CHAPTER 1 : IN BED WITH ANOTHER WOMAN
Debbi Anderson had never considered herself lucky. At twenty-four, she had spent the past three months going from one job interview to another, only to be met with silence. No calls, no emails—just rejection after rejection. London was supposed to be a place of opportunities, a fresh start, but for Debbi , it had been nothing short of a struggle.
Every morning, she woke up with the same routine—check her email, rehearse answers to interview questions in front of the mirror, and then force herself to believe that today might be different. But the cycle continued, leaving her drained and discouraged.
The only thing that made life bearable was Mark.
Mark had been her rock since she moved to the UK. They had met by chance, two lost souls navigating a city that seemed too big for them. Mark was an orphan with no family to turn to, and when he had nowhere else to go, Debby had taken him in. It started as an act of kindness, but over time, something deeper blossomed between them. Slowly, they had fallen in love.
But even love couldn’t erase the struggles they faced.
A few months ago, Mark had given her news that changed everything—he had secured a stable job and even found a place of his own. Debby had been happy for him, proud even, but beneath her smile, she felt a sting of loneliness. For the first time in four years, she was truly alone. No Mark to wake up next to, no Mark to share meals with.
But today was different.
Today was Valentine’s Day, and Debbi had planned a surprise.
She wanted to make this night unforgettable, a night where she would finally give herself to him. For four years, she had held back, waiting for the right moment, and now, she was ready.
She dressed carefully, choosing a red tank top that clung to her curves and a white mini skirt that showed off her toned legs. Underneath, she wore a delicate set of lace lingerie—something she had never done before, but tonight was special. She applied light makeup, just enough to enhance her natural beauty, and tied her hair into a high ponytail. A spritz of perfume—Mark’s favorite scent—completed the look.
Standing before the mirror, she smiled.
Perfect.
After packing a homemade lunch into her tote bag, she called a taxi.
The ride to Mark’s new apartment was smooth. The streets were alive with love—couples walked hand in hand, restaurants were decorated with red and white balloons, and laughter filled the air.
For the first time in weeks, Debbi felt hopeful.
She imagined the look on Mark’s face when he saw her. He would be surprised, maybe even speechless. She had never done something like this before, and she was sure he would appreciate it.
“Madam, we’re here,” the taxi driver’s voice pulled her out of her thoughts.
She reached into her bag, pulled out some money, and handed it to him.
As she stepped out of the car, her heart pounded.
She took a deep breath and walked toward the apartment building. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of roses and freshly baked bread from a nearby café.
Mark’s apartment was on the third floor, and as she climbed the stairs, anticipation bubbled in her chest.
But something felt off.
When she reached his door, she noticed it was slightly open.
Her brows furrowed.
Why was the door open?
A chill ran down her spine, but she brushed it off. Maybe he was waiting for a delivery or had forgotten to close it properly.
She stepped inside.
And then she heard it.
A sound that made her blood freeze.
A moan.
Not just any moan—a woman’s moan.
Her heart stopped.
For a moment, she couldn’t move. She couldn’t breathe.
Then, as if her body acted on its own, she took slow, shaky steps further into the apartment.
The soft candlelight flickered against the walls, illuminating a trail of clothes—a woman’s dress, a bra, a pair of heels.
Debbi’s throat tightened.
Her mind screamed at her to stop, to turn around and leave, but her feet carried her forward.
She reached the bedroom door.
It was open just enough for her to see inside.
And what she saw shattered her world.
Mark.
Mark in bed.
With another woman.
Their bodies tangled beneath the sheets, lost in each other, completely unaware of the person standing in the doorway, watching her heart break into a million pieces.
Debbi’s breath hitched. A lump formed in her throat, threatening to choke her.
The perfume she had sprayed—the one Mark loved so much—now felt suffocating.
Her vision blurred, her hands trembled, and the neatly packed lunch in her tote bag felt like a cruel joke.
She had come here to surprise him.
But in the end, she was the one who had been blindsided.
And just like that, Valentine’s Day became the worst day of her life.
