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.

had 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 that sparked

the first time, I couldn't appreciate the sight of a handsome man after a bath. My attention was fully on his reaction to me

phone

me. I was like a thief caught in the

anger swirled in his eyes.

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 screen, I had disheveled hair, tears welling in my eyes, and a

mirror. Just a few hours ago, I had felt like a

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

did I realize my body was exposed. I blushed and threw myself into

and held onto his waist tightly while looking up at

I had lived, Nicholas had been

never looked away.

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

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

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

nothing. Just

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

two of us?" I asked

at that time. They didn't tell me the specific cause of the illness. Back then, to show my generosity and to

still underage at the time, and she was wary of me. She only wanted Nicholas to accompany her. Out of consideration for her illness, I

alone again. I now realized how unhealthy our marriage was and how

should try for a baby. Frances is getting anxious," I

debts to me, or perhaps he thought of the tonic his mother had

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

Claudia's delighted, pleasing demeanor. "Of course, the first stop will be our own country. The destination is Coral

his neck. I kissed

my hips,

able to turn

both hands and was about to take the next step when his phone buzzed. "Nick!" A