Chapter 2

Audrey's POV

I barely slept.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the same thing, and by the time morning came, I gave up trying altogether. With a sigh, I sat up in bed, only to notice several large gift boxes arranged neatly on the couch by the window.

Frowning, I climbed out of bed and walked over. The first box held a stunning black evening gown. The second contained a pair of heels, while the third revealed a diamond necklace with matching earrings. 

There was also a designer handbag I had admired months ago, a bouquet of white roses, and finally, a small envelope. My fingers trembled as I opened it.

Happy Anniversary, Audy. Meet me tonight. Presidential Suite, 7:00 PM.

— Reid

I stared at the note for a long time. The presidential suite. The same hotel. The same place. My chest tightened.

Was this some kind of joke? Or had I misunderstood what I saw yesterday?

I hated myself for even thinking that, but doubt crept in anyway. This was Reid, the man I had loved for most of my life. He knew my favorite flowers and still left handwritten notes after three years of marriage.

Maybe there was an explanation. Maybe there was something I didn't know.

No! I wasn't going to make excuses for him. If he had an explanation, he would give it tonight. If he didn't...

Then I would finally know the truth.

By four o'clock, I started getting ready with the help of Ms. Patricia, our head housekeeper.

"Miss Audrey, are you sure you're okay?" she asked as she watched me fasten the necklace around my neck.

"I'm fine," I replied, meeting my reflection in the mirror.

"You haven't smiled once since I came in," she pointed out, folding her arms.

"There," I said, forcing a smile that felt anything but real.

"That one doesn't count," she replied, making me laugh despite myself.

"You worry too much," I said, shaking my head.

"I work for you. It's part of my job," she answered before stepping back to admire the gown. "Mr. Reid has excellent taste."

"Yes, he always has," I murmured, my stomach twisting at the mention of his name.

She tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear before smiling gently.

"Whatever is bothering you, I hope tonight fixes it."

"I hope so too," I whispered, glancing at the anniversary note resting on the dresser.

The drive downtown was unusually quiet. At exactly seven o'clock, I stepped out of the elevator.The hallway was silent, but my heartbeat wasn't.

The suite door stood slightly open, and soft music drifted into the hallway. Taking a deep breath, I pushed it open. For a moment, I forgot why I had come.

Candles glowed around the room, flowers filled every corner, and dozens of photographs covered the walls. Pictures from our childhood, school days, college, our wedding, birthdays, vacations, and anniversaries told the story of our entire lives together.

My eyes burned. Then I remembered the video. I remembered Blair. The warmth disappeared instantly.

"You're here," Reid said as I looked up to find him standing beside the dining table.

"Yes," I replied quietly, refusing to move closer.

"You look beautiful," he said, his eyes lingering on me.

"Thank you," I answered without smiling.

"The dress looks perfect on you."

"You picked it," I reminded him.

"I did," he replied with a faint smile.

The old me would have crossed the room and wrapped my arms around him.

Tonight, I stayed exactly where I was. A flicker of confusion crossed his face before he gestured toward the table.

"Come sit," he said, pulling out a chair for me.

Dinner felt strangely normal. We talked, ate, and even laughed once or twice, which somehow made everything worse because Reid acted exactly like the man I had always known.

At one point, he picked up an old photograph of us at fourteen, covered in mud and grinning like idiots.

"Do you remember this?" he asked, smiling at the picture.

"You pushed me into the lake," I replied, folding my arms.

"I slipped," he argued.

"You pushed me."

"You have no proof," he said with a grin.

"Because my shoes were ruined," I reminded him after he mentioned how I had cried that day.

"And then you stole mine."

"They were compensation," I replied, almost smiling.

"You've always been impossible," he said, his eyes softening.

The words hurt more than they should have because everything felt so real.

If this was real... Then why Blair? I couldn't take it anymore. The pressure inside me finally broke.

"Why did you do it?" I asked, staring straight at him.

"What?" he asked, genuinely confused.

"Why did you cheat on me?" I demanded, refusing to look away.

"What are you talking about?" he asked, frowning.

"Don't pretend," I said as I opened the video on my phone and slid it across the table.

Neither of us spoke while it played. When it ended, Reid looked at the screen, then at me. His face remained completely unreadable.

"I see," he said at last, leaning back with a slow sigh.

"Say something," I whispered, my heart pounding.

"What exactly would you like me to say?" he asked calmly.

"Tell me I'm wrong," I pleaded, gripping the edge of the table.

He said nothing.

"Tell me there's an explanation," I continued, my voice shaking.

Silence.

"Tell me she means nothing."

"There is no point lying about it," he finally said, meeting my eyes.

The room spun.

"What?" I whispered, barely able to breathe.

"I have a mistress," he admitted without hesitation.

I stared at him, waiting for an apology, an excuse, anything.

Nothing came.

"That's it?" I asked, unable to believe what I was hearing.

"What else would you like me to say?" he replied, his expression unreadable.

"You betrayed me." I reminded him.

"I know."

"You cheated on me."

"Yes."

"And you're sitting there acting like it's nothing?" I asked, my voice breaking.

"I never intended to hide it forever," he admitted, looking away briefly.

"What?"

"I always knew this conversation would happen eventually." He replied nonchalantly.

I searched his face, hoping to find the man I married. Instead, I found a stranger.

"Who are you?" I whispered.

"I fell in love with someone else," he answered quietly.

My breath caught.

"You love her?" I asked, tears filling my eyes.

"Yes," he replied without hesitation.

That single word hurt more than discovering the affair because I could see the truth in his eyes. A tear slid down my cheek.

"Did you ever really love me?" I asked softly.

"I did," he answered after a long pause.

The past tense shattered something inside me.

"Then why?" I whispered. "Why would you do this to us?"

Silence settled between us as the candles flickered and the photographs surrounding us became cruel reminders of a life that no longer existed.

I looked at the man I had loved since childhood, the man I had trusted with my heart, my future, and everything I had.

"Tell me the truth, Reid," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

For a long moment, he simply looked at me before finally speaking.

"I stopped loving you the day your father killed my father."