Chapter Four: His Favorite
1385 Words
V...My throat tightened, then I clicked
The contact opened. Victoria’s number. Saved simply as V. My jaw clenched so hard my teeth hurt. I scrolled down and froze,
Because beneath V were other names.
Not women’s names.Men’s names.
Chris (Work)
Dayo (Gym)
Mark (Client)
Ben (Church)
Alex (Driver)
Sam (Supplier)
I stared. My heart gave a slow, heavy beat.
Something in me whispered..it couldn't be,
No. clicked one.
“Chris (Work).”
The number looked unfamiliar. I copied it and then I went to his messages. Typed the number into the search bar and the chat popped up instantly. My stomach dropped.
Because the profile picture wasn’t a man.
It was a woman. A beautiful woman in red lipstick.The last message read:
Chris (Work): Last time was amazing. When can I see you again?
My vision went sharp. I clicked another.
“Dayo (Gym).”Another chat. Another woman.
Another set of hearts. I clicked again, and again. And again. Each time, it was a woman. Different faces, different names.
But the same pattern. Jack had saved them all under men’s names. He was hiding them in plain sight... like he was laughing at me.
My fingers went numb and I counted without meaning to. One, two three...... Fifteen. Fifteen women. Not one mistake, not one drunken slip, not one “I was lonely.”
This was a lifestyle. I stared at the phone until my eyes burned. Then I whispered, very softly, into the darkness.
“Wow.” A laugh bubbled in my throat. Because suddenly, Victoria didn’t feel special anymore. She was just the favorite.
I scrolled back to V and Clicked her chat
And my hands tightened so hard my nails dug into my palm. Victoria wasn’t texting him like a secret lover. She was texting him like she owned him.
V: Did she fall asleep?
Jack: Yes.
V: Good. I hate when she clings to you.
Jack: I know. I’ll handle it.
V: You better. I didn’t wait all these years just to share you with that woman.
My chest went still.
Then I scrolled. And there it was.
The message that made the world tilt.
Jack: I swear, Victoria… if it wasn’t for her family name, I would’ve never married her.
My fingers stopped moving.
And for the first time since last night…
I felt it...PAIN, because he never loved me.
Not even once. I sat there in the dark bathroom, holding my husband’s phone like it was a weapon.
And I realized something.
Jack didn’t just betray me.
Jack built a whole life on a lie.
A floorboard creaked and i froze. My head snapped toward the door. Jack?
My heart finally kicked. I turned off the screen instantly, holding the phone against my chest. Then the doorknob turned.
Slowly. And the bathroom door began to open.
“Joyce…?”
Jack’s voice came through the half-open bathroom door, low and sleepy. I didn’t panic. Instead, I turned the phone screen off and placed it calmly on the sink beside me.
“Yeah?” I said, keeping my voice even.
The door opened wider. Jack leaned against the frame, rubbing his eyes like a man who had just woken up and stumbled into his wife.
“You okay?” he asked.
I lifted an eyebrow. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
He glanced at the dark bathroom, then at me sitting on the tub.
“You weren’t in bed,” he said. “I thought something was wrong.”
“I couldn’t sleep.”
He yawned, scratching the back of his neck. “You should’ve woken me.”
I gave him a faint smile. “And ruin your beauty sleep?”
He chuckled, That soft, charming laugh that fooled everyone.
“Come back to bed,” he said gently.
“In a minute.”
He nodded and walked away. I listened carefully. The bedroom door closed. Only then did I pick up the phone again. I quickly sent screenshots to Sofia. Then I deleted the message thread and placed Jack’s phone exactly where I’d found it. By the time I slipped back into bed, Jack was already asleep again, peacefully snoring. I stared at the ceiling and smiled.
Not for long.
The next morning, Jack left earlier than usual. I noticed immediately.
He kissed my cheek while tying his watch.
“Busy day?” I asked casually.
“Very,” he said, grabbing his keys. “Meetings all afternoon.”
“What time will you be back?”
“Late,” he said. “Don’t wait up.” Of course.
I smiled sweetly. “Okay.” Jack leaned down and kissed me.
“Love you.”
“Love you too,” I said.
The door closed behind him.
I counted to five. Then I stood up, grabbed my bag, and walked out of the house.
Jack’s black Bentley pulled out of the driveway just as I reached my car. I waited until he turned the corner.
Then I followed. He turned into a high-end shopping district. My lips curved slightly.
“Well,” I murmured to myself, “this should be interesting.”
Jack parked outside a jewelry boutique. I stayed inside my car and watched for a few minutes then I followed.
The saleswoman greeted Jack immediately.
“Good afternoon, sir,” she said warmly. “Looking for something special?”
Jack smiled politely.
“Yes, actually.”
I pretended to browse a display across the room while listening.
“A gift,” Jack said.
“Of course,” the woman replied. “For your wife?”
Jack chuckled.
“No.”
My hand froze over a bracelet.
The saleswoman smiled knowingly. “Ah. I understand.” Jack leaned slightly closer to the glass counter. “Something elegant,” he said. “But not too obvious.”
“Of course.”
She brought out a tray of necklaces. Diamonds, Gold, emeralds. Jack studied them carefully, then he pointed.
“That one.”
The woman lifted a delicate diamond necklace. “It’s beautiful,” she said. “Very popular with our younger clients.”
Jack nodded approvingly. “Yes,” he said. “She’ll like that.” My jaw tightened.
The saleswoman wrapped the necklace in a velvet box.
“Would you like a note included?”
Jack thought for a moment.
Then he said something that made my fingers curl against the glass display.
“Yes, write this".
The woman picked up a pen.
Jack spoke slowly.
“For the woman who truly understands me.”
The woman finished writing and slipped the card into the box.
“Lovely message,” she said. Jack paid without hesitation. Several thousand dollars...For Victoria. “Have a wonderful day,” the saleswoman said. Jack nodded and turned toward the door. I quickly stepped aside, pretending to study another display as he walked past me. The door closed behind him. Then the saleswoman approached me with a bright smile.
“Can I help you with anything today?”
I smiled back sweetly.
“Yes,” I said.
“I’d like to see the necklace that man just bought.”
She blinked. “The diamond one?”
“Yes.”
She opened the display and brought out another identical piece.
“It’s one of our best sellers,” she said. “His girlfriend will be very happy.” I examined the necklace calmly. “It’s lovely,” I said.
Then I met her eyes. “I’ll take two.” She blinked again. “Two?”
“Yes.” I said with a smile.
“Of course.”
As she packaged them, I pulled out my phone.
Sofia had replied to my screenshots hours ago.
Sofia: I want to set his car on fire.
I typed back calmly.
Me: Don’t. Not yet.
The saleswoman handed me the bag.
“Here you go, ma’am.”
“Thank you.”
I walked outside just in time to see Jack’s Bentley pulling away from the curb.
My phone buzzed.
A message from Sofia.
Sofia: Joyce… I dug deeper.
Another message appeared immediately after.
Sofia: Victoria isn’t just sleeping with Jack.
I frowned slightly.
Then the third message arrived. And when I read it…
The smile vanished from my face.
Sofia: She’s been telling people you’re cheating on him.
- Writer
