Lucas stared at Maya’s phone screen, his face tense.

The contact name at the top was clear: "Victor 🖤". Victor—their neighbor, a man nearly as old as his father, John. A man who always seemed friendly and polite when they met in the yard. But now, every word in this conversation felt like a dagger stabbing straight into Lucas’s heart. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"Victor 🖤: Thank God John had that accident. Now I can come over and talk to you freely without having to make up excuses. He doesn’t even suspect that his wife prefers spending time with me."

Lucas felt a wave of heat rise from his chest to his entire body. My father had an accident, and you’re grateful for it?

"Maya: Don’t talk like that, Victor. No matter what, John is still my husband. He provides for this house, for all our needs."

"Victor 🖤: Hah, so he’s just a walking wallet to you now? You’re too beautiful to be stuck with a man who’s always busy working and doesn’t know how to please his wife."

"Maya: It’s complicated, Victor. We need to be careful."

Lucas felt his head pounding. His hand gripping the phone began to sweat. His eyes flicked to the most recent messages, clearly exchanged this morning before Maya went shopping.

"Victor 🖤: We can enjoy our playtime longer. By the way, can you make sure that idiot Lucas doesn’t come back to Greenville? I don’t want him interrupting us!"

"Maya: That’s not a problem. Lucas is easy to control. I’ll just tell him to stay in Brightville over a video call later."

Lucas held his breath, trying to steady himself. So that’s the real reason Maya made that video call back then—to keep me from coming home to Greenville?

The storm in Lucas’s chest grew fiercer. His trembling fingers scrolled up, diving deeper into the chat history between Maya and Victor. Every line of text felt like poison seeping into his mind.

"Victor 🖤: You know, John is such a loser. I can’t believe he managed to get a woman like you. If I were him, I would never waste my time on something as trivial as his job."

"Maya: Don’t talk like that, Victor. I... I still respect John. He’s my husband."

"Victor 🖤: Husband? Are you sure he’s really acting like one? Just look at Lucas—that kid is as pathetic as his father. Always bowing his head, always obedient like a little dog. You deserve a man who can make you laugh, Maya. Not a stiff guy like John."

Lucas gritted his teeth, his breathing growing heavy. His chest rose and fell rapidly, as if the air in the room was no longer enough for him. His vision blurred with a fiery rage. He closed his eyes briefly, trying to contain the explosion brewing inside him.

But he couldn’t stop. His fingers kept scrolling, uncovering older, nastier, more venomous exchanges.

"Victor 🖤: Did you know, John once confided in me about you? He said he felt guilty for not being a good husband. Pathetic, right? He doesn’t even know I’ve been your ’replacement husband’ for a long time now."

"Maya: Victor, stop it. Don’t say things like that. I... I feel guilty."

"Victor 🖤: Guilty? Hah, Maya, you enjoy it. Every time we’re together, you know this is what’s best for you. Just forget John and that weak little boy. You only need me."

Lucas felt bile rise in his throat. He wanted to smash the phone, to destroy it into a thousand pieces. But at the same time, he knew he needed this evidence. These messages were undeniable proof of the truth.

His eyes landed on one particular message, dated months ago.

"Victor 🖤: So, what’s the plan? Are you sure John will never find out about us? Or... should we make sure he ’goes away’ forever?"

"Maya: Don’t talk like that! I don’t want to be involved in something like that, Victor. We just... need to be more careful."

Lucas’s entire body trembled violently. This wasn’t just infidelity. This was betrayal on a far deeper—far darker—level.

Footsteps echoed from the front door. Lucas quickly locked the phone screen and tossed it back onto the sofa as if it had burned his hands. Maya entered the living room, shopping bags in hand and a bright smile on her face.

She stepped into the living room with a perfectly sweet smile, as if she carried no burden at all. The evening sunlight streaming through the large windows cast her silhouette in a warm glow. But to Lucas, that smile was now just a mask of lies that had deceived his father.

"Lucas? Why do you look so gloomy?" Maya asked softly as she walked closer. Her warm eyes gazed directly into Lucas’s, as if searching for something.

Lucas quickly steadied his breath and forced a faint smile that felt like an open wound on his face. ’I have to stay calm. I can’t be reckless. Maya... you’ll get what’s coming to you. And Victor... I’ll make you pay. I’ll outdo your depravity with something even worse!’ he thought.

"Nothing, Mom. I’m just tired," Lucas replied hoarsely.

Maya sat beside him on the sofa. The distance was too close, and Lucas could smell the soft perfume that once felt comforting but now only made his stomach churn. Her slender hand, with perfectly manicured nails, gently touched Lucas’s shoulder.

"Is something bothering you?" Maya asked in a soft voice, but her gaze was too sharp to be considered caring. It was as if she was testing him.

Lucas swallowed hard, struggling not to let the tension show on his face. He pulled the corner of his lips into a faint smile and met her gaze with equal sharpness.

"No, Mom. I’m fine. Maybe I just need some rest."

Maya tilted her head slightly, her hair cascading gracefully over her shoulder. "You’re grown up now, Lucas. Sometimes I forget you’re not a little boy anymore." Her small smile returned, but this time, there was something different—something... odd, almost seductive.

I’ll make sure Victor suffers. He’ll never see your sweet smile again—not even from his wife and kids! Lucas thought, gently patting Maya’s head.

"Mom, tonight’s going to be... fun," Lucas whispered.