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.

gave me a tantalizing glimpse of his V-line which

after a bath. My attention was fully on his

his phone in my hands. He scowled at

I said softly. There was a guilty feeling eating at me. I was like a thief caught in the act. I didn't know what to say to break the

bobbed as anger swirled in

us 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

hard to believe this was the same person who stood in front of the mirror. Just a few hours ago, I had felt like

and his expression softened slightly. His voice carried a hint of teasing as he said,

exposed. I blushed and threw myself

bed and held onto his waist tightly while looking up at him with pleading eyes. "Honey, I want

the 26 years I had lived, Nicholas had been

distance, I had never looked away. My teenage thoughts were delicate, and

I loved Nicholas with all my heart, and I wanted

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

him, "How did Claudia get hurt? Why did she get admitted to the hospital in the middle of

nothing. Just an old

gaze, I unexpectedly saw a hint of evasion. I felt a pang of disappointment. I knew he didn't want to tell me

be the two

that time. They didn't tell me the specific cause of the illness. Back

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

again. I now realized how unhealthy our marriage was and how there had always been a third person

for a baby. Frances is getting anxious," I pressed and upped the

of the tonic his mother had pumped him with. His brows furrowed and then

want to go to?" He helped me smooth out the hair around my neck, which caused a

"Of course, the first stop will be our own country. The destination is Coral Villa in Radiant City, right here in

neck. I kissed him fiercely as my legs

back. His hands carefully cradled my hips,

I was able to turn him

grabbed my ankles with both hands and was about