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Novel Catalog
Chapter_2
I was about to grab the phone to check who the message was from when Matthew rushed into the room and snatched it away. He glanced at the screen quickly, then locked eyes with me.
“It’s Mel,” he said nonchalantly.
“Mel?” I echoed, my heart sinking. “What’s the matter? Are you worried I’ll find something?”
My mind raced as unease settled over me. The message on his phone was short, only four words: “Did she find out?”
It was enough to make my pulse quicken. That message carried an undercurrent of fear, as if someone was trying to cover something up. The ambiguity of it left me feeling even more suspicious. My gut churned, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was very wrong.
Matthew gave a quiet chuckle, brushing off my concern as if it was nothing. He tossed the phone back onto the bedside table and pulled me into his arms, pressing his lips to mine in a reassuring kiss. “You’re overthinking it,” he said with a smile. “It’s not about you. It’s about my sister, Mel. She’s using me to scam Mom for money.”
Melanie Murphy, Matthew’s younger sister, had always been coddled by the family. She’d been sickly as a child, and as a result, her parents had always treated her like a delicate princess. But now, in her twenties, she was a spoiled brat, living a life of travel, indulgence, and no responsibility. She hadn’t bothered with school or a job—her days were filled with fun and leisure, and it seemed the only thing she was good at was taking advantage of others.
“Scamming your mother for money?” I replied, disbelief creeping into my voice. “Where do you think her money comes from?”
Matthew smiled sheepishly, his lips brushing my ear as he lifted me effortlessly into his arms. “Yeah, yeah, I know. It’s all your money now, thanks to marrying such an amazing, understanding woman like you.”
I chuckled, appreciating his words, though my mind still lingered on the strange message. But as Matthew carried me to the bathroom, I let myself be swept up in his affection. He always had a way of making everything feel better, and that night was no different. The doubts and frustrations seemed to melt away as we shared an intimate moment, and I found myself content in his arms.
Later that evening, I brought up the idea of buying a house in a good school district, something that had been weighing on my mind for a while. We had been living in this small 500-square-foot apartment since we got married. It wasn’t a big deal to me, but I didn’t want Ava to start her education in a neighborhood that wasn’t up to par.
She was about to start school, and the local options weren’t great. We’d saved for years, but Matthew had always insisted there was no rush. He wanted to find the perfect place in the city’s rapidly developing areas, a place where we wouldn’t have to move again in a few years.
This time, when I brought it up again, Matthew didn’t argue. Instead, he patted my shoulder and kissed my forehead. “Okay, I’ll find a few places for you to look at, and then you can decide.”
His response warmed my heart, and I fell asleep with a smile on my face, already imagining our new home.
The next morning, after dropping Ava off at kindergarten, I got a call from my best friend, Ivanna. She wanted to meet at our usual spot. Of course, I agreed without hesitation, eager to see her.
Ivanna and I had always been close—like sisters. We could talk about anything, but it was rare for her to reach out. She was always busy, working as a talent manager in a media company, so when she asked to meet up, I knew something was up.
When I arrived at our favorite dessert shop, I spotted Ivanna sitting in the corner, typing away on her laptop. The morning sunlight bathed her in a soft glow, making her even more striking.
She waved as I approached, and I slid into the chair across from her. “What’s this? You’re actually free today?” I teased. “You must have had some time to spare to drag me out so early in the morning.”
Ivanna rolled her eyes but smiled. “Can’t I be concerned about you?”
I laughed and sipped the coffee she’d ordered for me. “Sure, but you’re always busy, and I’m always free. You’ve got it good!”
She gave me a pointed look. “Ha! Aren’t you ashamed of that? All I see is Matthew spoiling you. Don’t say I didn’t warn you, but don’t get too comfortable. It’s easy to end up looking like a fool.”
Her words struck a chord in me, and my heart skipped a beat. I studied her, trying to make sense of the warning in her tone. “What do you mean?” I asked, my voice betraying a hint of unease. “There’s more to this, isn’t there?”
Ivanna hesitated for a moment, lowering her gaze to the laptop screen as if she was hiding something. Then, after a long pause, she finally met my eyes. “I saw Matthew the day before yesterday.”