Trouble in Paradise by Three Way

My gaze fell on Nicholas' pants draped over the bed. The loose waistband was twisted into what looked like a crying face. The black phone peeking out from one corner seemed depressing. In our married life, I valued both love and privacy. We respected each other's personal space and never touched each other's phones.

But earlier, I had already searched through his study. Would this make a difference?

I pulled out his phone and swiftly burrowed under the covers. I hid my head as well.

I was nervous.

Nothing good ever came out of going through your partner's phone. I was scared of finding evidence of his and Claudia's dalliance, but I was also afraid of finding nothing and becoming paranoid.

My teeth were chattering as I thought of the rosary beads he liked to wear.

Nicholas, what exactly were you hiding from me?

Whether it was my trembling hands or nervousness, I entered the wrong password several times.

At last, a message appeared on the screen: "Incorrect password. Please retry in 30 seconds."

Was I naive?

I could unlock his safe but not his phone.

With my pounding heartbeat in the background, I mentally went through all the passwords I could think of. My mouth was dry, and I was swallowing air while I counted down the seconds.

Five, four, three, two...

Suddenly, the blanket covering my head was lifted.

"What are you doing?"

Nicholas stood there, and his bare upper body was dripping with water. His eight-pack abs were on display.

lower half. It gave me a tantalizing glimpse

sight of a handsome man after a bath. My attention was fully on his reaction to

expected me to have his phone in my hands.

There was a guilty feeling eating at me. I was like a thief caught in the act.

bobbed as anger

pressed the shutter button, and there was a "click" that echoed in the room at an inappropriate time. On the screen, I had disheveled hair, tears welling in my eyes, and a deathly pale

mirror. Just a few hours ago, I had felt like a seductress

His voice carried a hint of teasing as he said, "What's this? Documenting your first time wearing

exposed. I blushed and threw myself into his arms.

on the bed and held onto his waist tightly while looking up

had been the center of

first time I laid my eyes on him from a distance, I had never looked away. My teenage thoughts were delicate, and I was

Nicholas with

his hand to stroke my head, and the hard lines of his jaw softened slightly. "I have to accompany Claudia for the time being. After that, I can consider

get hurt? Why did she get admitted to the hospital in

Just

a hint of evasion. I felt a pang

two of us?" I

tense at that time. They didn't tell me the specific cause of the illness. Back then, to show my generosity and to gain favor with the in-laws, I agreed to their request to take Claudia with us abroad

she was wary of me. She only wanted Nicholas to accompany her. Out of consideration for her illness, I didn't

our marriage was and how there had always been a

about we take another honeymoon trip abroad? We should try for a baby. Frances is getting anxious," I pressed and upped the

debts to me, or perhaps he thought of the tonic his mother had pumped him with. His brows furrowed and then relaxed,

to?" He helped me smooth out the hair around my neck, which

mimicked Claudia's delighted, pleasing demeanor. "Of course, the first stop will be our own country. The destination is Coral Villa in Radiant City, right here

and hooked my arms around his neck. I kissed him fiercely as

my hips, and we both tumbled onto

I was able to turn

with both hands and was about to take the next step when his phone buzzed. "Nick!" A message popped up on the