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 of

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

me to have his phone in my hands. He scowled at me

was like a thief

apple bobbed as anger swirled

the 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

hard to believe this was the same person who stood in front of the mirror. Just

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

exposed. I

tightly while looking up at him with pleading eyes.

I had lived, Nicholas had been

a distance, I had never looked away. My teenage thoughts

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

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

did Claudia get hurt? Why did she get admitted

Just an old

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

it just be the two of

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,

was still underage at the time, and she was wary of me. She only wanted Nicholas to

never traveled alone again. I now realized how unhealthy our marriage was and how there had always been a third person in our lives. Nicholas

honeymoon trip abroad? We should try for

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

He helped me smooth out the hair around my neck, which caused a

"Of course, the first stop will be our

leaped and hooked my arms around his neck. I kissed him

me back. His hands carefully cradled my

I was able to

strong, and my flimsy clothes came off swiftly. He grabbed my ankles with both hands and was about to take