Chapter 4

But I couldn't understand why, if Bailey Jensen wasn't Marcus's affair partner, she would help him lie to me.

I returned home in a daze.

For the first time, the man I'd shared a bed with for years felt like a complete stranger.

After absentmindedly putting the baby to sleep, I confronted Marcus directly:

"Marcus, is there anything else you're hiding from me?"

He froze, then walked over somewhat helplessly and tapped my nose.

"Aria, didn't I already explain everything earlier?"

"Why are you still doubting me? If you keep this up, I'm going to get upset."

That was just like him.

In five years of marriage, Marcus had never raised his voice at me.

He'd even go so far as to say yes to everything I asked, always patient and accommodating.

That's why I'd been so unwilling to believe he could have an affair.

But now the facts were right in front of me.

The repeated lies proved Marcus was definitely hiding something from me.

Just based on his dishonesty alone, I couldn't easily forgive him.

I slapped his hand away and stared at him stubbornly.

He seemed surprised I was being so serious this time. He frowned at me.

"Aria, I absolutely have nothing else to hide from you."

My heart completely sank to the bottom.

"Marcus, if you don't tell me and I have to find out myself, you know what I'm like."

My words made Marcus show a rare cold face toward me.

He rubbed his temples wearily:

"Aria, do you have to push me to do something wrong before you'll be satisfied?"

"I work myself to death every day earning money, wishing I could split myself into eight pieces. Where would I have the time or energy to have an affair?"

By the end, his expression took on a hint of grievance.

"Aria, I'm telling you the truth. Please believe me."

He crouched in front of me, looking at me pitifully.

If not for the text message I'd just received on my phone, I might have actually believed Marcus.

Thinking of what I'd just seen—

I clenched the phone in my pocket tighter, my heart feeling like it was being squeezed by a large hand, the pain making it hard to breathe.

But I couldn't keep pressing him aggressively.

I couldn't tip him off and give Marcus a chance to destroy evidence.

I needed to stay calm.

Besides the affair partner, I also needed to figure out where Marcus got the two million dollars.

I needed to find out everything.

With this in mind, I took a deep breath and smiled:

"Alright, look how nervous you are. I was just teasing you!"

"Who told you to lie about the stroller? I had to punish you somehow!"

As soon as I finished speaking, I saw Marcus's gaze pause, then he breathed an imperceptible sigh of relief.

I sneered inwardly.

Marcus, I'm waiting for you to let your guard down and show your true colors!

For the next few days, perhaps out of guilt—

Marcus came home much earlier than usual.

He also stopped going on frequent business trips.

I realized for the first time that I could actually be this patient.

Until half a month later, Marcus couldn't hold back anymore.

That afternoon, he called to tell me he was going on a business trip, and I immediately pulled out my phone.

I hadn't been idle these two weeks either. I'd bought a small tracking device and put it in Marcus's bag.

On the screen, the red dot was heading toward Riverside Manor.

I quickly went downstairs and hailed a cab.

When I arrived, Marcus was hugging a woman tightly.

When I saw the woman's face clearly, I was shocked.

Marcus's affair partner was actually her?