Alessia sat in her car outside Christian’s office, her knuckles white as she gripped the steering wheel. Her mind was a storm of emotions—anger, disbelief, betrayal. Never in her life had she thought Christian, the man she trusted with everything, could betray her like this. She stared at his phone, sitting innocently on the passenger seat, as if it held all the answers to the questions that were tearing her apart.
The message from Ava kept replaying in her mind. “Are you coming tonight, my love?” The words felt like a knife in her chest every time she thought about them. She didn’t recognize the number, didn’t know who Ava was, but that didn’t matter. What mattered was that Christian did—and he hadn’t said a word about it.
She took a deep, shaky breath and picked up her phone, dialing his number. He answered almost immediately.
“Hey, babe,” Christian said, his tone warm and familiar. “Everything okay?”
Alessia forced her voice to sound calm, though her heart was racing. “Yeah, I just realized I have something of yours.”
“Oh?” he said, curious. “What is it?”
“Your phone,” she said simply, her tone neutral.
“Oh, thank God,” he said with a laugh. “I’ve been going crazy without it. Did I leave it at home?”
“Yes,” she lied, gripping the phone tighter in her hand. “I’m outside your office. Thought I’d drop it off.”
“That’s perfect. I’ll be right down,” Christian said, his voice cheerful as ever. “Be there in a second.”
Alessia hung up, her chest tightening. Let’s see if you say anything, she thought bitterly. Let’s see if you even try to explain.
A few minutes later, Christian walked out of the office building, his confident stride and easy smile making Alessia’s stomach churn. He looked so… normal. As if nothing had happened. As if there wasn’t a secret message sitting on his phone that could destroy their entire relationship.
“Hey, babe,” he said, leaning down to kiss her through the car window. She turned her cheek, avoiding his lips, and he frowned slightly. “Everything okay?”
Alessia nodded, her face calm despite the anger bubbling beneath the surface. “I’m fine. Here’s your phone,” she said, holding it out to him.
Christian took it with a grateful smile. “You’re a lifesaver. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Her grip tightened on the steering wheel as she watched him unlock the phone. He didn’t even flinch. There was no hesitation, no hint that he was worried about what she might have seen. He scrolled through a few notifications and then locked it again, slipping it into his pocket.
“Thanks, babe,” he said casually, leaning down to kiss her again. This time she turned away completely, pretending to adjust something in the car.
Christian straightened, looking slightly confused. “Are you sure you’re okay? You seem… off.”
“I’m fine,” Alessia said curtly, forcing a tight smile. “Just a busy morning.”
Christian nodded, though he didn’t look entirely convinced. “Alright. Well, thanks for bringing this by. I’ll see you at home tonight?”
She nodded again, watching as he gave her one last lingering look before heading back into the building. Her grip on the steering wheel tightened until her knuckles turned white. He hadn’t said anything. Not a word about the message, about Ava, about anything that might explain what she’d seen.
Does he really think I’m that stupid? she thought, her anger flaring hotter with each passing second.
As she drove to her own office, Alessia’s mind raced. She replayed the interaction over and over, analyzing every detail. Christian had acted so normal, so casual, as if nothing was wrong. But something was wrong. She could feel it in her gut.
Maybe he doesn’t know I saw the message, she thought. Or maybe he thinks I won’t ask questions.
Her chest tightened at the thought. Christian had always been so open, so honest—or so she’d believed. How could he keep something like this from her? How could he look her in the eye, call her “babe,” and act like nothing had changed?