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.

a gray towel wrapped around his lower half. It gave me a tantalizing glimpse of his V-line which led to other parts of his body

a handsome man after a bath. My attention was fully on

he hadn't expected me to have his phone in my

eating at me. I was like a thief caught

anger swirled in his eyes.

One of us pressed the shutter button, and there was a "click" that echoed in the room at an inappropriate time. On the screen,

of the mirror. Just a few hours ago, I had felt like a seductress who could capture

at the phone, and his expression softened slightly. His voice carried a hint of

exposed. I blushed and threw myself into his arms. "I'm

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

had been

on him from a distance, I had never looked away. My teenage thoughts were

faith in my life to crumble. I loved Nicholas with all my heart, and I wanted him to love

raised his hand to stroke my head, and the hard lines of his jaw softened slightly. "I

she get admitted to the hospital in the middle of

nothing. Just an old

hint of evasion. I felt

two of us?" I

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

and she was wary of me. She only wanted Nicholas to accompany her. Out

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

for a baby. Frances is getting anxious,"

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

the hair around my neck,

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

and hooked my arms around his neck. I kissed

cradled my hips, and we both tumbled onto the

I was able to turn him

with both hands and was