Second Wife To A Murderer

I’ll Fix This

Whitney’s POV

I had one thing in mind walking into that building: to catch my two faced husband in the act. I never imagined I’d walk out of it a different woman entirely, one with someone else’s blood on her hands.

I memorized how I’ll disgrace Robert and his mistress, for every time he made me think less off myself. Thinking about Robert’s face when he’d see me, I pictured him standing there frozen while I'd have the upper hand.

In my wildest dream I did not picture Anna opening the door alone. Halfway into the hallway of Robert’s second building where his mistress Anna lived my heart started beating fast. My palms suddenly went cold, I remembered my dream.

However I talked myself out of it, I’m not going to fight. I just want to confront them.

The door finally opened and Anna stood there in a silk robe. I clearly remember the day Robert came home with that robe. I asked him if he got it for me but he said no, his friend forgot it in his car.

No doubt he got it for Anna.

“Oh, it’s you.” She looked me over, not scared that she'd been caught. She looked inside the apartment then back at me “You must be the wife.”

“Where’s Robert?”

“Not here.” She said, savoring the wine in her hand, while stepping back to let the door swing wide. “You must have gone through a lot tracing us down here… Come in, sweetheart. Let’s have a conversation, since you drove all the way here.”

I lost my cool, I’m the one who should have the sharp mouth here, not her. She didn't even look surprised.

“If Robert isn’t here then where is he?” I asked.

“Well,” she said, acting mean. “I should ask you, you’re the wife. I’m glad you finally grew a spine. I was starting to think Robert married a houseplant.”

Anna laughed. She sipped the wine again and let her eyes travel over me like a scanner.

“Disappointed? Did you hope to catch us in bed so you could play the victim card?” She tilted her head. “You’re late. He left an hour ago to take care of something.”

Whitney talk, don’t stand here quiet, watching this shameless woman talk down on you.

“How long have you been sleeping with my husband?” I asked with tears in my voice.

“Oh darling, it’s been years,” she said, smiling. “And do you know what he says about you when he’s inside me? He says you’re a fool. Your family might own the money he’s flaunting but he’s the one in control.” She stepped closer. “He calls you his pretty little insurance policy.”

Something inside me snapped. For nine years of marriage I’ve been underestimated. I gave up my life, career and happiness for Robert yet he makes me a laughing stock in front of his mistress. How dare he?

“He talks about you a lot, actually. About how boring you are. How stupid you think.” She sat on the sofa as she continued taunting me. “How easy it is for him to deceive you and get away with it…. You’re the one getting hurt yet you are the one who still begs for love and attention from my Robert.”

“Stop.”

“Why? Does it hurt?” She laughed, pleased with herself, swirling her wine. “God, I used to almost feel sorry for you. Poor little Kirkwood heiress, married to a man who can’t stand the sight of her. But you know what’s actually funny? He was going to leave you. Eight months ago. I told him not to bother.” She leaned forward. “Why walk away from all that money when he can just….”

“You don’t get to talk about my marriage.” I yelled, cutting her off.

“Your marriage.” She stood up so fast the wine sloshed over her fingers. “There is no marriage. Wake up Whitney, Robert is there so he doesn’t miss out on your daddy’s money. You’re simply a key to him. A ladder to success.”

I couldn’t take it anymore, so I rushed and shoved her. It was a reflex action. My hands just moved. But Anna stumbled backward, her wine glass flew up, and the back of her head hit on the edge of the glass table.

Everything happened so fast, before I knew what was happening. Blood started spreading.

It spread across the rug in a dark circle while Anna’s eyes stayed open. It was like she could still see me. She was bleeding from the back of her head and her arm.

I dropped to my knees.

“Anna.” My voice cracked. “Get up. Please get up.”

She didn’t move.

Everything looked exactly like my dream. The position of her body. The way the blood soaked into the rug. The way my hands were already covered in red. Even the distant wail of a siren somewhere in the city sounded the same.

“Am… am… am I a murderer? Anna is dead.”

I came here to catch Robert in the act and to confront Anna so she'd leave my husband for me. Not to kneel in her pool of blood. If the police found me like this, everything would end. Emily. The company. My quiet life will be in shambles even though Robert snatched my peace away.

The next minute I started cleaning up the mess quickly like a possessed woman. I grabbed a kitchen towel with shaking hands and started wiping. Every smear I tried to wipe off made another smear. I lost concentration. My blouse was stained, my pants stained, even if I washed the stains off. I have a feeling my hands will forever be stained with blood.

I picked up my bag to run away when the door opened. And Robert walked in.

I froze, waiting for the horror. Waiting for him to see his lover lying in her pool of blood behind his wife. I was already imagining him pouncing on me and handing me to the police.

To my greatest surprise, he did none of that. He looked past me at Anna’s body, I could swear the look on his face was more of a relief because I didn’t see any form of grieve or shock in his face. Instead he closed the door behind him calmly.

“Robert…” My voice came out in pieces. “I didn’t mean to… she fell, she just fell, I swear I didn’t…. I…I need to call….”

“Shh.” He stepped past me, brought out a glove from his pocket and wore it then bent down to touch Anna’s body so he can confirm if she’s actually dead. He rose and pulled me into his arms. “I’ll fix this. Don’t worry. You just have to do exactly as I say.”

I sagged against him. “Oh God, please forgive me,” I muttered to myself. The good thing is that he’s on my side. He believe me so he’ll protect me. But immediately I sighted the glove still on his hands. Dark and ugly thoughts started creeping in.

“Why did he look relieved?”

“Why did he walk in at the exact moment I was about to run?”

“How come there’s a glove in his pocket all of a sudden?”

Oh no, I shook my head trying to shake the thoughts off. It’s better I believe him, doubting him got me to this mess. I wish I took the dream I had seriously and stayed back.

As if he knew what was going on in my head. Robert crossed the room, stepped carefully around the blood, leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead.

Something he has never done. Not even in our nine years of marriage or on our wedding day.

“You need to leave before someone walks in,” he murmured against my hair. “Go home, Whitney. Take your shower and wait for me. Don’t worry about anything here.” His hands gripped my shoulders. “I’ll make sure there’s no clue left before I come home.“​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​