Chapter 3

Before deciding to get married, Aurora believed that Alex was the chosen man who would complete her life. His nature, polite behavior, and the caring and attentive qualities of Alex made Aurora feel deeply content. She eventually became convinced that Alex was the man who deserved to accompany her and be the leader in her future life.

Everyone else agreed that Aurora should be in a relationship with Alex. Only Asher, Aurora's half-brother, seemed skeptical from the beginning and even doubted the sincerity of Alex's serious intention to propose to Aurora as soon as possible.

"Some of my friends know Alex. They say that, from the old days, Alex was famous for being a playboy and frequently changing partners. I'm worried that after marriage, he might play around or intentionally cheat."

Aurora threw a smile. In the end, she understood that it was this concern that made her brother reluctant to let her marry Alex, a man she had known for only a few months.

"Everyone can change. You can't judge him like that. Maybe, he had bad habits in the past. Who knows, he might have truly changed now."

"It's still not convincing. My gut feeling says that what Alex has been showing to you and our extended family is just a facade. I swear, I'm not sure he can be a good husband for you, Aurora. Especially infidelity and changing partners are relapse-prone diseases that are difficult to cure. I don't know why, but I'm sure this disease will relapse again later."

Aurora smiled casually. The beautiful woman was not influenced at all by what her brother was worried about. Perhaps she was too infatuated or, in the midst of love, chose to turn a blind eye at that moment.

Moreover, during their relationship, Alex seemed genuinely serious. His behavior often left her amazed. Not to mention the surprises and sweet gestures that Alex showed always made Aurora feel cherished.

"Don't be pessimistic. I'm really convinced that Alex is the right one to accompany me."

Asher sighed in resignation. No matter how much he tried to provoke her, Aurora seemed to have closed her eyes and ears.

"Most importantly, I've warned you. If, in the future, I hear that Alex is misbehaving or doing something behind your back, I'll be the first person to kill him."

Now, what Asher feared had come true. The man whom Aurora believed to be loyal turned out to be unfaithful and even engaged in a relationship with someone close to her.

Instead of confronting Alex and Nicole directly when she saw them cheating in the office, Aurora chose to leave immediately. Not to go straight to the hospital, but to stop by one of the law firms for consultation.

"Aurora?"

Just as she entered the building, the beautiful woman was immediately greeted. Turning, she found a tall and broad-shouldered man throwing a wide smile at her.

"Rayyen, are you busy?"

It was indeed Rayyen Amstrong's law firm that Aurora visited. Somehow, she believed that her cousin's younger brother could help her with the current issue she was facing. Even though Aurora could ask for Asher's help, she refrained from doing so because she remembered her brother's vow to immediately eliminate Alex if he ever did anything inappropriate.

"No, not really busy today. Let's chat in my office, okay?"

Aurora nodded, then followed Rayyen, who led her to a room on the second floor. Frankly, Aurora felt impatient. She wanted to share what she was currently experiencing as soon as possible.

"Alex is cheating, Ray."

Just as she sat down, without beating around the bush, small talk, or opening remarks, Aurora went straight to the point. From her facial expression and the words she just uttered, it immediately invited a reaction from Rayyen. Until now, almost the entire family knew that Aurora and Alex had the most harmonious marriage. They had never had any quarrels or unpleasant rumors.

The entire family, including Rayyen, acknowledged them as a compatible couple. And now, Aurora suddenly revealed that her husband was cheating, shocking Rayyen.

"W-what? Alex is cheating?"

Aurora nodded repeatedly. Strangely, she seemed calm in conveying this bad news, as if the overwhelming disappointment had made her numb.

"Alex is cheating with Nicole, Ray. I feel like they've been having this illicit relationship behind my back for a long time."

"Nicole?"

"Yes. Amanda Nicole. Aunt Celia's daughter."

Rayyen was dumbfounded. Not yet recovering from the shock, he was confronted with the news that Alex's affair was with a woman who was still a cousin to them.

"How is it possible for Nicole to cheat with Alex?"

Aurora shrugged her shoulders. She had no idea about the origin of how her husband and cousin started their relationship.

"I don't know how it started. What I know is that I've caught them twice being alone. The first time was at the mall, and the second one just now, this morning when I intentionally visited Alex's office. I saw them being affectionate."

"Oh my God... can that happen? I mean, as far as I know, Nicole works in Alex's office because you gave her the job, right?"

Aurora nodded.

"Yes, Ray. I intentionally helped her because she's the backbone of her family and needed a job to support her mom and siblings. I never thought she would end up like this."

"Oh God." Rayyen shook his head in disbelief. Looking at Aurora's face, he believed that his cousin seemed deeply hurt by the betrayal that had occurred. "Be patient, Aurora. Marriage is sometimes complicated."

Aurora sighed. What else could she do? This had become a disaster for her.

"So, what do you want? I mean, what kind of help do you need from me?"

Aurora lifted her face, taking a deep breath as she thought and convinced herself of the decision she would make after this.

"All this time, I know that you often handle divorce cases. So, I deliberately came here to consult. What do you think, should I just separate from Alex?"

Rayyen smiled. He understood the turmoil that was currently haunting Aurora. Anyone would be in a dilemma when faced with such a complicated situation.

It wasn't the first time Rayyen had encountered cases like this in marriages. Long before, there were various cases and reasons that led couples to eventually part ways.

"Before we discuss further, I want to ask first. Do you love Alex very much?"

Aurora nodded without hesitation. From the beginning, she did not deny that she loved and cared deeply for her husband. She had even tried to cover up any shortcomings that Alex had all this time.

"I love him, Ray. Very much, in fact. I have accepted everything, his flaws and all, with sincerity. Even when I found out he had betrayed me, the love has not completely disappeared. I even feel a deep fondness that makes it hard for me to just separate like that."

Rayyen nodded, trying to understand Aurora's current position. Instead of provoking or judging, Rayyen tried to calm the heart of Aurora, who was in doubt.

"I understand what you're feeling. Actually, infidelity in marriage doesn't always have to end in divorce. Some relationships can still be salvaged, while others inevitably need to be resolved quickly for the sake of the victim's mental health. And this significant decision really depends on you."

During the conversation, Rayyen briefly got up from his seat. He fetched a cup of tea from the table and offered it to Aurora.

"Thank you, Ray."

"You're welcome."

Aurora seemed to reach for the cup of warm tea that Rayyen offered. She took a sip, then prepared to continue the discussion.

"So far, before Alex was caught cheating, did he exhibit any suspicious behavior?" Rayyen asked, resuming the conversation that had been momentarily delayed.

Aurora shook her head. As far as she could remember, there was not a single gesture or action from Alex that raised her suspicions. That's why Aurora initially couldn't believe it when Velia accused her husband of cheating with another woman in a hotel.

"From before we got married until now, Alex's attitude has remained the same. He's affectionate, caring, gentle, and often surprises me. Every day, amidst his work, he always takes the time to call or send a short message to ask about my activities. Alex never comes home late, and for important events, he always brings me along."

"Does that mean he has always fulfilled his responsibilities as a husband?"

Aurora nodded in response.

"Sorry if my next question is a bit sensitive," Rayyen said cautiously. "How about the physical needs? Has that been going well?"

Aurora nodded again.

"Let's say my physical needs are well taken care of. Even though we're both busy, we still maintain a regular intimate relationship. And that's what baffles me. What is Alex actually looking for that he resorts to cheating with another woman?"

"Sorry. Please don't be offended. It's possible that there's something Alex is looking for that is not in you. That's why he chooses to seek it in another woman."

Aurora took a deep breath, trying to keep her emotions stable even though it felt incredibly difficult.

"So, what do you think I should do? Confront them both? Give them a warning or what? Honestly, I'm not willing to let my hard-built marriage be ruined by another woman so easily. It's too much if I just let go of Alex for a temptress."

Rayyen involuntarily laughed. Seeing Aurora's expression, which had gone from sad to irritated, made him find it amusing.

"If you still want to try to save the marriage, you can give them a chance and a warning first."

"Give them a chance?" Aurora repeated, now unsure herself. "On one hand, I do want to give Alex a chance. But on the other hand, I'm bothered by what people say about infidelity being a recurring issue."

Rayyen nodded with a smile.

"Yes. Some people consider infidelity a recurring issue. But in some cases, someone might start by cheating, then genuinely repent and never repeat the wrongdoing. It all depends on the individual. And we can't predict which category Alex falls into. That's why it all comes back to your personal choice. Whether to take the risk and continue or to stop right here."

"Just so you know, they even planned to have a weekend date tomorrow as a celebration for Nicole's birthday."

"Oh, really?"

Aurora nodded.

"Alex even gave me a dream jewelry set as a gift."

Rayyen chuckled softly. Not intending to laugh at Aurora's fate, but finding it amusing to see her annoyed expression.

Without directly responding to her statement, Rayyen got up again. This time, he walked to his desk. He opened a drawer and took something from inside. Afterward, he approached Aurora to give her what he had taken.

"Here, I think you need this," Rayyen said confidently.

Aurora's eyebrows seemed to furrow, confused and curious about why Rayyen gave her a small object resembling a die.

"What is this?"

"It's a surveillance camera."

"A surveillance camera?"

Rayyen nodded again.

"Yes, this mini camera can be connected to your phone. You said Alex and Nicole are planning a weekend date tomorrow, right?"

"Yes, I heard them discussing it. Nicole invited Alex to stay overnight at a hotel. So, what do you think I should do?"

"You can use this small device to catch them cheating."

"What? How?"

Rayyen smiled knowingly. Whatever he was thinking, he seemed to find it amusing.

"I'm sure you know the right way to trap both of them."