Chapter 40 - Even Worse

Lucas stared at Maya's phone screen, his face tense.

The contact name at the top was clear: "Victor 🖤". Victor—their neighbor, a man nearly as old as his father, John. A man who always seemed friendly and polite when they met in the yard. But now, every word in this conversation felt like a dagger stabbing straight into Lucas's heart.

"Victor 🖤: Thank God John had that accident. Now I can come over and talk to you freely without having to make up excuses. He doesn't even suspect that his wife prefers spending time with me."

Lucas felt a wave of heat rise from his chest to his entire body. My father had an accident, and you're grateful for it?

"Maya: Don't talk like that, Victor. No matter what, John is still my husband. He provides for this house, for all our needs."

"Victor 🖤: Hah, so he's just a walking wallet to you now? You're too beautiful to be stuck with a man who's always busy working and doesn't know how to please his wife."