Part 2The Cuckold's Certificate

Victoria stared at the item in her hand, a flicker of surprise crossing her eyes, immediately replaced by a blaze of fury.

"This was for us, from ages ago! I just put it aside for when we started trying for a baby. I don't know what you're being so paranoid about!"

"If you kept the house spotless, why would I need to stay in a hotel?"

Victoria's face turned crimson, her features contorted. Her furious tirade, loud and direct, was laced with an undeniable undercurrent of guilt. Before I could even say a word, she hurled the condom at me. A sharp corner of the box sliced open my forehead. I stumbled, grabbing the edge of the dining table to steady myself.

"I'm not being paranoid. I just thought, if this was in your pocket, then giving it back to you..."

"Enough! Don't try to argue!" she shrieked. "You're in your thirties! Still acting like some jealous high-school kid? So, I guess I should just hire all women from now on, and put a 'No Men Allowed' sign on the office door!"

"I'm truly sick of you!" Victoria kicked over her suitcase, slammed the door shut, and vanished.

Among the scattered luggage, I noticed a pair of black boxer briefs, not the brand I usually bought, VK. I crouched down, picking up the boxers. My heart felt like it was being torn apart.

When I proposed to Victoria, I spent every penny I had on the ring. But now, that ring was long gone. Replaced by a new pair of matching rings. I'd told her back then that I dreamed of a Hawaiian honeymoon, and she went to Hawaii. Replaced by a new man.

I meticulously cleaned the house, again and again. When I was exhausted, I sat down, fighting back the tears. I didn't stop until my hands were raw and waterlogged, almost translucent.

I took a paper bag and gathered all of Blake's belongings I found from Victoria's pockets: two pairs of boxers, a lighter, and three condoms. The next day, I brought them to Blake's desk at work.

Blake opened the bag, a smirk playing on his lips. "Alex, my bad, my memory's terrible. I'm always misplacing things..."

I forced myself to ignore the blatant provocation in his eyes. "No worries," I said.

Victoria's company had a partner, Chloe. Chloe's husband, David, and I handled the company's finances.

I had just settled into my desk when I saw Blake saunter into Victoria's office. A few minutes later, he came out chuckling. Victoria must have smoothed things over again.

Closer to noon, Victoria came over to ask me about a financial matter, all the while subtly studying my expression. Seeing I showed no reaction, Victoria slammed a box onto my desk. "This is a gift I brought back from Hawaii for you. I forgot to give it to you yesterday when you were throwing a tantrum."

"And for our registration, I had Blake rebook the appointment for us."

My hand, on the mouse, faltered slightly. Blake booked it. Last time, he made a spectacle of our appointment, openly provoking me. What would the next one bring? I found myself strangely anticipating it.

It was a Chanel box, but the ribbon was missing. I opened it to find a pair of cufflinks, but a few of the diamonds were missing. In the past, Victoria always brought me gifts from her business trips, whether exquisite or designer. But after Blake, I only received used, cheap things that he didn't want.

"Thanks," I mumbled, not even bothering to look up. I closed the box and tossed it into the trash can.

"What do you mean by that?!" Victoria's patience was wearing thin.

I met her gaze directly. "Victoria, I'm not so desperate that I need to use someone else's discarded hand-me-downs."