Chapter 4 Web Of Lies Was Behind Her Now

Yolanda hesitated for just a moment before offering a breezy reply. "I figured it was time for a change. There's no harm in looking a little more polished, right? Do you think I look better this way?"

Christopher's lips curved into a gentle smile as he let out a quiet sigh. "You're always beautiful, no matter what you do."

She slipped her arms around him, pressing herself into his chest as if nothing else in the world mattered.

From her vantage point upstairs, Rosanna watched the two of them, her own pain hidden behind the glass. It felt as if someone was slowly wringing her heart dry.

Later that day, Rosanna returned to the apartment she'd once called home. She hadn't set foot there in months, and a fine layer of dust covered every surface.

She slipped on an old apron and snapped on a pair of gloves, determined to tackle the mess.

The apartment was tiny-barely half the size of a single room in Yolanda's home-but it was hers. This was the first space she'd ever rented after college, a place packed with memories that felt like a lifetime ago.

Rosanna set to work, scrubbing the table and bookshelves until they shone. She stripped the dust cover off the sofa and tossed it into the wash, then rinsed out a vase, filled it with fresh water, and arranged the flowers she'd picked up on her way home.

Keeping her hands busy was the only thing to hold the memories of the last year at bay.

Today, she promised herself, would be the beginning of something new. The web of lies was behind her now. She ought to be looking forward, free at last.

Lost in her chores, she didn't notice the sharp edge of the cabinet until it nicked her finger. The sting jolted her, and a drop of blood welled up before she could pull her hand away.

She hurried to find a Band-Aid, memories flooding in of the time she'd once cut herself while cooking for Christopher. That old wound had been small, but he had fussed over her as if it were the end of the world.

A new ache found its way into her chest.

Rosanna wondered what Christopher and Yolanda were doing now. She imagined their laughter echoing through their home, picture-perfect from the outside.

......

Meanwhile, back at Christopher's villa, Yolanda had traded her daytime look for something far more alluring. She wore a delicate nightgown with thin straps, the fabric hugging her curves and stopping daringly short. Leaning against the study doorframe, she radiated a confidence that drew every eye to her.

Christopher had been buried in paperwork, but the moment he noticed Yolanda standing at the door, he immediately set aside his files and crossed the room to her.

"Yoli, what's with the new look tonight?" He paused, surprise flickering in his eyes. The boldness of her outfit left him momentarily speechless. This wasn't how she usually dressed.

With a playful grin, Yolanda slipped her arms around his neck, closing the distance between them. Her breath warmed his cheek as she leaned in.

The moment their lips met, everything grew heated and urgent.

A wave of confusion swept over Christopher in the middle of their embrace. He remembered how his wife used to be bashful, even after a year as husband and wife. Her kisses had always been gentle, hesitant, as if she treasured every touch, never rushing for more. Now she was all fire and boldness-so unlike the woman he thought he knew.

Still lost in the thrill and confusion, he scooped her up and set her on the edge of the desk, deepening their kiss without hesitation.

Just as they broke apart, catching their breath, his eyes fell to her thigh-where a small tattoo peeked out.

"What's this?" he asked, pointing to the ink.

Etched into her skin were unmistakable initials-letters that spelled out a name.

A rush of panic flickered in Yolanda's eyes. That tattoo-Samuel Flynn's name-belonged to her past. She cursed herself for letting it slip into view.

Christopher's face clouded over, his grip tightening on her wrist. "Why am I just seeing this now? Care to explain?"

Trying to recover, Yolanda smoothed her features and forced a small laugh. "I've had it for a long time. Back when I studied overseas, I used that name as my pen name. It was my first published piece, and I wanted something to remember it by, so I got the tattoo."

Christopher's gaze didn't waver, his eyes cold and searching.

In an instant, Yolanda turned the tables, her tone shifting to mock offense. "Honestly, have you really never noticed before? Or do I mean so little to you?"

She tugged her dress back into place to hide the tattoo, then tried to wrap her arms around him, hoping to reignite the moment.

But the shrill sound of Christopher's phone cut through the tension. "I've got a video call with the international team," he said, stepping away. "You should get some rest."

Feeling brushed aside, Yolanda turned on her heel and left the study, disappointment heavy in her chest.

While Christopher joined his meeting, his mind was elsewhere, drifting back to every detail of the evening. He couldn't escape the uneasy sense that the woman in his arms tonight wasn't the same as the wife he thought he understood so well.

His distraction was obvious, and more than once his secretary had to repeat herself just to pull his attention back to the meeting at hand.

Christopher reached for a cigarette, lighting it with unsteady hands as he tried to steady his nerves and focus on the meeting ahead.

Maybe it was just exhaustion, he thought. Maybe his mind was playing tricks on him, and everything tonight could be blamed on stress.

......

Rosanna spent the whole night wide awake, her thoughts a tangle of dread and fragile hope about the uncertain days ahead.

When morning finally came, a message brought a wave of unexpected excitement-her cosmetics patent had been approved, and her team wanted her to join the upcoming Cosmetics Innovation Competition. That very day, she was set to meet the organizer at Pinecrest Tower.

Winning a spot in the competition meant a real shot at signing with Aura Cosmetics. If her product hit the market, she would be known as its creator-and the earnings would finally allow her to breathe.

The news left her stunned in the best way, and she shot up from bed, suddenly energized.

"This is incredible!" she blurted, then hurried to get ready, choosing a smart dress and sweeping on just enough makeup to look fresh. She carefully patted her own concealer beneath her eyes, erasing any trace of last night's sleeplessness.

When everything was set, she faced the mirror, flashed herself a reassuring smile, and whispered, "You can do this."

With her spirits high and her head held high, she stepped out the door with confidence.

At the intersection, as she waited for the light to change, she scanned through her presentation notes one last time.

A luxury Maybach sped past, and for a brief moment, Christopher's striking profile appeared behind the tinted glass, just out of reach.