Hidden Scientist, Betrayed Wife's Revenge

iltered through the heavy drapes, doing little to dispel the chill that had settled deep in my bones. Graham was in

g something in a pan with an air of theatrical domesticity. He was wearing an apron patterned with cartoon chefs, an absur

ping beauty! Look what your amazing husband made for you!" He gestured proudly at a pla

delicious, Graham," I said, my voice carefully neutral, a practiced mask of affecti

y temple. "See? I told you I could do it when I put my mind to it. You just need to have faith

my chest. He scrolled through social media, a faint smile playing on his lips, oblivio

eared into his study. My fork clinked against the plate, the sound echoing loudly in the sudden silence.

cute sense of hearing, a skill I' d honed for precision in quiet labs. It also meant I could often catch snippets o

felt like a punch to the gut. It wasn't the casual "babe" he used with

od ran

uckled, a sound that grated on my nerves.

ectly oblivious. A bit dim, honestly. She just... does whatever I tell her to.

had no idea the extent of my "little graduate stude

"The investment in her research was a smart move. Keeps her busy, kee

ooperative. That' s all I wa

nt coloring his voice. "Elise will be at the lab all day. W

was turning to ice. The apartment. Our san

ll, framed photo on the hallway table – a picture from our wedding day. We stood be

ping the photo frame off the table. It crashed to the floor, the glass

ment later, the door creaked open. He appeared, his ey

me, but to the shattered glass. "My grandmother

, devoid of emotion. I gestured v

ed. It was a vintage piece, you know. Very valuable." He looked

a hug. I stepped back, my eyes fixed

ce barely a whisper. "Wh

ing about, Elise? No one's coming over tonight." He forced

as lying. Right to my f

Keeley is coming by. Just for a quick chat abo

r home? The blatant disregard, the ope

the storm brewing inside me. "And she knows so much about genetic research. I

tist" who dropped out of grad school and built a fak

uelly out of place. Graham's face lit up. He practically bounced to the

to my own, sparkled with an almost predatory amusement as they swept over me. She was wearing a silk dress, a vibrant crimson that clu

h an artificial sweetness that made my teeth ache. She e

e, his smile fixed. "Elise, this is Ke

nt. "Ah, yes. The lovely Mrs. Harvey. I've heard so much about you." Her smile tightene

he dismissed my entire exi

weet, "you could make us some tea, darling? All

Make us tea? In my own home?

oice dangerously calm. "I'm not feel

ham, her lower lip trembling slightly. "Oh, Graham. Your

! Keeley is our guest." He turned back to Keeley, his voice softening. "Don't mind

ways chose her. Always sided with her, even against me. My shoulders slumped. The anger

ou know," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Graham only married you becaus

All of it. The confirmation was a

s my phone, which I had unconsciously clutched in my hand. "What

ulling back. "It's not

record things and get away with it? I'll destroy you!" She clawed at my hand, her nails diggi

with tea cups in his hands. He stopped dead, his ey

crash. China shattered against the marble floor. He rushed forward

and and pouting dramatically. "She tried to hit me! And s

ou? Attacking our guest? Have you completely lost your mind?" He looked at Keeley' s h

hrobbed, a deep cut bleeding freely from where Keeley' s nail ha

e betrayal was absolute. My vision swam, my head s

distant, as if it belonged to someone el

snapped, his voice sharp with command. "You're

suffocating room, this suffocating lie. As I reached the f

ior!" he demanded, his voice harde

s flashing. The raw pain was givin

set. But let's not make a scene. Come on, let's just talk about this later. Here, have s

ed oddly sweet, cloying. A wave of dizziness washed over me, disorienting and su