The Seven-Year Itch: Three Days To Disappear

I tailed her car all the way to an extremely private, high-end club in Oak Bay.

It was open only to the most exclusive inner circle of the Valerius Group. The guards at the entrance recognized my car and gave me a respectful nod.

I parked in an open-air lot across the street, giving me a perfect vantage point. I cut the engine and watched from the car.

The moment Blair stepped out of her car, Julian was there to meet her.

He wore a black shirt with the collar slightly open, the sleeves casually rolled up to his forearms, exuding the unbridled wildness of youth.

Then, like a possessive young wolf, he wrapped his arm around Blair's waist.

"Darling, that little drone show of yours made me so jealous."

Blair ran a hand down his firm back, her voice indulgent.

"Wasn't booking the entire coastline for your birthday fireworks a few days ago enough? Such a greedy little wolf."

"A wild wolf," he corrected, nibbling on her earlobe. "And you'd better not hold back on a single thing you promised me."

"You'll get it all. Just not yet."

"I promised you, as long as you behave and don't let your dear brother find out about our little game, all the power and status he has now will be yours sooner or later."

Hearing this, a sharp pain shot through my heart, as if a thousand daggers were piercing my chest.

I remembered that spectacular fireworks display on the coast a few days ago all too well.

That night, Blair had told me she was flying to Europe to deal with a corporate mole trying to steal core data. She was gone all night.

I had stayed up, worried sick that something had happened to her on the trip.

It turned out the danger wasn't some corporate mole, but my own wife climbing into my brother's bed.

And I, her husband, was the idiot who had been kept in the dark.

Julian let out a low growl of dissatisfaction, pressing closer, his fingertips tracing a teasing path along her collarbone.

"What, I'm not even allowed to be jealous?"

"Don't be angry. I've prepared an excellent show to satisfy you tonight."

Julian's voice dropped low as he grabbed the collar of her silk blouse.

The lust in Blair's eyes instantly ignited.

"What are you waiting for? Take me."

"See you in the penthouse suite. You'll have to unwrap me layer by layer."

Blair took control, tilting his chin up for a kiss. They stumbled into the glass-walled VIP elevator, locked in a passionate embrace.

Julian let out a muffled groan of pleasure, the rest of the sound swallowed by Blair's deep kiss.

The elevator ascended, heading straight for the presidential suite on the top floor.

Through the glass facade, I saw everything with perfect clarity: he tore at the buttons of her blouse while her fingers tangled in his hair.

Seven years of marriage, and it meant nothing to her.

Even though I had already pieced together the whole truth, seeing it with my own eyes still felt like my soul was being torn to shreds.

The tears I had been holding back for so long finally broke free, streaming down my face.

I remembered our first year of marriage, when Blair swore on the honor of the Valerius family that she would spend every anniversary with me, all day.

Now, a single text from Julian was enough to make her cast that vow aside.

I had lost, completely and utterly.

I took a deep breath, forcing down the storm of emotions inside me.

Just endure for three more days.

In three days, I would escape all of this.

By the time I drove back to the estate, the clock read two in the morning.

I went straight to the guest room at the end of the hall and locked the door.

At three a.m., I heard the screech of a sports car braking downstairs.

Soon after, I heard Blair's voice. "Kevin? Kevin!"

She was screaming my name from the master bedroom, her voice growing more frantic with every call.

"Damn it! Where did he go?"

The shout was followed by the loud crash of an expensive vase being smashed against a wall.

"What's the point of keeping you useless fools around if you can't even keep an eye on him!"

"Ms. Valerius, sir's sports car isn't in the garage. He may have gone out…" the housekeeper reported, trembling outside the door.

"Check the surveillance footage immediately! I don't care if you have to tear this entire neighborhood apart, find him!"

The frantic clicking of her heels grew closer. She was shoving open every door in a panic.

When she finally threw open the door to the guest room, I rubbed my eyes, feigning a sleepy confusion.

The moment she saw me, the rage on her face vanished, replaced by the raw terror of someone who had just averted a disaster.

"Oh my God, Kevin, you scared me to death."

"Why did you change rooms? Do you have any idea how close I came to firing the head of security when I opened the master bedroom and you weren't there?"

She rushed over and pulled me into a tight embrace, her body trembling slightly.

"I just couldn't sleep, so I came to lie down in here for a bit," I said, gently stroking her back. "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing. It's just… when I can't find you… I get scared."

She kissed the top of my head, her voice genuinely laced with fear.

But if you were truly this afraid of losing me, you wouldn't have been panting under another man.

And you certainly wouldn't have climbed into my own brother's bed.

"I had a headache earlier, so I took some medicine and went to sleep. I forgot to tell you."

After living with her lies for so long, I could now lie just as flawlessly.

Blair was still shaken. She hadn't even changed her clothes, just held on to me for dear life, as if cradling a priceless treasure.

"Don't you ever do that again. I'll go insane if I can't find you."

"You know, Kevin. I would do anything for you."

I pulled at the corner of my mouth, closing my eyes with a sarcastic smile in the darkness.

The next morning, I packed a black velvet gift box.

Inside, I placed three things: the Valerius signet ring, our wedding rings, and the divorce papers I had drafted and signed overnight.

After a moment's thought, I added a photograph that had been buried at the bottom of a drawer. It was a Polaroid she had secretly slipped into my pocket on our first date.

"Blair, this is your anniversary surprise."

She took the box, her eyes filled with genuine delight.

"Can I open it now?"

"No. Wait two days. It will be more... impactful then."

She nodded obediently and carefully locked the box in her safe.

"I'm sure you'll love the gift I got for you, too."

But in two days, I would have completely disappeared from her world.

And by then, this "gift" would tell her everything.

Just as she finished speaking, the doorbell rang.

When the door opened, Julian's face appeared before us, the corners of his eyes red, yet still defiant and untamed.