Secrets Of The Neglected Wife
Posted on February 03, 2025 · 0 mins read
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Allison returned to her apartment to find Rebecca on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

"Allison, honey! Thank goodness you're finally home!" Rebecca's heart, which had been racing all night, finally settled, though tension lingered. "I called you a hundred times last night! I even had people searching the city for hours! If that cruise ship hadn't been stuck at sea, I would have called the police. Your text this morning was the only thing keeping me sane, but wait…" She paused, eyes narrowing. She noticed faint red marks on Allison's neck.

"Wait a second… Did you have any luck last night?"

Allison patted Rebecca's back and shrugged. "Yeah, I'm fine. I spent the night with someone. Nothing special."

Rebecca's jaw dropped. "Oh, so you ignored my calls because you didn't want me to crash your little party!"

Now that she knew Allison was safe, Rebecca's panic subsided, replaced by playful curiosity. She pounced on Allison. "Alright, confess! What happened last night? You left me for a guy? Come on, let me see!"

"Let me go!" Allison laughed, dodging Rebecca. "It was a chaotic night."

Allison gave Rebecca a quick rundown: "The guy had a body like a Greek statue, and he wasn't bad in bed. But… he was hot. Dangerous, for sure. If I hadn't been rushing to finalize the divorce, I would have looked at him more closely."

Rebecca's eyes widened, then softened into a smirk. "You seem a little bit in love. Those gigolos I set you up with couldn't hold a candle to him! Why can't I ever be that lucky?"

Their banter masked a serious undercurrent. Rebecca ran her fingers through Allison's hair. "Don't worry, I've got this covered. I'll have someone look into the details and make sure all the footage is deleted. There's no way you're getting dragged into this…"

"I guess he's involved," Allison said, though her calm demeanor belied her unease. A man with a gun meant danger, and Rebecca wouldn't let her friend face it blindly.

"It's okay," Allison said, relaxing slightly, though her body still ached. She rubbed her sore back and stomach. "Did I miss anything important at last night's event? Was the CEO of Charisma Company there?"

Rebecca shook her head. "No, the same old people. The CEO didn't show up. Probably didn't want to show his hand yet. But here's the kicker," Rebecca's face lit up. "The Fourth International Perfume Competition is starting. Ontdale's biggest advertising company is hosting it, and the three winners will be sponsored by the Everett Group. It's monumental."

Allison nodded. The event sounded significant.

Rebecca continued, "The CEO of Charisma Company is also participating. Anyone who can create a scent that lasts like his… he's not your average guy. Plus, all finalists have to reveal their identities, so if you enter, you'll run into him."

Smiling, Rebecca added, "Now, tell me how you're going to thank me for this."

Allison's mind raced. If he was breaking in, their encounter was inevitable. "Are you sure your information is solid?"

"Of course! I brought you the registration forms. What do you think? First, you leave me for a guy, and now you doubt my abilities!" Rebecca laughed, ruffling Allison's hair. "You're a menace, and one day I'll get my revenge!"

"How could I doubt you?" Allison scoffed, grabbing a pillow and resting her head on Rebecca's shoulder. "Since you've rolled out the red carpet, I'm diving in. And I'll make it to the finals."

Rebecca raised an eyebrow. "Well, hear yourself out. You believe everything now, huh?"

"Confidence is my middle name," Allison said, standing and stretching. "But first, I need a shower and a long nap."

Her mind drifted to her upcoming visit with Colton's grandfather, Keanu Stevens, the next day. The thought of Colton and Melany together during the divorce proceedings made her stomach churn. Heading to the bathroom, she couldn't resist mimicking Melany's voice: "Rebecca, you don't mind me taking a shower here, do you? Promise me there's nothing going on between us."

Rebecca burst out laughing, throwing a pillow. "Go away! You're giving me the creeps!"

Steam filled the bathroom as the hot water cascaded over Allison, washing away the day's stress. She looked at the red marks on her skin. The man had been a storm. She should have kept the money and saved the tip. Yet, she couldn't stop thinking about his deep, unreadable eyes.

The near-scalding water snapped her out of it. She'd almost forgotten something crucial.


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