Chapter 5
394 Words
When I reached the entrance to Silverstream Estates, a security guard stepped forward to stop me.
"Ma'am, this is a gated community. Visitors must be authorized by a resident."
I tightened my grip on my phone. "I'm here to see Natalie Foster, the owner of Villa 12."
His expression immediately became more welcoming.
"You're a guest of Mrs. Brooks. She called the property management office 30 minutes ago and said a friend would be arriving."
The title hit me harder than I expected.
My fingers trembled as I pulled up a photograph of Owen and showed it to him.
"Mrs. Brooks? Is the man in this photograph Mr. Brooks?"
The guard glanced at the screen and smiled.
"That's him. Ever since Mrs. Brooks returned, Mr. Brooks has come here almost every day. The property is registered solely in Ms. Foster's name. Everyone who works here knows it."
I could barely breathe. Tears burned behind my eyes.
Afraid I would lose control in front of him, I hurried through the gates.
Owen had built another home with Natalie behind my back. No wonder she had been bold enough to taunt me so openly.
The gate to Villa 12 stood slightly ajar. I didn't see the child, who was probably asleep upstairs.
Natalie sat pressed close to Owen on the sofa. A fitted slip dress showed off her curves.
She ran her fingers through Owen's hair and leaned close to his cheek.
"Owen, I only left because I was seriously ill. I had no choice but to end things with you, but I never stopped loving you during all those years abroad. When I heard you'd married some quiet woman just to satisfy your family, I wanted to come back at once, but I was too sick. Now I'm well again, and our child is older. I can't stand watching you attend events as another woman's husband. I can't bear knowing you belong to someone else."
Owen made no attempt to move away. He let her touch him, and the unmistakable desire in his eyes was something he had never shown me.
They had been intimate countless times, yet a casual touch from her was still enough to excite him.
I swallowed the bitterness and pushed open the gate.
"Sorry to interrupt, but could Mr. Brooks spare a few minutes to sign his divorce papers first?"
- Writer
