Under the influence of Devlin’s cunning words, Emma gradually wavered. This man understood all too well how difficult it was to break old habits, convinced that sooner or later, she would return to her former path.
"I've been going crazy missing you. I haven't been able to rest all week."
Devlin placed his hand firmly on her waist, his gaze filled with unspoken intent as he continued his persuasion.
"So why don’t we help each other relieve this tension right now?"
"No, leave," Emma struggled to keep her rationality intact, resisting the temptation closing in around her.
"What’s wrong? Don’t tell me your husband is better than me?" Devlin raised an eyebrow, his tone full of doubt. "Don’t lie to yourself. I’ve heard things—no matter how good he is, he’ll never understand you the way I do, right?" He tightened his hold, as if reinforcing his claim.
Emma shook her head, her voice turning firm. "Listen, I don’t want trouble."
She kept refusing, but deep down, her reason and emotions were at war. Old memories resurfaced, shaking her resolve. It was true that she and Alden had only just begun their married life and hadn’t completely found harmony yet. Perhaps, with time, things would improve. But now, with Devlin recklessly seeking her out, a strange feeling stirred within her.
"So, you're really giving up everything? That’s laughable," Devlin scoffed. "Do you seriously think you can live without me?"
Emma needed to be firm if she wanted to escape this situation. She softened her tone, attempting to placate him.
"Another time. We’ll meet somewhere else, not here."
"What are you afraid of? Your husband won’t be back anytime soon."
Devlin had no intention of leaving, his sharp gaze locking onto hers.
"Besides, I’ve been patient long enough. I need you now. And so do you—stop denying it."
"I..." Emma felt her head spinning, her fingers unconsciously clutching the hem of her dress.
She knew she was teetering on the fine line between right and wrong, her entire body tense with inner conflict. If she gave in to fleeting emotions, would it be worth it? Did she truly want to destroy everything she had worked so hard to protect?
But Devlin didn’t give her time to think. He pulled her closer, his grip tightening, his darkened eyes brimming with possession.
Emma wasn’t afraid—because deep down, she had never truly resisted. This temptation wasn’t something that unsettled her; it was something she had long been familiar with. She hesitated for a moment, then quickly let go, disregarding the moral barriers she should have upheld.
She had promised herself she would keep her distance, that she would belong to Alden alone. But now, with temptation right before her, could she really stand firm?
And then, the boundaries blurred. They disregarded everything, surrendering to their desires, stepping onto a path with no way back.
…
At this moment, on the highway, Alden was listening to a mellow jazz tune while driving. It had been twenty minutes since he left home. Distracted, thinking about the perfect gift for Emma, his phone rang. He pressed a button on the console to answer the call without taking his eyes off the road, and the conversation began.
"Good morning, my man." Alden chuckled lightly with his business partner.
"Good morning. Are you ready for the acquisition of that project?" The voice on the other end immediately got to the point. Small talk could wait; everyone considered this business deal to be important.
"Yes, I spent the whole night reviewing the contract terms. I'm pretty tired and worried, but everything will be fine." Alden confidently replied, "This project will definitely succeed."
"Great! Have you received the copy of the plan?"
"Yes." Alden looked at the passenger seat and realized his briefcase wasn’t there. "Damn."
He was frustrated by his own carelessness.
"What’s wrong?" The voice on the other end sounded concerned, a bit irritated, thinking he was swearing at him. "Why are you cursing?"
"I forgot the file at home. Hang on, I’ll be back to get it." Alden explained quickly while keeping his eyes on the road, trying to figure out how to turn around.
"Right, don’t delay."
The call ended, and Alden continued driving for a bit before turning around. During this time, he decided to call Emma to inform her about the situation. He needed his briefcase, and if Emma could bring it to him, that would be great. But her phone wasn’t picking up. He thought maybe she was at the gym, a habit Emma often used to cover for herself when she needed to escape.
Unfortunately, Alden had no idea that, at that very moment, in their living room, Emma was passionately involved with her lover. It had been nearly two weeks since their honeymoon, and as promised, the affair continued behind Alden’s back. Emma had no intention of stopping. On the contrary, she felt happy about betraying her husband.
Devlin, the man, relentlessly made her drown in a state of lust. The sounds of moaning and wet, rhythmic noises filled the air as they came together, creating an intoxicating melody in their minds. They were lost in a temporary paradise, oblivious to reality. But because of their carelessness, they didn’t realize that this seemingly perfect world was fragile, and with just one small touch, the truth would cruelly be exposed.
When Alden couldn’t get through to her, he decided to give up on the call and focus on getting back home. When he pulled up outside the house, he didn’t honk the horn to signal anyone inside. Perhaps this was some kind of divine intervention.
As soon as he opened the door and walked toward the kitchen, he heard loud moaning sounds, which caused him to pause. His original plan was just to grab his briefcase and leave, but as he recognized the strange noises, his decision changed without a second thought. Through the dim light from outside, he clearly saw his wife, Emma, making love with a strange man right on their bed. His eyes widened, and his heart tightened. An invisible blow hit him with intense force, making him dizzy. The feeling of suffocation in his throat prevented him from breathing, but he couldn’t scream either. He wanted to rush in, to beat them all, but his body was paralyzed with no strength. His mind was a blur, but he couldn’t shake the image of his wife indulging in intimacy with someone else.
He wanted to perceive this scene as a rape, to believe that Emma was being sexually assaulted, but her moans and her seductive voice, ordering to be satisfied, pierced his heart, shattering all his hopes.