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 tantalizing glimpse of his

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

to have his phone in

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

apple bobbed as anger swirled in his eyes. "Ariana

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

mirror.

expression softened slightly. His voice carried a hint of teasing as he

exposed. I blushed and threw myself

waist tightly while looking up at him with pleading eyes. "Honey,

lived, Nicholas had been the center of my life for

first time I laid my eyes on him from a distance, I had never looked away. My

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

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

did she get admitted to the hospital in the middle of

nothing. Just an old

of evasion. I felt a pang of

just be the two of

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,

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

since then, Nicholas and I never traveled alone again. I now realized how unhealthy our marriage was and how there

we take another honeymoon trip abroad? We should try for a baby. Frances is getting

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

around my neck, which caused a tingle in

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

neck. I

my hips, and we both tumbled onto the

able to turn him

and was about