On our wedding anniversary, I drove seven hours to Allan Delgado's place just to surprise him after his half-month business trip.
What I didn't expect was a party in full swing inside an apartment that was supposed to be empty.
And my husband, who'd told me he was stuck in a meeting, was playing a game with some woman where they ate opposite ends of the same piece of cotton candy.
Just as they reached the last bite, someone gave them a little push.
Their lips collided.
Allan grabbed the woman and kissed her like the room didn't exist.
I didn't hesitate. I walked straight in, cake in hand.
It was our anniversary, after all. Might as well make it memorable.
——
The second I pushed through the door, the crowd was cheering them on.
"God, you two are couple goals!"
"I never knew Mr. Delgado had such a soft side."
"Our boss saves all his sweetness for his wife. I'm so jealous."
"He's been away on business for two weeks and she stayed with him the whole time. That's real love right there."
The woman nestled against Allan's chest, blushing coyly.
Allan scolded them for talking nonsense, but the grin on his face carved crow's feet around his eyes.
He turned with his arm still around her, and our gazes locked.
His pupils contracted to pinpoints. Before he could so much as open his mouth, I hurled the cake straight at both of them.
Allan yanked the woman sideways. The cake exploded against the wall behind him.
The woman screamed.
"Funny," I said. "I didn't realize meetings had a kissing segment now."
"Katherine Gilbert, you—"
He scrambled to explain. My palm was already cracking across his face.
Slap. Slap.
Two hits. He hadn't expected me to swing, and for a second he just stood there, stunned.
The woman wriggled free from his arms.
"Who do you think you are, hitting—"
The moment her eyes met mine, the fire in her voice guttered out. She dropped her gaze and scurried behind Allan's back.
Only then did I get a clear look at her face.
Allan's mistress was Delilah James. The owner of Sweet Bliss Dessert Boutique.
I had a sweet tooth. In the early days of our marriage, Allan brought me something from her shop every single evening after work. I got hooked on the flavors, and eventually I started placing orders myself.
I'd always wondered why, for a shop that size, the owner insisted on making every delivery in person.
Now I knew. She'd been rubbing it in my face the entire time.
And I'd been thanking her for it like a fool.
A bitter laugh escaped me.
I was the one who'd built the bridge between them.
"Who the hell are you? Barging in here throwing things at people like a lunatic!" A woman caked in heavy makeup planted herself in front of Allan.
The others piled on immediately.
"How did you even get in here?"
"Mr. Delgado, ma'am, do you know this woman? If not, she's trespassing. I'll call the cops right now."
She was already pulling out her phone.
I folded my arms and stared at the two of them, a cold smile on my lips. "Allan Delgado. Delilah James. Go ahead. Tell them you don't know me."
They glanced at each other, guilt written across both their faces, and said nothing.
I wasn't about to let them off the hook. "Fine. Call the cops. Let them figure out who I am and what exactly my relationship with Allan Delgado is."
The woman with the phone was already dialing. "You think I won't? Let's see how tough you act when the police show up. You assault someone and think you're in the right?"
"Don't call them!"
Delilah James cracked. She lunged for the man's phone and snatched it out of his hand.
He stared at her, bewildered. So did everyone else. They assumed she was scared.
"It's okay, ma'am. Don't worry. When the police get here, we'll all be your witnesses."
