go, he’s here to pick me up.”
“Fine, fine, but knowing you’re having dinner with him makes me so jealous.” I smiled, though it was tinged with bitterness and tears. “Ryan, I don’t go back to people who’ve hurt me before!” Whether it was James… or him. Though he knew I meant James, Ryan’s heart skipped a beat, sudden panic gripping him.
After a moment of silence, he rushed to speak, as if unable to accept the possibility. “Autumn, don’t worry, we’ll be together forever. I swear! I can’t live without you. Like I said. in our vows for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, I’ll love you forever.” But his words only stabbed at my heart. He claimed he couldn’t live without me, yet he still cheated….
Over the phone, he tried telling funny stories to cheer me up.
I listened in silence. “Autumn, are you upset? Did I do something wrong?” he probed carefully. “No,” I finally spoke. “Just watched a movie with a sad ending. Ryan exhaled in relief, jumping to change the subject. “Don’t watch those kinds of movies alone anymore. Wait for me to come home, we’ll watch together.”
I smiled, gazing silently into the distance without answering. The future? We had no future left.
7
Book1 Chapter5
Ryan, who claimed he had to work late, came home early that day. A couple emerged from his Mercedes, entwined together. Emma reached up and tugged playfully at Ryan’s tie, tilting her face to whisper something. His eyes darkened instantly, his throat bobbing. Emma smiled, tracing his Adam’s apple with her fingertip. His throat moved under her delicate touch. He gripped her hand tightly, his eyes dark with desire. Emma rose on her tiptoes, using her mouth to loosen his tie, kissing his throat. Ryan seemed to reach his limit, suddenly pulling her into his arms. They kissed passionately against the car door. She laughed softly, taking his long fingers in her mouth before opening the car door. “I want to do it in the car today.” Ryan’s pupils dilated as he smirked, “You little vixen.” They rushed into the car. Soon, the vehicle filled with the sounds of their passion…. Later, Ryan carried the barefoot girl into the elevator. I stood quietly in place, my heart gripped by an invisible hand, unable to breathe. I opened the car door. The scent hit me first, then I noticed the obvious wet marks on the back seat. I retrieved the voice recorder I’d hidden earlier and pressed play.
Ryan had called Emma after work, telling her to wait in the office parking lot. Once in the car, Ryan asked: “Which hotel do you want tonight?” Emma’s voice was sweet and coy: “I want to go to your place!” “No, pick somewhere else.” “Please, baby? Let’s mess up the house, and then poor little me, the housekeeper, can get punished by the angry master while cleaning up. Don’t you want to punish your little maid?” “Yes.” “Then let’s go home. I just polished the floors this morning, they’re so shiny. Don’t you want to see me on my knees on them? Ryan seemed tempted but still retained some reason: “No, Autumn might find out!” Emma pouted: “I don’t care, I want to go to your place. If we’re chasing thrills, let’s go all the way! I’m wearing your wife’s lingerie today, want to see?” Ryan said nothing. Soon after, the car stopped and they got out. Moments later, the door opened again. There was the sound of tearing fabric as Emma’s lingerie was ripped away. Their passionate sounds intertwined
once more.
Emma whimpered pleadingly: “I’m sorry, baby, I shouldn’t have worn your wife’s underwear. Punish me…” “Mmm- be gentle…” “Kiss me, baby, please?” In the heat of passion, Emma asked, “Do you love me, baby?” Ryan’s usually cool voice had grown husky: “If I didn’t love you, what would I be doing here? Showing my hate?” “Oh, I love you too, baby, I love you so much,” she said tearfully. I stood in the parking lot, replaying this recording over and over. The recorder had died, but I kept pressing the button mechanically. Click, click, click, click… Until the city lights came on.
