Chapter 1

During my commute to work, I spotted tiny beads of fluid sticking to the car's windows. Upon inspection, I found them to be slightly tacky and emitting a subtle fruity aroma.

Puzzled, as I never use such products, I phoned my spouse. "Have you spritzed some sort of air freshener in the Porsche? There's an odd fruit-like smell."

He paused briefly before responding with a seemingly honest explanation. "You know that class reunion I attended? Well, one of my pals had too much to drink and got sick in the vehicle. I didn't want to upset you, so I used some fragrance to mask the odor."

After ending the call, I grabbed a rag and cleaned the car windows thoroughly.

On the seat next to me, I noticed two golden, curly strands of hair caught in the sticky substance.

I sighed and shook my head. Hmph. His "friend" appeared to be more attractive than myself.

——

I possess multiple high-end automobiles, all self-purchased prior to marriage. Following our nuptials, my husband, Miguel, never acquired his own car. When he needed transportation, he'd simply request my keys.

However, I had explicitly told him that I required the Porsche this week for important business meetings. I even had it professionally detailed beforehand. Yet here it was, soiled again after just one use.

Annoyed, I glared at the sticky marks on the car window, feeling increasingly troubled. I was familiar with all of Miguel's friends—they were typical nerdy types, each more socially awkward than the last. At their age, they were either losing their hair or wearing hairpieces—none would color their hair blonde. And at this length? They could be mistaken for a pop star.

Was Miguel being unfaithful?

The idea crossed my mind, but I quickly pushed it aside. Miguel was the chief of pediatrics at a nearby private hospital. His days were filled with appointments, leaving little room for extracurricular activities.

He often remarked, "Time is precious. Squandering even a minute means another patient losing hope."

Moreover, our daughter was a patient at the same facility. I visit her frequently, bringing necessities and checking on her regularly. When Miguel wasn't working, he was with our daughter watching animated shows.

A man so committed to his family and career surely couldn't have time for infidelity. Nevertheless, I couldn't disregard the golden hair strands clinging to my cloth.

My inquisitiveness got the better of me, and I accessed the car's dash cam recordings.

To my astonishment, the footage from recent days had been completely wiped. The phrase erasing evidence flitted through my thoughts.

Then I recalled the video camera I had taken to a recent event—it was still in the car, likely left running by mistake.

When I tried to turn it on, the battery was drained. After connecting it to charge, I immediately reviewed the footage. Fortunately, the recording was intact.

Fast-forwarding to the day Miguel had used the car, two individuals soon appeared on screen: Miguel and an unfamiliar man.

My anxiety eased as I realized I might be overreacting. Tossing the camera aside, I was about to ignite the engine when Miguel's voice caught my attention.

"We're physicians, not attorneys, so I thought I'd consult you since we're meeting today. I recall you handled a complicated divorce case for a while, correct?"

He continued, clearing his throat, "Hypothetically, if the wife isn't at fault, is there a way to ensure she receives nothing after the divorce?"

"I'm just asking out of curiosity—don't read too much into it. An acquaintance of mine has been experiencing marital difficulties lately," Miguel added defensively.

The man in the passenger seat chuckled, then replied, "Typical excuse—'asking for a friend'? Come on, man, you're acting suspicious."

"We're buddies, right? Just be honest. You're having an affair and want a divorce, but don't want to part with your assets, isn't that it?" The man grinned. "Though, if I remember correctly, weren't you the one who pursued Sherry initially? Now you're done with her?"

"And if I'm not mistaken, isn't this vehicle hers too? With such favorable circumstances, sometimes love isn't necessary—we're all grown-ups here. You catch my drift, don't you?"