Chapter 1 It was past midnight when a message suddenly popped up in my son's preschool parent group chat . Although it was withdrawn almost instantly , I still saw it . It was a picture of a mint - flavored condom . I remembered the parent who posted it . It was Leah Ayla , the mother of Sam's classmate Kay . She was cute , sweet - natured , and easy to get along with . Honestly , I didn't think much of it . Her husband had been working overseas for years . If she had certain needs , it was only natural . I turned off my phone and happened to glance at my husband , Albert Lopez's jacket draped over the chair . A small receipt slipped out of the pocket . It was a shopping receipt . The time stamp read yesterday afternoon . The receipt was from a specialty shop : a birth control store . My heart sank . The coincidence was too sharp , too direct . he coincidence hit me hard . A cold wave of dread washed over me . At 3 a.m. , my phone buzzed again . Another message from the preschool group . Leah Ayla : [ Link : Mint - flavored condoms - The message was withdrawn just as quickly , the secret weapon to reignite passion between couples ! ] The chat fell into dead silence . A few seconds later , Leah followed up : Leah Ayla : [ Oops , sorry everyone ! Wrong link - my daughter must've been playing with my phone while she was falling asleep . ] Her excuse felt flimsy at best . But knowing her husband rarely came home , it didn't seem too strange to me . Nothing scandalous . Just … private . I set my phone aside and rubbed my temples . " Babe , you're still working ? " Albert came in with a warm glass of milk and set it down beside me . The heat from the cup brushed against my hand , soothing me instantly . " It's nearly three . Get some sleep , you can finish this tomorrow . " He slipped behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist , resting his chin on my shoulder , his voice laced with tenderness . That was just like him . Always gentle , always putting me first . Albert had been my college sweetheart , a self - made man who clawed his way out of a rural town with nothing but grit and intelligence . From having nothing to building a home in this city , I'd seen him fight tooth and nail . Only I knew what it cost him . Everyone said I'd married the right man . Albert was the textbook perfect husband , who's always been devoted , attentive , never raising his voice . I believed that too . I leaned my cheek against his hand , warmth blooming quietly in my chest . " You go ahead . I'll just take a quick shower before bed . " Charter 1 He kissed me on the lips and smiled . " Alright , I'll wait for you . " Then he turned and walked back into the bedroom . I tidied up my files and was about to join him when I passed through the living room and noticed his jacket had fallen to the floor . Shaking my head at the loose coat hook , I stooped to pick it up . Albert was always been a penny pincher that won't even replace his broken . As the jacket was picked up , a pink receipt fluttered out . I never paid attention to his things before , and I wasn't trying to snoop . But just as I stuffed the receipt back into his pocket , I caught the text printed across the top . XX Mall , XX Counter . Mint - flavored condoms . Purchase time : Yesterday at 3 p.m. My brow furrowed . I suddenly remembered that yesterday at 3 p.m. , my car had broken down . I'd called Albert , but he never answered . He later texted to say he was in a meeting . So how could he have been buying something like this ? Albert and I had always kept things … conventional in bed . This kind of thing ? Not only had we never used it , we'd never even joked about it . The thought made my eyes drift toward the bedroom door . One word flared in my mind . Affair . My head buzzed as memories of Albert's repeated reassurances came flooding back . " Honey , the one thing I'll never do in this life is cheat . " " I won't ruin everything we built together for a moment of weakness . " " My parents worked their whole lives in that town . I'd never do anything to make them hang their heads in shame . " Hearing those words echoing now , I felt ridiculous for doubting him . We'd been together for eleven years . If anyone knew what kind of man Albert was , it was me . Maybe … the receipt wasn't even his . That thought calmed the storm in my chest . I carefully put the receipt back and took a long , deep breath before heading to the bedroom . As always , Albert had left the light on for me . The soft glow barely illuminated his face , casting gentle shadows across his features . This scene had been my every night for years . But tonight , maybe because of the receipt , I found myself sitting down at the edge of the bed , watching him . He was thirty - two now , but still just as handsome as the day we met in school . Fair skin . Impeccably neat . Always tidy and clean . There was never anything to fault about him . I smiled , feeling a twinge of guilt for that fleeting moment of doubt . Just as I reached over to turn off his bedside lamp , Albert shifted . The light caught the skin between his neck and collarbone . I froze . There was a purplish mark , faintly visible even under a layer of poorly blended concealer . Not a mosquito bite . A kiss mark . Deliberate . Branded . Chapter 1