IN BED WITH MY EX-HUSBAND’S UNCLE

Chapter 3

Evie leaned her forehead against Chloe’s front door and waited for her breathing to settle. Riven’s herbal drink had killed the headache, but it had left her mind sharp, and right now she didn’t want it sharp. She wanted it numb.

She rang the doorbell.

The door flew open before the chime finished. Chloe grabbed her and pulled her into a hug so tight it knocked the air out of her.

“Oh my God, Evie” Chloe held her at arm’s length, eyes scanning her from head to toe. “Where were you? I was up all night. I went to the lounge and you weren’t there, you weren’t answering, I was this close to calling the police”

“I’m okay,” Evie said, her voice scratchy. “Please, just let me sit.”

Chloe led her to the sofa and disappeared into the kitchen, then came back with a glass of water and pressed it into her hands. She perched on the coffee table, knees nearly touching Evie’s, her face pale.

“Okay. Talk to me. What happened? Are you sure it wasn’t just a misunderstanding? The entire city knows that Julian absolutely adores you.”

Evie took a slow sip. The cold water did nothing for the knot in her chest. “I went to the hotel, Chloe. I saw him.”

“Saw him doing what?”

“He was with another woman.” The words came out flat. “f*****g her on the sofa. And she asked him who was sweeter, her or me, and he laughed and said there was no comparison.” She swallowed. “That she was ten times sweeter.”

Chloe’s mouth fell open. The color left her face. “No. Julian wouldn’t…”

“He did.” Evie set the glass down before her hand could shake. “I feel sick just thinking about him touching me with those same hands. I want out, Chloe. I really want a divorce.”

Chloe stared at her for a long moment. When she spoke again, the shock had settled into serious concern. “Evie... listen to me. I hate him for this, I really do. But are you completely sure about a divorce? You know what that means, right? It means cutting every single tie between you and Julian. Forever."

“That chapter is already closed to me.”

Chloe nodded once, pulled out her phone, and put it on speaker. “Sister Serena? It’s me. I have Evie here. She needs you.”

Serena’s voice sounded calm. “Evie, Chloe already told me a little, but I need to hear it from you. Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Yes,” Evie said. “I’m sure.”

“Then let’s talk about what that means. Evie, no matter how betrayed and hurt you are right now, you have to understand that divorce means standing on your own. Financially. How much do you have saved in your own name?”

The question hit Evie like a physical wall. She froze.

Her mind searched through bank accounts and personal funds, only to come up completely empty. Reality crashed down on her with brutal weight. Ever since her parents died in a car crash during her junior year of college, Julian had stepped in. He had taken over her living expenses, paid off her student loans, and made sure she never had to worry about a single bill.

When they got married four years ago, Julian had insisted she leave her firm. “My wife doesn’t need to work for another man,” he had told her with that charming smile. “I want to take care of you.”

And when her younger brother was diagnosed with leukemia two years ago, Julian hadn't hesitated to cover the insane monthly hospital bills and specialized treatments without a second thought.

Evie buried her face in her hands, as she leaned back against the sofa. "I don't have anything," she whispered. "I quit my job. I gave up my career as a forensic accountant just to be the dutiful housewife he wanted me to be. Everything I have... everything my brother needs... it's all Julian's money."

Serena let out a breath.

“Alright. Listen to me carefully, Evie," Serena said smoothly. "If you file now without a plan, Julian will cut you off instantly. He'll hide his money, stall the medical payments for your brother, and drain you out in court using the best lawyers money can buy. You will lose."

"So what do I do?" Evie asked, her heart racing.

"You play the game," Serena replied without mincing words. "I will handle the legal side and start setting up the paperwork. But on your end, you need to act like absolutely nothing happened."

Evie blinked, "What?"

"You need to give a flawless performance," Serena instructed. "Go home. Be the sweet, loving, innocent housewife he thinks you are. Do not give him a single reason to suspect that you know. While you keep him distracted and oblivious, I will quietly audit his personal and corporate accounts, track down his hidden assets, and build a case that will strip him bare. It's going to be hard, Evie. Can you pull it off?"

Evie looked at the blank wall across the room. The thought of facing Julian made her skin crawl. The thought of leaving with nothing, with her brother’s treatment hanging on a signature, made her blood run cold.

“Yes,” she said. “I can do it.”

Half an hour later, a cab dropped her in front of their mansion. The sun lay warm across the lawn and the windows glowed. It looked perfect, and she’d never noticed how much it looked like a cage.

She went straight up to the master bedroom, peeled off Riven’s cream sweater and the dark jeans, folded them neatly, and hid them at the very bottom of her closet.

She turned on the shower and stood under the warm water and scrubbed until her skin turned pink. When she finally turned off the water, she wrapped herself in a towel, rubbed her hair with a smaller one, and opened the bathroom door.

She stopped dead in her tracks.

Julian was standing near the foot of the bed.

He was still wearing the same designer suit from yesterday, his tie loosened, his hair messy, and dark circles under his eyes. He hadn't come home last night at all.

Evie’s heart dropped to her stomach, but before she could even react, Julian rushed across the room toward her.

"Evie, Oh my God, baby," he cried out, pulling her tightly into his arms.

Evie stiffened instantly, her stomach turning into a knot as his arms wrapped around her wet back. The scent of him -his expensive cologne mixed with the sickening trace of another woman's perfume made her nauseous. It took every ounce of her willpower not to push him away and vomit right there on the rug.

"I am so, so sorry, queen," Julian gushed into her hair, his voice dripping with dramatic regret. "The board meeting ran straight through the night into this morning. It was an absolute nightmare. I hated missing your birthday dinner so much, you have no idea."

Evie forced her muscles to relax, forcing herself to smile as she pulled back slightly. "It's... it's fine, Julian."

"It's not fine, I missed your special night," he said, pulling out a black shoe box. "I bought you something on my way back to make it up to you."

He opened the lid, revealing a pair of limited-edition designer heels. the exact pair her favorite brand had released three days ago that were sold out nationwide.

"You didn't have to." The heels suddenly looked ugly to Evie

"Of course I had to," he murmured softly. His eyes darkened, shifting from apologetic to intense lust as his gaze swept down her bare shoulders and the towel wrapped around her chest. "I missed you so much last night."

He stepped closer, his large hand coming up to rest on her hip before deliberately sliding up her thigh beneath the towel.

The touch sent a jolt of pure disgust straight through Evie's veins. It felt like a cockroach crawling across her skin. She wanted to scream, to slap his hand away, to slice his face open. But Serena’s voice echoed in her head: Flawless performance.

Just as Julian leaned down, his lips targeting hers for a deep kiss, Evie stylishly tilted her head sideways, letting his lips hit her cheek instead while she faked a pained wince.

Julian drew back, "Baby? What's wrong?"

"My head..." Evie whispered, placing a shaking hand against her forehead, letting her body sway slightly. "I woke up feeling terrible, Julian. My head is throbbing, and my stomach is completely upside down. I think I'm coming down with something."

Just like that, Julian’s lustful look vanished, instantly replaced by his dramatic attentive husband persona.

"Oh, no, no, no," he said quickly, taking her by the shoulders and gently guiding her to sit on the edge of the bed. "Sit down, baby. Don't move. I'll go downstairs right now, make you some hot tea, bring up some light food and your migraine meds. Just stay right here, okay?"

“Thank you,” she said, in the smallest voice she could manage.

He hurried toward the door. His hand was already on the handle when he stopped.

The room went quiet. Slowly, Julian turned around, his eyes narrowed, the warmth draining out of his face.

“Evie,” he said, in a voice she didn’t recognize. “Did you go out last night?”

Her heart stopped. Cold sweat broke out along her spine, but she kept her face blank.

“No,” she said. Her voice came out steady, and she had no idea how. “Why?”

Julian folded his arms and stared at her intently.

“Because your car isn’t in the garage.”