C1 Initial Suspicion

I opened my eyes when my cell phone alarm blared on the table. I smiled as I looked at the innocent face of my bedmate, who was none other than my husband. Rafael Brandon is his name. He is exactly 36 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.

I am a living witness to how hard Rafael struggled to achieve 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 their electronic products. He has worked for the company for seven years, now serving as General Manager of one of the company's branches located in Los Angeles. We have lived in Los Angeles for almost three years, occupying an official residence provided by the company.

"Darling, wake up. It's already 6 o'clock. You'll be late for the office," I said, trying to wake him up. Rafael didn't answer or open his eyes. He remained lying on the bed.

I reached out, intending to shake Rafael's body, and that's when I realized I had made a mistake. He grabbed my hand, and my body fell on top of him. When I was about to get up, he hugged me so tightly that I couldn't move in his confines.

"What's wrong with you? Let go. You'll be late."

"I'm still sleepy. You accompany me to sleep for a while, okay?" Rafael replied while hugging me as if it were a bolster.

"Don't be like this, seriously you will be late. Besides, I have to wake your child too."

I heard a groan. It seemed Rafael didn't like hearing my refusal. When finally released from its confines, I quickly got up.

"Come on, get up quickly, lazy Mr Rafael."

I pulled his hand away after teasing him with those taunts. Rafael didn't refuse this time. I easily managed to change his sleeping position to sitting.

"I'm still very sleepy, seriously," he said again, making excuses.

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

"I have to prepare materials for the meeting."

"You have a meeting today?"

He answered with a nod.

"That means you're late coming home today?"

"Yes, but I'll try to get home quickly. When the meeting is over, I'll definitely go home straight away."

This time, I nodded. Rafael is a branch leader, and attending meetings has become his routine. As a wife, I must understand when he comes home late because meetings sometimes last until late at night.

"Come on, take a shower."

Rafael is still lazing around. I was forced to take action by pushing his back to move towards the bathroom.

"Let's take a shower together, how about it?" Rafael said with a wink.

"No kidding. You're just like Rory asking to take a shower together." Of course, I refused his request.

"We used to bathe together often. It's been a long time since you rubbed my back." Rafael said again. I rolled my eyes.

"Just go to the spa if you want a body scrub."

He shrugged his shoulders at my answer. "If Rory asked, you definitely wouldn't refuse."

"Rory's still little."

"I'm so jealous of Rory," he said, making me chuckle.

"Do you ever get jealous of your child? Go take a shower. I want to wake Rory first."

After that, without waiting for Rafael's answer, I walked over to the wardrobe, preparing the clothes he would wear today. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw his movement towards the bathroom.

As originally planned, I went to Rory's room, the only son we got after four years of marriage. He truly is the son we have been waiting for. He is six years old and attending kindergarten near Rafael's office. I was surprised to find Rory sitting at the study table. His gaze looked down at the table as if he were working on something. I quickly approached him.

"Rory darling are you awake?"

Rory turned around with a big smile, making me want to pinch his cheeks.

"What are you doing?"

"Make a picture, Mom," he said, showing me the picture he had just made—a picture of a typical simple house made by the hands of children his age.

"Wow, is this our house?"

"Yes, Mom. How did Mommy know?" Rory asked, looking surprised that I had guessed correctly. "Because the picture is similar to our house."

My answer made Rory happy. He jumped up and down on the floor while hugging his picture tightly.

"Come on, take a shower first. You'll have to go to school soon."

Unlike his father, who had a thousand reasons to refuse, my beloved son obeyed my words at that very second.

"Want to give Mommy a bath?"

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

I smiled, feeling proud of my son, who had learned to be independent even though he was still very young. While waiting for Rory to finish showering, I prepared his uniform. Remember to check the books and other school equipment he must bring today.

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

"Good morning Daddy," shouted Rory happily when he found Rafael sitting nicely in the dining room, without hesitation climbing into his father's lap. I smiled at the touching sight.

"Good morning, too. Did you sleep well last night?"

Rory nodded enthusiastically, laughing out loud when Rafael mischievously rubbed his chin on Rory's neck.

"Daddy, I just drew a picture of the house. Mommy said the picture is similar to our house."

"Oh yes? Dad wants to see."

"Mommy, where's my picture?" Rory asked, his gaze on me.

"It's in your room."

"Take it, Mommy. I want to show it to Daddy," he asked while whining. I exhaled slowly when my son's spoiled nature began to recur.

"Later, Daddy will see the picture. Look, you'll be late for school. Daddy also has to go to work."

"Yeah, Mommy," Rory pursed his lips. Pouting because he didn't like my rejection.

"After work, Daddy will definitely see the picture. Now Rory eat, okay? Don't be naughty, Mommy will get angry."

"Yes, when Mommy gets angry she's scary, like a lion."

I shook my head when I heard their conversation. After that, there was no more talking. Both of them began to focus on their respective food.

Fifteen minutes passed, and Rafael finished his breakfast. He took the briefcase, kissed the top of Rory's head, still eating his food, then invited me to walk towards the door.

"I'm leaving first. Be careful on the road when dropping off Rory," said Rafael, advising me. I nodded in understanding.

"You also be careful on the road. Go smoothly with your work today."

After saying that sincerely, as usual, he kissed my forehead, right cheek, and left cheek, then kissed my lips gently. He walked towards his black car, parked in front of our house. I waved back as soon as I started the car.

At first glance, our marriage looks harmonious, right? Looks like we love each other without any problems in our domestic life. We indeed look like a happy family from the outside. However, the reality was different because I was losing trust in Rafael.

It all started one month ago when I tidied up Rafael's briefcase. I accidentally saw a red velvet box. The box contains a beautiful necklace. I would be happy if Rafael prepared that necklace to give to me. However, looking closely, it turns out it's for someone else. There are letters ZK on the pendant. ZK is not my name because my initials are AV, Andrea Virginia.

That's where my suspicions began, especially when I heard a neighbor, who was like a sister, tell me that she had once caught Rafael eating with a woman in a restaurant.

That's where my story begins. The story of the investigation to prove this suspicion, as well as finding out the name behind the initials ZK, has captured my husband's attention.