Blurb：
Discover the shocking truth in this gripping thriller! When a wife uncovers a mysterious $2980 hotel charge on her detective husband Tristan Griffin's credit card, her world shatters. The payment timestamp—8:00 PM at the luxurious Wisteria Hotel—contradicts his alibi about police overtime. With help from private investigator Rowena Sheffield, security footage reveals Tristan escorting a young woman in white into the elevator. The red woven bracelet on her wrist matches the lucky charm the wife made for Tristan years ago.
The trail leads to Starlight Orphanage, where sponsored orphan Lara Lincoln—once shy and withdrawn—now flashes a crescent-eyed smile in the footage. Confrontations unravel lies as text messages expose their secret meetings. Why is Lara wearing the sacred bracelet? What really happened at the Wisteria? Dive into this tale of betrayal, hidden identities, and a marriage hanging by a thread. Perfect for fans of domestic suspense and psychological drama!
Content：
At three in the morning, I stare at the unknown transaction record on my phone screen, my fingertips turning cold. The record is for a payment of 2980 dollars, made for an executive suite at the Wisteria. The time of payment was 8:00 pm last night.My husband, Tristan Griffin, is a detective. He was on the night shift last night.
I clutch my phone, my knuckles turning white as I text Tristan, "I just saw your credit card bill for a hotel stay last night. What's up with that?"
His reply is instant. "Our team had to work overtime at the last minute, so they put us up at the hotel. I forgot to tell you about it."
I scan the text and sputter.
The Wisteria is located in the western region of the city, which is on the other end from where his squad is stationed.
I don't press him for more details and click on the bank app on my phone. Having found the vendor's address through the payment record, I sent it to my best friend, Rowena Sheffield, who works as a private detective.
She replies instantly with an "OK" emoji and follows up with, "Give me a second. I'll find out everything you want in a jiffy!"
Chapter 1
The updates from Rowena arrived two hours later, consisting of security footage and a location. In the footage, Tristan was dressed in his police uniform as he led a woman in a white dress into the hotel elevator.
The woman sported long hair and a slender waist, and judging from her side profile, she was likely in her early 20s. Her eyes turned into crescents when she smiled, and the red woven bracelet on her wrist looked familiar.
The location Rowena had sent me was for the Starlight Orphanage. My heart tightened to the point where breathing became difficult.
I'd made that red woven bracelet for Tristan three years ago in hopes that it would become his lucky charm. He'd promised never to take it off, save for when he went on assignments.
The Starlight Orphanage? Among the orphans Tristan sponsored was a young lady named Lara Lincoln. She lost her parents at a young age and was withdrawn by nature.
Tristan told me the young lady had it rough and needed a lot of care and attention. I tagged along with him once to visit Lara at the orphanage and saw her from a distance. She'd been thin and quiet and always had her head down, looking nothing like the young woman beaming in the footage.
I changed into a fresh set of clothes and made a beeline for the orphanage. The guard knew me and didn't stop me from entering, only pointed out that Lara was in the back garden.
From a distance, I saw Lara sitting on the bench, her head down as she smiled at her phone screen. The sun hit the ends of her hair, casting a golden glow over them. The red woven bracelet on her wrist hurt my eyes.
Upon hearing my footsteps, Lara looked up. Her smile slipped when she saw me, and she quickly rose to her feet before greeting me timidly, "M-Mrs. Griffin."
She was just as shy and cautious as the last time I saw her.
I stopped before her, my gaze falling on her phone screen, where her conversation with "Tris" was on full display. The latest message was from Tristan: "Same place tonight? I've got a gift for you."
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The End