Chapter 2

A woman's voice spilled from the speaker, sweet and dripping like melted cream.

"Babe, why aren't you up yet? I've been waiting forever."

Her voice purred with flirtatious whine.

"I put on that dress you bought me. The one you said looked sexy on me."

Derek's jaw worked uselessly. "Almost there. Just parking."

He hung up.

The corridor was so quiet you could hear the hum of the central AC.

He stood before me, his shoulders slumping.

"Chloe, I lost my mind."

"It won't happen again, I swear. We'll go home right now, and I'll tell her it's completely over."

His lips trembled as he spoke, eyes rimmed with red.

He looked so convincingly heartbroken.

I didn't answer. I walked past him, checking room numbers along the wall.

He trailed behind me, his footsteps hurried and frantic.

"What are you doing? Chloe, stop making a scene! Let's talk at home."

"Going in there helps no one."

I paused and shot him a look.

"I'm going in to take some photos."

He froze.

"I'll need them for the divorce."

My voice was chillingly calm.

All the blood rushed out of his face. His lips quivered, but no words came out.

I stopped in front of Room 1612.

The number matched the destination on his Uber receipt.

I raised my knuckles and knocked three times.

The door swung open.

A heavy blast of sickly sweet perfume hit the air.

A young woman leaned against the doorframe, her long hair cascading over her shoulders, wearing a skintight wine-red slip dress.

When she saw him, her eyes lit up and she threw herself forward.

Wrapping both arms around his neck, she planted a kiss on his cheek.

Only then did she notice me.

She paused, arms still draped over him, eyeing me up and down.

"Who's this?"

Derek stayed frozen like a wooden post.

I raised my phone and took a photo of her.

The flash went off.

She jerked back, releasing him, her brow furrowing.

"Who the hell are you? Why are you taking pictures?"

"I'm his wife."