Cheaters Talk Too Loud

Sorevia City, Darmoria

One of my wife's so-called friends practically shouted across the table, "So, you got knocked up by your side piece. What's the game plan?"

Vanessa Joplin calmly set a plate of steak in front of me.

"We always said if one of us cheated, we'd vanish from each other's lives for good," she said, all sugar-sweet. "I'm not letting that happen. So yeah—I've been careful. Once the baby's here, the only dad anyone'll see is Glen."

After that, she signed that she'd love me forever—totally missing the red burn around my eyes.

She didn't know I'd gotten my hearing back a week ago.

Didn't know I already knew about the guy on the side.

And she definitely didn't know I'd bought a ticket north.

Seven days. Once the paperwork cleared, I'd be gone.

No noise. No goodbye. Just erased.

I shoved the steak away. I was done playing husband-in-the-dark.

When I stood, Vanessa popped up too, hands flying, asking what was wrong.

I shook my head. "It's late. I'm heading back."

She moved to follow, but her friends blocked her, all fake concern.

"Glen's not in great shape. He needs rest. Why rush off?"

"Yeah, and Eugene's almost here. You haven't seen him all day. Don't you miss him?"

Panic flickered across her face—quick, ugly. Then she noticed I didn't react. Her brows pulled tight.

"Don't say his name in front of Glen."

Someone laughed.

"What are you scared of? He's deaf. He can't hear us."

I pushed her back into her chair, firm. "I can get back myself. Stay."

I turned and walked. No pause, no window for her to chase me.

Barely made it far before Eugene Chapman showed up.

His shoulder slammed into mine—on purpose or just pure arrogance—hard enough to throw me off balance.

He didn't even look back. Just strutted into the room, grabbed her like she was his prize.

"Vanessa, it's only been a day. Did you miss me?"

She gave him this shy little look—one I'd never seen before.

"Of course."

Eugene chuckled. "Then you better reward me."

Then he kissed her—slow, deep.

"Alright, alright. Months in and you're still this clingy?"

Her friends didn't even flinch. Totally numb to it.

I just stood there, watching, heart freezing over.

So yeah—everyone knew.

Everyone but me.

Eugene smiled at the teasing, soaking it up.

Like the scene wasn't messy enough, people started tossing out questions—when was the last time they'd hooked up?

Vanessa dropped her head, all shy. Eugene? He looked smug as hell.

"Day before yesterday. Room next to the master bedroom."

I said it at the same time he did—quiet, but dead on.

The room lit up like someone dropped a firecracker.

"Hahaha, Vanessa, you finally stopped pretending."

"C'mon, with our status, who needs the good-girl act?"

"Keep it hidden and you're golden. Glen's deaf. He'll never know."

The second they said my name, Vanessa's smile cracked.

Her face iced over.

"Don't let Glen know about this."