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.

wrapped around his lower half. It gave me a tantalizing glimpse of his

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

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

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

Adam's apple bobbed as anger

phone. But thinking he was going to hit me, I instinctively dodged. One of 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 my eyes, and a

person who stood in front of the mirror.

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

exposed. I blushed and

looking up at him with

Nicholas had been the center of my

a distance, I had never looked away. My teenage thoughts were delicate, and I was deeply immersed in a fantasy

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

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

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

nothing. Just an

hint of evasion. I felt a pang of disappointment. I knew he didn't want to tell

just be the two

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

She only wanted Nicholas to accompany her. Out of consideration

and I never traveled alone again. I now realized how unhealthy our marriage was and how there had always been a

should try for a

tonic his mother had pumped him with. His

my neck, which

stop will be our

arms around his neck. I kissed him fiercely as my legs entwined around

back. His hands carefully cradled my hips,

was able to turn him

came off swiftly. He grabbed my ankles with both hands and was about to