Chapter 6

Kelsey POV

Half a month later, Griffin claimed he needed to go on a business trip to Tokyo, Japan.

"There's a tricky cross-border merger to negotiate in Tokyo for a few days." As he packed, he deliberately brought two boxes of "peace crosses" I'd obtained for him years ago-props to maintain his "devoted" persona in front of me.

I leaned against the doorframe, holding a cup of hot milk. "How many days?"

"Five. If you miss me, I'll compress the negotiations to three days."

"No need. Work comes first." I said considerately.

The moment Griffin's front foot left, my back foot booked a flight.

Not to Tokyo, but to Hokkaido.

I'd planted military-grade tracking software in Griffin's private phone.

That red dot wasn't in bustling Tokyo at all, but at an extremely private hot spring resort hotel in Hokkaido.

When checking in, I specifically pulled strings to get the suite next to Griffin's.

This hotel emphasized natural authenticity. Though privacy was good, the bamboo fences between outdoor balconies didn't provide ideal soundproofing.

At 10 PM, I sat in a rattan chair on the balcony, swirling a glass of sake, a high-sensitivity voice recorder on my lap.

The sound of trickling water came from next door.

Along with that voice that made me physically nauseated.

"Griffin, the water's so hot. Be gentle."

Joyce's voice was coquettish to the bone, mixing clearly with the sound of splashing water.

"Hot is stimulating. That's why I brought you here." Griffin's voice was low and husky. "Been stifled in that proper office setting, haven't you? No one knows us here. Scream however you want."

"Do you love me?"

"Love you. Love this body of yours to death."

"What about Kelsey?"

"Why bring up that wooden plank? She's like a dead fish in bed-rigid and boring. Nothing like how well you know how to play."

My grip on the sake glass suddenly tightened, my knuckles turning white.

Wooden plank.

Dead fish.

Rigid and boring.

So that was his true assessment of me.

To accommodate his so-called "work stress," I was extremely gentle and considerate every time, forcing myself to cooperate even when physically uncomfortable.

In his mouth, all that consideration became evidence of my being boring.

I pulled out my phone and dialed Griffin's number.

The water sounds next door instantly stopped.

Griffin's voice filled with panic. "Shh, don't make a sound. It's that yellow-faced hag calling."

Joyce covered her mouth with a giggling laugh.

The call connected.

"Hello, babe?" Griffin's voice switched seamlessly, sounding exhausted. "Why aren't you asleep yet? If you hadn't called, I would've almost fallen asleep in the conference room."

I listened to the deliberately suppressed breathing next door, my tone calm as water. "Just checking in. Where are you?"

"At the hotel. Just finished the third round of video conferences. My head's about to explode from exhaustion. I have a whole day of negotiations tomorrow too."

"Alone?"

"Of course I'm alone. Who else would there be? You think I'm keeping a mistress?" Griffin's tone carried a hint of helpless indulgence. "Kelsey, stop being silly. I'm very tired, and I miss you."

At the same time, a crisp sound came from next door.

"Smack."

The sound of a palm slapping wet skin.

Joyce couldn't hold back a short cry of surprise. "Ah..."

Griffin's end went instantly silent-clearly he'd covered the phone.

A few seconds later, he uncovered it and explained, "Room service just brought water and accidentally broke a glass. Babe, it's really late. You should rest too. I love you."

"I love you too."

I hung up.

Next door immediately erupted in unrestrained laughter.

"You scared me to death. You're so bad, deliberately slapping my butt just now." Joyce said coquettishly.

"Who told you to moan so loud? Almost gave us away."

"It'd be better if we were exposed. Let her know whose man you really are now."

I turned off the voice recorder and saved the file.

Standing up, I walked to the balcony's edge.

Through the gaps in the bamboo screen, in the moonlight, two bodies in the outdoor hot spring pool next door were entwined like snakes.

I watched with cold eyes for a full minute.

That was my complete farewell to my past self.

Back in my room, I lay on the tatami mat.

The commotion next door continued.

I put on top-of-the-line noise-canceling headphones and played Beethoven's "Symphony of Fate."

My heart was surprisingly calm.

The Kelsey who would cry late into the night over her husband's infidelity was already dead.

The one alive now was an avenger.