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.

tantalizing glimpse of his V-line which

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

he hadn't expected me to have his phone in my hands. He scowled at me and

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

anger

was a "click" that echoed in the room at an inappropriate time. On the screen, I had disheveled hair,

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

a hint of teasing as

exposed. I blushed and threw myself

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

lived, Nicholas had been the

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

crumble. I loved Nicholas with all my heart, and I wanted him to

hard lines of his jaw softened slightly. "I have to accompany Claudia for

she get

nothing. Just

and firm gaze, I unexpectedly saw a hint of evasion. I felt

just be the two of us?"

included Claudia. Right after I married Nicholas, Claudia had fallen seriously ill, and the whole family was very 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

She only wanted Nicholas to accompany her. Out of consideration for her illness, I

how unhealthy our marriage was and how there had always been a third person in our lives. Nicholas

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

debts to me, or perhaps he thought of the tonic his mother had pumped him with. His

to?" He helped me smooth out the hair around my neck, which caused a tingle in my heart. It was

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

I kissed him fiercely as my

carefully cradled my hips, and we both

able to

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