Chapter 5

I was in the middle of showering when the water suddenly cut off, my hair still full of unrinsed shampoo.

"Jessica? Jessica?" I called out, but there was no response. Normally, she would answer immediately.

After several unanswered calls, I began to suspect something was wrong. Cautiously, I wrapped a towel tightly around my chest and secured it with a firm knot.

Sure enough, a tall figure appeared outside the bathroom door. "Vivian, what's wrong?"

My heart sank—it was Reginald. "Can you get Jessica for me?"

"Jessica's busy. I can help you instead," he said, already pushing against the door as if to enter.

I rushed to lock the door, but I was too slow. Before I could reach it, the door swung open from the outside.

Reginald's eyes immediately roamed over my body, his gaze lingering shamelessly. When he noticed the towel still covering me, his expression darkened with disappointment, his brow furrowing in displeasure.

The way he looked at me made my skin crawl.

Suppressing my disgust, I tried to shoo him away. "It's fine, just leave—" But in my nervousness, my foot slipped, and I nearly fell backward.

Reginald lunged forward, his large hand gripping my waist to steady me. The heat of his touch burned against my skin.

Panicked, I shoved at his chest and swallowed hard. "Thanks. Now go."

Before I could finish, he tightened his grip and leaned in, his breath hot against my ear. "Stop pretending to be innocent. Jessica told me all about your wild side."

His words sent a shiver down my spine.

Cursing Jessica silently, I forced a calm tone and raised my voice. "You've got the wrong idea. I'm not that kind of woman, and I'm married!"

I clutched the towel desperately, refusing to give him an opening. Unlike Jessica, I wasn't nearly so bold.

We stared each other down for what felt like an eternity before Reginald finally relented, releasing me with a dark look before stalking out of the room.

One night, Jason unexpectedly video-called Jessica. Unfortunately, his timing couldn't have been worse—Jessica was in bed with Martin at that very moment.

To my shock, Jessica, whether for the thrill or some other reason, actually answered the call with trembling fingers.

"Where are you?" Jason asked.

The bedroom door was wide open, giving me a clear view from across the hall. My stomach twisted with secondhand dread.

Jessica had the audacity to say, "I'm with Vivian."

Jason wasn't stupid. He noticed something off in her expression and demanded, "Oh? Then let me talk to Vivian."

Hearing my name, I rushed over to intervene, grabbing the phone. "Jason, Jessica and I were just about to go to sleep—"

But in my haste, my hand slipped, accidentally revealing Martin in the background.