Chapter 50
Jill leaned in, her tone dropping as if she was just scheming.
“Once Nata gets pregnant, we’ll just say it was from your brother’s frozen sperm. A test–tube baby. No one will know the truth. It won’t affect your marriage with Gina at all…”
Christoph cut her off sharply. “Mom. It’s one thing for Gina to act out, but why are you feeding into this?”
He turned to me, his voice rising. “This is just her throwing a tantrum because I haven’t touched her in years!“}
I let out a cold laugh, watching him perform like he was auditioning for an award.
What a joke. This marriage was beyond saving. Rotten to the core.
Christoph loved Natalie–that much was obvious. Yet for the sake of appearances, for her so–called “reputation,” he refused to divorce me and marry her outright.
He didn’t want to be labeled the man who left his wife for his sister–in–law. So instead, he did everything behind closed doors -every betrayal, every indecency–and used me as their cover. Their shield. Their excuse.
“The hell are you laughing at?” he snapped.
“Nothing,” I said softly.
I pushed myself up from the bed, weak but numb, my voice light–careless.
“It was just a passing suggestion. Do whatever you want.”
Something in Christoph’s expression shifted. His eyes burned red, fury clouding them–except… underneath the anger was something else. Glee. Satisfaction.
“Since you’re being so generous,” he said coldly, wrapping an arm around Natalie, “I’ll take you up on that.“}
Then, with deliberate cruelty, he announced:
“I’ll be taking Nata abroad for a honeymoon. As for you–you’ll stay here and take care of Mom. And while you’re at it, you can learn how to care for a pregnant woman… and later, her baby.“\
His mother lit up like it was Christmas morning. “Oh, Chris, that’s such a thoughtful idea. It’s better this way–Gina won’t have to watch you two together. It would only break her heart.”
Natalie blushed and leaned into him, all fake modesty and fluttering lashes, like some Victorian heroine in distress. She tried to act shy, to object.
Christoph silenced her with a kiss–right there, in front of me.”
His mother cast a careful glance my way, clearly bracing for a reaction. Yet, I didn’t flinch. I just stared, face blank.
Apparently, that was enough to reassure her. “Chris, maybe just… tone it down a little in front of Gina, hmm?” she said gently, still watching me out of the corner of her eye.
This whole family… what a circus bunch. They really thought I didn’t see through all of it.!!
By the end of the day, Christoph had already booked the flights for next week’s European honeymoon.
He couldn’t wait.
After the fever finally broke, I quietly got to work.
I had to gather evidence. Real leverage. Enough to blow things up before they left for their honeymoon fairytale.”
That night, while Christoph stayed late at the office, I slipped into the one place I’d never been allowed to enter: his bedroom. Five years of marriage and I had never stepped foot in this room.”
Christoph always said that “true, Platonic love” required boundaries. Emotional purity. Even his bedroom had been off–limits to me–his own wife.
The space was cold and clinical. Stark gray and white, not a single personal touch. Just like him–distant, sterile and controlled.
I searched everything–drawers, nightstands, under the bed. Nothing.”
I was about to give up when I noticed something tucked away in the far corner of the wardrobe: a small safe, barely visible.}
I tried Natalie’s birthday. The lock clicked open without resistance.
Inside was a flood of photographs–hundreds, maybe more. All of Natalie.”
At first, they were clearly taken in secret: grainy shots from odd angles, like someone spying through a doorway or a window. But then the tone changed. They became selfies–intentional, sultry, pupils blown wide, lips parted. Her gaze full of knowing.” Disgust clawed up my throat, but I forced myself to keep looking.
Next to the photos was a leather–bound journal. I opened it. The first entry was dated the day Christoph and I met.” “Met a girl at the library today. She asked me if I liked Plato too. The way she said it–it almost felt like she was my sister–in–law. But I can’t have those kinds of thoughts about her, can I? I need a distraction. A girlfriend. Gina will do.“”
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My hands began to shake, but I kept reading.”
“Gina’s naïve. She won’t realize I’m just using her. Every time I see Natalie, I have to fight myself not to stare… not to touch.“” “Today was my brother’s funeral. I almost did something unforgivable in the chapel. Good thing Natalie was too grief–stricken to notice how disgusting I really am.“%
“Gina keeps trying to get close. It’s pathetic. Why are women always so desperate? Natalie isn’t like that. She’s pure. She’s still keeping herself for my brother.”
Tears blurred the page. I bit my lip hard enough to taste blood, anything to keep from making a sound. Everything I thought was love–every soft word, every distant smile–it had all been a lie.
I was done being their cover story.”
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