I opened my eyes to the sound of the cell phone alarm blaring across the table. I smile a little when looking at the innocent face of my sleeping partner, who is none other than my husband. His name is Rafael Brandon. He is exactly 36 years old this year. The same age as me because we are the same age, only five months apart. The man I've been married to for ten years—the man who seemed to have always been by my side all my life.



I am a living witness to how hard my husband struggled until he achieved his current success. He was just an ordinary worker at a Japanese company engaged in electronics. Hyoma Industries is the name of the company as well as the brand of its electronic products. It's been seven years since my husband worked at the company. Now, he has served as General Manager in one of the company's branches in Los Angeles. It has been almost three years since we have lived in Los Angeles, occupying the official residence provided by the company.



"Honey wake up. It's already 6 o'clock, you'll be late for work," I said trying to wake him up.



He didn't respond or even open his eyes. He remained motionless in bed in the same position, which was lying on his back on the mattress.



I reached out my hand, intending to shake her body. And that's when I realized I made a mistake.



With one jerk, he grabbed my hand, which was outstretched to him. Instantly, my body fell on top of him. When I was about to get up, he hugged me tightly so I could not move in this confinement.



"What are you doing? Let go. You'll be late."

"I am still sleepy. You accompany me to sleep in a while, okay?" Rafael said, spoiled. He hugged me as if I was a bolster.

"Don't do this, seriously you'll be late. I have to wake up your son anyway."



I heard his moaning voice. It seemed he did not like to listen to my refusal.



I finally broke free from his clutches and rushed to my feet.



"Come on, wake up, Mr. Rafael, the lazy one."



I pulled his hand after teasing him with that taunt. He didn't refuse this time. I quickly managed to change his sleeping position to sitting.



"I'm still really sleepy, seriously," he said again, reasoning.

"It's your fault for staying up late last night."

"Yes, it can't be helped, I have to prepare materials for the meeting."

"You have a meeting today?"



He answered with a nod of the head.



"That means you're late home today?"

"Yeah, but I'm trying to hurry home. When the meeting is over, I'll go straight home."



This time, I nodded. It couldn't be helped. Rafael was a branch manager, and attending meetings had become his routine. As a wife, I can only understand him when he has to come home late because of discussions that sometimes take up tonight.



"Let's take a shower there."



I see he is still too lazy to get up. I was forced to take action. I pushed his back so that his body, standing looming before me now, could move towards the bathroom.



"We bathe together, how about?" he asked while winking one eye, ignorant.

"Don't be silly. You're just like Rory asking to take a bath together." Of course, I refused this ridiculous request.

"We used to take a bath together. You haven't rubbed my back in a long time," he said again. I rolled my eyes lazily.

"Just go to the spa if you want to scrub." He shrugged his shoulders at my answer.



"If Rory asks, you won't refuse."

"Yes, yes, he was still small."

"Why am I so jealous of Rory?" He said success made me chuckle.

"Oh my gosh, how can you be jealous of your child? Already there take a shower, I want to wake up Rory first."



After that, without waiting for his answer, I walked closer to the wardrobe. I prepared the clothes that my husband will wear this morning. I breathed a sigh of relief when the tail of my eye saw my husband's movement toward the bathroom.



As my original plan, I went to my beloved son's room, our only son got after four years of our marriage. He is truly the son we have been waiting for. He is six and attending a kindergarten near my husband's office. I was surprised when I found him sitting at his study table. His gaze fell down the table as if he was working on something. I quickly approached him.



"Rory dear, are you awake?"



He turned to me with a broad smile, making me excited to want to pinch his chubby cheeks.



"What are doing?"

"Draw a picture, Mom," he said, showing him the picture he just made.



A picture of a simple house typical of the hands of children his age.



"Wow, is this our house?"

"Yes, Mother. How did Mommy know?" he asked with round eyes directed at me. He looks even cuter.

"Because the picture is similar to our house."



And my answer makes my son happy. He skipped a little on the floor, hugging his picture tightly.



"Come on, let's take a shower first. Soon you have to go to school."



In contrast to his father, who had a thousand reasons to refuse, my beloved son obeyed my words instantly.



"Do you want Mommy to bathe?"

"No need, Mom. I can shower myself!!" he shouted from inside the bathroom.



I smiled broadly, feeling proud of my son, who had learned to be independent even though he was still tiny.



While waiting for him to finish his bath, I prepared his uniform. I remember to make sure of the books and other school equipment he must bring today.



It only took five minutes, and Rory walked happily toward me with a towel wrapped around his waist. I helped him put on his uniform. After his appearance was neat, we walked together to the dining room.



"Good morning, Daddy," Rory shouted when he found his father sitting pretty in the living room. Without hesitation, he climbed into his father's lap. I smiled a little at this touching sight.



"Good morning to champion Daddy. How did you sleep last night? Rest well?"



Rory nodded enthusiastically, laughing out loud when my husband naughtily rubbed his chin on Rory's neck.



"Daddy, I was drawing a house. Mommy said the picture looks like our house."

"Daddy wants to see it."

"Mommy, where's my picture?" asked Rory. His cute look was directed at me.

"It's in your room."

"Take it, Mommy. I want Daddy to see it," he pleaded with a whimper. I exhaled when I found my son's spoiled nature starting to relapse.



"Later Daddy looks at the picture. Look, you're going to be late for school. Daddy has to go to work too."

"Well Mommy," he pouted, and he pursed his lips. Pout because you don't like my rejection.



"Later after work, Daddy will see the picture. Now Rory eats his cereal. Don't be naughty, Mommy will be angry."

"Yes, Mommy when angry is scary, like a lion."



And I can only shake my head when I hear my husband and son chatting. After that, there was no more chatter, and both started focusing on their food.



Fifteen minutes passed, and my husband finally finished his breakfast. He took his briefcase and kissed the top of Rory's head, still eating his cereal, before leading me to the door.



"I'll go first. Be careful when you're on the road delivering Rory," he advised me. I nod in understanding.

"You also be careful on the road. Have a good job today."



As usual, Rafael would kiss my forehead, right cheek, and left cheek, then softly kiss my lips. He walked towards his black sedan parked in front of our house.



I waved at him and waved back at him as soon as he started the car.



At first glance, our marriage looks harmonious. We both love each other without problems in our household life. Yes, we indeed look like a happy family from the outside.



However, the reality was different, at least until I started to lose my faith in my husband.



It all started one month ago. While packing my husband's briefcase, I saw a red velvet box—a box in which a beautiful necklace is displayed. I will be happy if the necklace is prepared by my husband to be given to me.



But after I looked carefully, the necklace was not for me. It has ZK's initials on the locket. ZK is not my initials because my initials are AV, Andrea Virginia.



That's where my suspicions started, especially when a neighbour, like a sister, told me she once caught my husband eating with a woman in a restaurant.



This is where my story begins. The story of my investigation to prove this suspicion and find out the name behind the ZK initials has managed to grab my husband's attention.