Chapter 1I started selling crystals online. And one day this guy places a HUGE order.
"I want one of each from your new collection. But send them to five different addresses. Can you do that?"
Um, yeah! Easy money!
I open up the shipping list he sent and... wait. I know all these names.
My neighbor.
My husband's coworker.
My kid's piano teacher.
And my best friend from childhood...
"Send the priciest one to Vera Quinn."
Ha.
That's me. I AM Vera Quinn.
This player buying all these gifts?
That's my husband, Reid.
...
I just sat there staring at my screen.
Reid knows I sell crystals. He just doesn't know my shop name.
He's always like, "Starting a business is hard, babe."
Yeah, I KNOW it's hard.
But I used to work at a tech company—I know how to hustle.
What he didn't expect? I mixed spiritual stuff with trendy designs and hit number one in my category in a month.
I messaged him from my business account.
"Hey! You're now a VIP customer—20% off everything. Can I get your number?"
Few minutes later, he sends it.
That number I've known for ten years.
My heart just sank.
Yup. It's Reid.
Right then, he became my ex-husband in my head.
Not just because of those four women.
But because—seriously?
He'd rather buy crystals from some random online shop than from his own wife??
That pissed me off more than anything!
After he accepted my friend request, I started fishing.
"Wow, buying for all your girlfriends?"
"Just sell your stuff and mind your business."
Oh, so he's gonna be cold like that.
Figures. That's his whole vibe.
Reid and I have been married ten years. Our kid is eight.
Everyone thinks Reid's this perfect husband.
Quiet, loyal, family guy.
Hot, successful, the whole package.
After we got married, he stopped going out, stopped partying.
Barely talks to other women.
He literally told me once: "A married man doesn't make new female friends. That's just basic."
Now I get what he really meant.
Women he doesn't know? Won't touch.
Women he ALREADY knows? Can't keep his fucking hands off!
I arranged all the shipments like nothing happened.
And yeah—I sent the most expensive one to myself.
Chapter 2
Weekend comes around.
I get home from work. Nobody's there.
That's weird.
Reid was supposed to pick up our son from piano and be back by now.
I made dinner and they finally showed up.
"Why so late?"
Reid tells our kid to wash his hands first.
"Teacher says there's this piano competition. Wants him to enter. It's in the next city. Asked if we're cool with it."
Before, I wouldn't have thought twice.
But now I know—the piano teacher is one of his side chicks.
I wanna see how they're gonna pull this off.
I grabbed some plates. "Oh cool. When is it?"
"This weekend. Leave tomorrow, back the next day."
I didn't say anything.
Reid kept talking. "She said even if he doesn't win, it's good experience."
I acted worried. "But I have that factory visit this weekend... already scheduled..."
Reid sighed. "I'll take him then. Good for him to get out there."
I nearly laughed.
Nice try, buddy.
Reid kept piling food on our kid's plate while explaining every detail—
"She says he's the most talented. Just him going this time."
"She'll be there the whole time, but we gotta cover travel and hotel."
"It's not far. Easier to drive. Should I... pick her up too?"
Our son's plate was overflowing.
Reid always does this when he's lying—his hands get busy.
I just stared at him.
He finally looked at me.
"If you don't want me to, forget it. She can take the train."
Don't want him to?
Oh, I WANT him to.
How else am I gonna get proof for the divorce?
I shook my head. "Why wouldn't I trust you? Go ahead. She's been good to our kid."
Reid's whole face lit up.
I looked down at the plate of chicken wings in front of me.
Used to be my favorite.
Now I felt sick.
Chapter 3
Middle of the night.
I'm lying in bed, wide awake.
Usually I'm out cold. Like, earthquake wouldn't wake me.
Tonight? Can't sleep.
I'm too mad.
Ten years of marriage and turns out my "perfect husband" is cheating.
With FOUR women.
And I know every single one.
I'm mad at myself for being so blind.
Then Reid's phone lights up on his side of the bed.
He glances over at me.
I shut my eyes real quick and fake sleep.
He quietly gets up.
After checking his phone, I see him smile in the dark.
Then he opens the nightstand drawer.
That's where we keep condoms.
Wait, what?
Not for me, obviously.
Who's he meeting in the middle of the night?
I peek through half-closed eyes.
Reid throws on a robe and leaves.
Once I hear the front door close, I get up and follow.
I crack open the door and look around.
Hallway's dead quiet.
But the stairwell light is on.
Before I even get close, I hear voices.
"Reid, come on. I want you."
"Can't wait a few days?"
Clothes rustling.
"If there are cameras... I could get the footage and... we could watch it together later... you're so wet already..."
"Don't say it out loud... so embarrassing... Ah!"
That moan made the motion light click on.
"Reid, slow down, ah, slow down, you're too big, I can't take it—"
"Can't take it already? I'm not fucking done yet."
"You're so rough... does Vera ever see you like this?"
"You little slut, don't bring that up now... guess I gotta shut that mouth with my dick."
"Mmph—"
After that, because of all the noise they were making, the motion light never went off again.
I stood there, face blank, and stopped the recording.
Back inside, I lay in bed, my mind racing.
The second I heard her voice, I knew who Reid was using those condoms with.
Our neighbor from across the hall.
Just graduated college.
Always calls me "Vera" all sweet when we run into each other.
I felt bad for her before—alone in the city, working multiple jobs.
I kept inviting her for dinner.
Guess she decided to have my husband for dessert.
My phone lit up.
Building group chat.
"Who the hell is doing it in the stairwell right now? Go to your own place. Gross!"
"Wait, seriously? Which building? Can I still catch them?"
"Building 9. Hurry, sounds like they're almost done."
Oh my god.
Caught in the act?
My heart was pounding.
Didn't see that coming.
But before anyone got there, I heard panicked footsteps at the door.
Reid came back.
They must've seen the group chat.
I pretended to sleep again.
Once he made sure I was "asleep," he went to the bathroom and turned on the shower.
I checked my phone.
"Never mind, they ran. Already gone."
"Haha busted!"
Then I heard heavy breathing coming from the bathroom.
Reid got cockblocked, so he came back to finish himself off.
Bet that girl was still on his mind.
This man I loved for over ten years—
First time he ever disgusted me.
