Chapter 3 Witnessing with One's Own Eyes
Rachel's footsteps felt like lead as she left the hotel.
Once inside the elevator, it felt like all the strength had drained from her body.
So, Steven really had an affair?
She didn't want to believe it, but the facts made her doubt.
How could it all be so coincidental?
Steven canceled on her last minute, and Nancy just happened to be at the Sunbeam Hotel on the 14th floor, in room 1408, with a so-called boyfriend.
If it was true, when did it all start?
How did it start?
She didn't wait outside the hotel, knowing Nancy would inform Steven not to come if she saw her.
On the way home, a light drizzle began to fall.
The early autumn air was already getting cooler.
When she got home, Steven called her. She didn't answer, parked the car, and went inside.
Steven heard her come in and rushed over. "Why are you home so late from work?"
Before she could say anything, he hugged her and apologized, "I'm sorry, honey, I broke my promise today."
Rachel felt numb.
A thought flashed through her mind—did he hug Nancy like this too?
But she didn't dare to imagine it.
It would hurt too much.
Steven looked down at her, gently squeezed her hand, and said softly, "Let's reschedule the restaurant for tomorrow, okay? I'll buy new movie tickets too."
Rachel looked at his apologetic face. His eyebrows drooped, and he seemed so humble, sincere, and earnest.
He had always been this way. For six years, even the smallest conflict would have him apologizing and comforting her first.
Now, she wasn't really angry, but her mind and heart were filled with confusion and struggle.
"It's okay. It doesn't matter where we eat. Your cooking is just as good as any restaurant. The movie just came out yesterday, we can watch it anytime."
Steven smiled warmly, his tone full of affection and helplessness. "You should get mad at me sometimes. You're always so considerate, it makes me feel even more guilty. Have you eaten? Want me to make you something?"
He was handsome, gentle, and so attentive. Rachel still couldn't fully reconcile the image of him loving her and betraying her.
It all felt so unreal.
In an instant, many memories of their time together flashed through her mind.
She remembered their first year together. He set off fireworks for half an hour and loudly declared at the stroke of midnight, "Rachel, I will make you the happiest woman in the world."
Every New Year's Eve after that, he always had a different surprise for her.
Once, when she was sick in the winter, she had a fever and was delirious. The car got stuck in the snow, so he carried her for nearly a mile. He ended up getting sick himself and stayed in the hospital for over a week.
He was allergic to cat fur, but because she liked cats, he bought her a blue-eyed ragdoll cat for her 25th birthday. He sneezed and had allergies the whole time the cat was with them until Rachel couldn't stand it anymore and gave the cat to Nancy.
Unfortunately, the cat didn't live a year. It caught infectious peritonitis and didn't survive despite over two weeks of treatment.
Such acts of love played like a slideshow in her mind.
Rachel had always firmly believed that he loved her deeply.
Because of him, love had always been pure and beautiful in her heart.
She never imagined the day it would be tainted would be so heartbreaking and absurd.
Nor did she imagine how she would feel when facing it all.
Steven noticed her zoning out, tightened his arm around her waist, and asked softly, "What's wrong, honey?"
"I already ate tonight, I'm not hungry." She snapped back to reality, suppressing the bitterness rising in her heart, trying to keep her voice steady. "I was just thinking about something."
"What?"
"I went to the Sunbeam Hotel on my way home." She took out a piece of paper from her bag. "This number called me, saying they saw you with a woman going into the hotel. So I went to check."
On the way back, her rationality had slowly returned.
But once the seed of doubt was planted, it quickly grew into a towering tree, with dense branches that blocked out the sun, leaving only shadows in the heart.
Her heart, her emotions, couldn't help but still hold some hope for Steven.
Hoping it was all a misunderstanding.
Even hoping he would proactively confess and explain.
The paper had the number that texted her.
She had checked it a few days ago; the number didn't exist.
Driven by doubt, she used it to test Steven.
What if they both really betrayed her?
Steven frowned, took the paper, and looked at it. "Do you know this person?"
"No."
"Is it a man or a woman?"
Rachel didn't know, since it was a text. She pursed her lips and made up something. "A man, sounded like he was from Dawnlight City, around thirty."
Steven's expression grew serious as he pocketed the paper. "Leave this to me, I'll handle it."
He looked down at Rachel and hugged her again, asking softly, "Honey, do you trust me?"
Whether his acting was flawless or he had never cheated, Rachel couldn't see any signs of guilt on his face.
He was calm and natural, even the surprise was fleeting.
Rachel pressed her hand against his chest, trying to sound serious but her voice was unsteady. "Would you betray me?"
She looked at him intently, not wanting to miss any emotion in his eyes.
Steven was stunned, then a smile appeared in his eyes. He grabbed her hand and pointed to his head. "Do you know what this is?"
"What?"
"People say I have a brain clouded by love." Steven chuckled, kissing her hand tenderly, his voice low and husky. "I guess it's true. Rachel, in this lifetime, I only love you. There's no love left for anyone else."
The more he spoke with such tenderness, the more uneasy Rachel felt.
Over the years, she had heard his sweet words many times. They used to make her feel so happy and loved. Now, they felt false and insincere.
Would his love really not be given to anyone else?
Hadn't he said these words to Nancy too?
"You treat me so well, love me so much, of course I trust you."
Rachel forced a smile, her eyes sparkling with excitement, but beneath the surface, her heart ached with quiet disappointment. "Do you remember the vows we made at Dawnlight Chapel when we got married?"
Steven was slightly taken aback, then said softly, "Of course I remember."
"You said anyone who betrays true love will end up in hell. So I'm not buying those scary rumors."
That was what Steven had said, holding her hand, to God at the Dawnlight Chapel two days before their wedding.
"Yes," Steven said, pulling her into his arms, swiftly hiding the distress threatening to overflow from his eyes. His voice was filled with tenderness, as if he was trying to hypnotize both himself and Rachel. "Rachel, I love you. How could I ever hurt you? We'll grow old together."
Rachel remained silent, letting him hold her.
Yes, he loved her. How could he bear to hurt her and see her sad?
Their vows and love felt like they were just yesterday, but now a fog had settled over them, making them unreachable.
Could they really be happy forever?
Her once unwavering belief was now shaken.
Rachel's nose was filled with the familiar scent of pinewood.
But suddenly, an unprecedented feeling of repulsion welled up inside her. Trying to calm her inner turmoil, she stepped out of Steven's embrace and put on a smile. "Alright, we're an old married couple now. No need to get all mushy. I need to go upstairs and take a shower."
Steven smiled, gently pinching her nose. "Old married couple? We've only been married three years. Even after thirty or forty years, I'll still tell you I love you."
Rachel chuckled, playfully swatting his arm and giving him a teasing look. "You're so cheeky. I have work to do. You go to bed first, don't wait up for me."
"Why don't you take a break tomorrow? We haven't made love in ages."
Steven pulled her close, a thin layer of desire clouding his usually gentle and affectionate eyes.
It was a signal.
Rachel knew what he wanted, but the unease in her heart told her to refuse.
She sighed dramatically, "Tomorrow's even busier."
Steven knew Stargaze Gallery was preparing for next month's solo exhibition of a famous young female artist, and Rachel, as the curator, had been working overtime for a long time.
He reluctantly let go. "Alright, but don't stay up too late. Take care of yourself."
Rachel nodded and headed to the study. As soon as she closed the door, her body was still tense from the emotional strain when her phone buzzed with a text.
She paused, quickly grabbing her phone from her bag.
It was the same familiar number.
[Scenic Bay Estates, Villa 11. Steven transferred marital assets worth $27 million to Nancy.]
Rachel's breath stopped, her gaze froze.
It was a high-end villa community that had just opened in May.
It was famous for its prime location and unique design, and most of the properties had been reserved halfway through construction.
If this was true, could Steven and Nancy have been cheating on her since last year?
Rachel bit her lip, her mind no longer on work, her heart churned with anxiety and unease.
She couldn't sleep.
She only fell asleep at dawn, waking up at 8:30.
When she went downstairs, Steven had already finished breakfast and was waiting for her.
She was surprised. "Why haven't you gone to work?"
"I was worried about you sleeping in so late. Did you stay up working again?" Steven approached, his eyes full of concern. "You don't look well."
"No, maybe my sleep quality has been poor lately."
"Why don't you eat breakfast and then go back to sleep for a bit? Go to work in the afternoon."
"Okay." Rachel smiled, glancing at her watch. "It's almost nine. You should get to the office."
Before leaving, Steven reminded her, "Make sure you rest, okay?"
Rachel watched him leave, slowly ate breakfast, but didn't rush to Stargaze Gallery. Instead, she drove to Scenic Bay Estates.
She wanted to confirm if the villa was in Nancy's name.
But before she could park, she saw a familiar black Cayenne from about ten yards away.
It was identical to the one Steven had driven out from home just minutes ago.
Beside the car stood two people passionately kissing.
Rachel's pupils contracted, her mind went blank.
Though the distance made it hard to see their faces clearly, she couldn't forget the blue coat Steven was wearing.
It was the gift she had given him for his birthday last year.
If the texts had only made her suspicious and uneasy, this scene was like a death sentence, pushing her into the abyss.
It was like a blade on a guillotine, cutting her deeply, striking her soul.
She watched them for a long time, and when they didn't separate, she unclenched her fists, sniffled, took out her phone, opened the camera, zoomed in, and saw two familiar profiles. Disappointment flooded her eyes as cold tears streamed down.
It was Steven and Nancy.
Minutes ago, Steven was at home, concerned and worried about her. Now, he was here, wearing the coat she had given him, passionately kissing another woman.
Her chest felt heavy, her breath like a trapped insect, bringing only suffocation and pressure.
Rachel forced a smile, her hands trembling as she took a few pictures. She didn't look at them, she just wanted to escape.
At this moment, Rachel couldn't even describe what it felt like to be betrayed by the two people who meant the most to her. Her heart felt sore, swollen, and filled with a sharp pain that made it hard to breathe.
She had been a fool, unaware of the signs, believing they truly loved her and cared for her.
How could she have been so blind?
Three years ago, Steven had proposed on a day like today.
The hot air balloon rose slowly, and halfway up, she looked down and saw the words formed by 1,314,520 roses: [Rachel, will you marry me?]
She had been stunned, and Steven knelt in the balloon, holding a box with a two-carat diamond ring and his deeply affectionate eyes.
He said, "Rachel, marry me. I will love you deeply, take care of you, and never make you cry."
Yes, three years of dating, three years of marriage, he had always treated her with utmost care.
Except for the time her mother passed away unexpectedly last year, she had never cried.
For her, these six years were filled with happiness, sweetness, and endless joy.
Everyone who knew them said they were a perfect couple, deeply in love.
But what did it mean now?
She laughed bitterly, tears falling more fiercely, blurring her vision. She couldn't see the road ahead and was forced to pull over.
Her phone buzzed again.
Rachel's heart clenched tightly as she took out her phone.
[Go to Azure Sky Law Firm and find Benjamin Wright. He can help you.]