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.

gave me a tantalizing glimpse of his V-line

of a handsome man after a bath. My attention was

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

was a guilty feeling eating at me. I was like a thief caught in the act. I didn't know what to say to break the

as anger swirled in his

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 deathly pale

in front of the mirror. Just a few hours ago, I had felt like

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

was 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.

I had lived, Nicholas had been the center of my

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

crumble. I loved Nicholas with all my

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

"How did Claudia get hurt? Why did she

nothing. Just an old

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

it just be the two of us?" I asked

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 take Claudia with

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

alone again. I now realized how unhealthy our marriage was and how there had always been a third person

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

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

you want to go to?" He helped me smooth out the hair around my neck, which caused a tingle in my heart.

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

around his neck. I kissed him fiercely as my legs

hands carefully cradled my hips, and

was able to turn

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