Bye, Mr.Francis

"[Ms. Austen, your husband is with a woman in Room 2588 of the Remington Hotel.]" Olivia Austen held her breath as the elevator ascended. She had just returned from a month-long business trip abroad and received this baffling text message. Initially dismissing it as a prank, she grew increasingly uneasy when she couldn't reach her husband after landing. His phone's location was indeed the Remington Hotel. Panic welled within her. Reaching Room 2588, Olivia was surprised to find the door slightly ajar! A sudden shove from behind sent her stumbling into the dark room. As she regained her footing, a scorching body pressed against her, pinning her against the door. "Honey?" Olivia called out tentatively. The man offered no reply, instead finding her lips in the darkness with a fierce, passionate kiss. The half-open door, the immediate kiss upon entering... Olivia quickly pieced it together. It must be Nolan Barton's way of spicing things up after their long separation. Releasing her apprehension, she wrapped her arms around him, responding to his kisses with sweet abandon. When Olivia awoke, daylight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Her exposed arm was covered in love bites, her body ached, yet her heart overflowed with sweetness. She and Nolan had been married for a year, but their busy schedules had kept them from consummating their marriage—until last night. "Honey..." Olivia turned, wanting to tease Nolan, only to find the pillow beside her cold and empty. He had already left. Resting on the bed was a pendant, a collector's item from the Tiffany & Co. "Flawless Love" collection. At least he had the decency to leave a gift. Smiling, Olivia picked up the pendant and fastened it around her neck. Suddenly, the closed door burst open, revealing a swarm of reporters armed with cameras and microphones. They surrounded the bed, their lenses pointed directly at her. "Click! Click! Click!" The flashes relentlessly captured Olivia's partially exposed body. "Ms. Austen, you were just on a business trip. Did you have a one-night stand? Does that mean you and Mr. Barton have broken up?" "Have you two privately filed for divorce?" "Ms. Austen, please answer our questions!" "..." The sudden intrusion and their malicious questioning left Olivia speechless and reeling. She retreated instinctively, her slender frame pressing against the headboard, panic etched on her face. "You... What are you talking about? I was with my husband last night!" Olivia pulled the thin blanket tightly around herself, pointing towards the door. "Get out! All of you, get out!" "Olivia!" A cold, furious voice cut through the chaos. Olivia's vision blurred. Looking up, she saw her husband standing before her, his usual gentle demeanor replaced with a chilling darkness. "Honey, you're here just in time!" Ignoring his early departure and unusual demeanor, Olivia scrambled towards him, clutching his arm. "Wasn't last night your way of surprising me? These reporters are accusing me of infidelity..." Before she could finish, a stinging slap landed on her cheek, sending her reeling back onto the bed, her mind spinning. Nolan threw a stack of photos onto her face. The sharp edges cut into her cheek, drawing blood. "Nine o'clock tomorrow morning, at the Clerk’s office!" His voice was ice-cold. With that, he turned and left, as if even a second longer in her presence was unbearable. Clutching her throbbing cheek, Olivia's gaze fell on a photo lying beside her. It showed a man leaving Room 2588. Only his side profile was visible, and it was definitely not Nolan. The timestamp indicated he had left around six o'clock this morning! Olivia trembled as she studied the photo. The man from last night... wasn't Nolan!