nna’s face remained clouded with fury as she stared into the violated safe her mund typing to
muggling reconcile the evidence before her with the man she thought the knew. The missing bearden and satt delt
like physical blows to her chest.
“I can’t believe this,” she whispered, her voice barely audible Trever thought Pervis would actually steal
from me”
“I told you he was no good,” Justina said smugly, though she kept her distance after witnessing Anne’s volatile mood. “A leopard never changes its spots
Noah stepped forward carefully, his injured hand still cradled against his chest Ants, maybe you should call him and give him a chance to explain?
“With what phone?” Anna snapped. “He blocked my number, semember
“You could use my phone,” Noah offered, pulling his device from his pockest with his injured hand
Anna reached for the phone without hesitation, but as she took it, her eyes caught sign of the message history on the screen. Noah hadn’t bothered to close the messaging app, and several provocative messages to Pervis were clearly visible
Her frown deepened as she read the preview of the conversation. “Noah, what are these messages?
Noah’s blood ran cold as he realized his mistake In his arrogance and excitement over framing Pervik, he’d forgotten to delete the evidence of his taunting
“What messages?” he asked, his voice rising slightly with feigned confusion
Anna held up the phone, pointing to the screen. These messages you sent to Pervis The photo of you in his pajamas, the taunting about sleeping in his bed
“I never sent any messages!” Noah protested loudly, his voice cracking with desperation “Anna, you have to believe me! I would never do something like that!
Anna’s eyes narrowed as she studied his face. For years, she had trusted Noah completely, treating him like the little brother she’d never had. He was her best friend Sarah’s younger brother, someone she’d known since he was a teenager.
“Noah,” she said slowly, “these messages are right here on your phone. How do you explain that?”
“I don’t know!” Noah exclaimed, genuine panic creeping into his voice. “Maybe someone else used my phone? Maybe Pervis hacked it somehow?”
“Pervis doesn’t even know your phone number,” Anna replied coldly.
Noah’s mind raced, searching for any plausible explanation that wouldn’t expose his scheme. Then, inspiration struck.
“Wait,” he said, le suddenly becoming geeter, more hesitant 1 1did send those messages, but not for the reason you think “
“What reason” Anta demanded
ah looked down at the floor, the picture of reluctant confession. I caught him, Anna I caught Pervis cheating on you
Anna’s entire body went rigid “What did you say?”
† didn’t want to tell you because I knew it would hurt you,” Nosh continued, his voice filled with
anufactured anguish. But I saw him with another woman They were intimate”
“When?” Anna’s voice was barely a whisper
“Several times over the past few weeks,” Noah lied smoothly. “I wanted to confront him directly, but I w afraid he would just deny it and turn you against me. So I thought if I sent those messages, maybe I could make him realize that you had admirers too, that he couldn’t treat you like garbage”
Anna stared at him, her mind reeling “You’re saying Pervis has been having an affair?”
“I’m so sorry. Anna,” Noah said, forcing tears into his eyes. “I wanted to protect you, but I didn’t know how I thought maybe if he saw that other men cared about you, he would straighten up and treat you
better”
Tell me exactly what you saw,” Anna commanded, her voice deadly calm
Noah took a deep breath, weaving his lie with practiced skill. “The first time was about three weeks ago. I was coming back from physical therapy, and I saw him at that coffee shop downtown. He was sitting very close to a blonde woman, holding her hand ”
“A blonde woman?” Anna repeated.
“Yes, and they were kissing,” Noah added, watching Anna’s face carefully. “I wanted to take a picture, but they left before I could”
Anna’s hands began to shake slightly. “What else?”
“Last week, I saw him again,” Noah continued, gaining confidence. “This time he was with a different woman–brunette, very elegant. They were going into that expensive hotel on Fifth Avenue together.”
“The Grandview Hotel?” Anna asked, her voice hollow.
“That’s the one,” Noah confirmed. “Anna, I wanted to tell you, but I knew how much it would hurt. And after everything you’ve done for him, supporting him, taking care of his grandmother.
Anna’s face had gone completely pale, her eyes staring at some point beyond Noah’s shoulder. The evidence was mounting–the blocked phone calls, the mysterious woman at the hospital, the theft from her safe, and now Noah’s claims of infidelity.
2/3
“I should have told you sooner, Hosh said softly, reaching out to touch her with with in good hand “Burs hoped he would come to his senses and stop”
“How many women? Anna naked, her voice mechanical
“At least three that I saw personally,” Hoah replied, each lie coming easier than the last “There might have been more. Anna, I’m so sorry you’re going through this”
Justina, who had been listening to the entire exchange with growing excitement, finally spoke up
“I knew it!” she declared triumphantly. “I told you that man was worthles How look what he’s done- stolen from you and cheated on your
Anna stood perfectly still for a long moment, processing everything she’d heard. The man she’d been married to for four years, the man she’d supported financially and emotionally, had betrayed her in every possible way.
“Give me your phone,” she said to Noah, her voice emotionless.
“Anna, maybe you should wait until you’ve calmed down,” Noah suggested, though internally he was celebrating his success,
“Give me the phone now,” Anna repeated, her tone brooking no argument
Noah handed over his device, watching as Anna’s fingers moved across the screen with mechanical precision. She found Pervis’s number in the message history and pressed call, raising the phone to her
car.
The phone rang once, twice, three times before connecting
“Hello?” Pervis’s voice came through the speaker, sounding relaxed and content.
3/3
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
