He exuded an allure of maturity and confidence.
"Nicole."
He addressed me nonchalantly while towel-drying his hair.
"There's a dance party in three days. The company insists on family attendance. It's been a while since you've been to such an event. You'll accompany me, won't you?"
I couldn't resist the urge to gaze up at Henry.
His expression as he extended the invitation betrayed nothing out of the ordinary.
Had Jerry not tipped me off through that fateful text message, I might never have suspected the deceit laced within his words.
He was inviting me to a ball three days hence, under the guise of a company obligation, when in truth, it was a meticulously planned trap.
I studied Henry for a while before a smile played on my lips. "Alright. I'll go."
Henry was engrossed in work in his study as I fabricated a story about taking our child to the playground.
"I'm meeting Janice later. I might be home late, so don't wait for me for dinner."
"Sure. Take your time," he replied, seeing me off at the door.
No sooner had I left than Henry was absorbed in sending a message.
Half an hour later, Selena appeared at our doorstep.
From the playground, through the cold eye of the surveillance camera, I watched with piercing clarity as the two of them, unable to resist the pull of their emotions, embraced tightly before making their way to the bedroom.
My best friend, Janice Moore, watched the scene unfold and offered to help me exact my revenge.
"Keep that video safe. You've got a dance to attend in three days. My brother will be there; I'll have him assist you!"
Leaving my daughter in Janice's capable hands, I spent the day in a daze when the high-definition video from the bedroom was on constant replay.
It was no wonder Henry had always claimed fatigue, rebuffing any sex with me this past year.
He had been giving himself to another.
Three days had passed, and the evening of the ball had finally arrived. I slipped into the orange-yellow dress that Henry had selected for me. As I stepped out to join him, I was transformed into a luminous figure of elegance and allure.
Upon seeing me, Selena approached with a smile, raising her glass in a toast.
"You must be Mrs. Smith. Henry often speaks of you. You're even more beautiful in person!"
Beneath her veil of insincere compliments, I detected a hint of jealousy and a whiff of scheming.