ManyWriters

On the first night shift of the community security guard, my colleague pulled me to watch a small video.
When I first saw it, I still had the mentality of watching a play, and joked with my colleagues, saying that this woman has a lot of charm, and I don't know who it will be cheaper.
I casual attitude vanishes when I catches a glimpse of the woman's exposed chest, revealing a tattoo identical like my darling's.
It's the matching tattoo they got when we first started dating.
No, it can't be. It's impossible.
It's just a tattoo, right? Surely there could be duplicates out there.
But then, the woman in the video coos seductively.
"Baby, let's go again. I can't wait any longer."
The voice is unmistakable.
It belongs to Melody, my wife of ten years.

The wife was videotaped in the underground garage

Melody walked in to find the dining table illuminated by candlelight, covered in rose petals. On the wall beside it, balloons spelled out "I love you."


And there I was, down on one knee, holding a massive bouquet of flowers.


"Darling, happy tenth wedding anniversary."


"I spoke without thinking earlier. Can you forgive me?"


Melody froze completely in the doorway.


Her lips were slightly swollen, her lipstick smeared.


The stockings on her legs had vanished.


A rough man's hand was hidden inside her clothes, constantly groping.


In an instant, all the color drained from her face.


The family and friends standing behind me saw it all too.


I looked at Melody in disbelief. "What are you doing?"


Melody gazed at me, her eyes full of mockery. "What do you think?"


"Ethan, you're not seriously expecting me to slap myself and beg for your forgiveness, are you?"


"Take a good look at yourself and see if you're even worthy!"


"Ethan, I've taken a liking to your darling. Name your price."


With that, Dashiell bent down to smooth out Melody's skirt. The two exchanged smiles, as if everything that had just happened was perfectly ordinary.I looked at their nonchalant expressions, feeling my stomach churn violently.


"You shameless bastards, bringing your affair right to my doorstep. Want a divorce? Fine!"


I turned to Dashiell, "You owe me a leg."


"Oh Ethan, Ethan, you've grown bolder, haven't you? I gave you money out of pity for wearing horns all this time, and now you're pushing your luck."


"If it weren't for taking pity on you, who'd hire a cripple like you as a security guard?"


"You? You think you can make me pay for your leg? Don't you know nobody in Silicon Valley dares to mess with me?"


I was about to speak when Melody threw herself into Dashiell's arms.


"Ethan, I suggest you take the money and go. Save us all from embarrassment."


"Dashiell isn't just some CEO. He's the golden boy that even the underworld of Silicon Valley won't dare to cross."


I looked up at the two of them, fingers intertwined, then coldly turned back to Melody's parents.


"Is this how the Carlisle family raises their daughter?"


Hearing my words, Mrs.Carlisle approached, her usual disdain for me evident. She had always thought I wasn't good enough for her precious daughter.


"Watch your mouth. Clean up your language when you're talking to me," she sneered.


"Look at how arrogant you are. I bet this is how you treat my daughter all the time. I've always said that my darling would be at a disadvantage marrying you."


"Now that she's found someone better, can't you just let her go? Ethan, you're so cruel-hearted, insisting on dragging my daughter down with you for a lifetime of misery."


After hearing Mrs. Carlisle's words, Melody's relatives and friends averted their gazes from me.


"Ethan, Melody is a good girl. Why don't you just let her go?"


"She's even willing to pay you off. Instead of being grateful, you're getting angry?"


"What, did your bum leg affect your brain too? Turning down such a good deal."


They whispered among themselves, letting out meaningful chuckles.


My face flushed red with anger. "You all..."


"That's enough, Ethan. Dashiell and I are a perfect match."


"If I hadn't felt sorry for you back then, why would I have married you in the first place?The incident where I heroically chased off a robber and saved Melody made local news. Though I was injured in the process, I still won the beauty in the end. Her shy confession of love in front of the cameras is still vivid in my mind.


How did that suddenly turn into pity coming from her mouth now?


Chapter 3