Noelle didn’t want to be there, but this river was a spot they’d frequented at the beginning of their relationship. This was where things had started and where she wanted them to end.
“Hey, isn’t that Mr. Pitt? The one we saw on TV today. He’s the one who made his wedding ring!”
“I remember him! He’s the best man in the world!”
“Look at how he has one hand on the door frame so his wife doesn’t bump her head on it. He’s so considerate!”
Just then, Shawn’s phone rang. He said apologetically, “I’m sorry, Elle. Give me a minute, okay? It’s about work. I’ll be back after answering this.”
“Go ahead.”
“Wait for me here, okay? Don’t go anywhere.”
The onlookers gasped at that.
“Mr. Pitt treats his wife like she’s still a young woman. Is he afraid of her going missing?”
“God, he’s such a doting husband!”
Noelle’s face remained stoic throughout the whole thing. She stood by the river and watched as the lights reflected off its surface.
Shawn hadn’t managed to keep the smile off his face when he saw the caller ID. It had been tender, sweet, and even a little teasing. How could the call have been about work?
She couldn’t be bothered to call him out on it, though.
It was a little chilly by the river, so she got back inside the car to wait for Shawn. The multimedia panel was logged into Shawn’s social media, and it was synced to his phone. It showed his WhatsApp, and one conversation was ongoing.
He was talking to someone whose nickname was “Insatiable Jess”.
Shawn: “Do you miss me already?”
Insatiable Jess: “I feel a little empty without you by my side tonight.”
Shawn: “Didn’t I already do you seven times today? Isn’t that enough to sate you?”
Insatiable Jess: “Not even close. I still want you.”
Shawn: “Got it. I’ll satisfy you in the office tomorrow.”
Insatiable Jess: “Heh. I’ll wear black pantyhose tomorrow, then.”
The rest of the conversation was filled with dirty talk and lewd words. Noelle felt her blood run cold as she read their messages and turned off the screen. She trembled but didn’t know whether it was due to the cold or her anger. She clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging into her palms.
Shawn returned about 15 minutes later. When he got into the car, he heaved a sigh of relief. “Thank God you’re okay. I didn’t see you after hanging up and got the fright of my life.”
Noelle didn’t want to see anymore of his act. She looked down at her hands. “I was cold, so I got back into the car.”
“Oh, okay. You can do whatever you want, wherever you want.”
Her head suddenly shot up. After reading Shawn and Jessica’s texts, she suddenly had a different understanding of those words.
She could do whatever she wanted, wherever she wanted…
Could it be they’d done the deed in the front passenger seat?
The idea disgusted her and a wave of nausea crashed over her. She pushed the door open and puked.
