The next morning, Carole woke up from the sun shining seeping through her balcony door curtains. She blinked and still felt the pain from Aston forcing her last night inside the car. She stretched her arms and welcomed the morning with sunken eyes.
She couldn't remember how she fell asleep last night while crying. She went to her table and combed her light brown hair. Aston once adored how long and beautiful her hair was, but now she was urging for a haircut.
Looking at herself through the mirror, the sadness quickly reflected through her. Bags under her eyes and the resemblance of being a cry lady last night gave a bitter taste to her lips.
After fixing herself, she headed down and the maids who were called for service greeted her good morning. The mansion, their house was lively. Full of lights coming from those expensive chandeliers hanging on the ceiling.
Everything here is bright and lively except Carole. She suddenly didn't want to go down the stairs. Going back inside her room would be better, but she has to go with her life. She will talk with Aston and ask for his explanation. Maybe it was her fault for causing a scandalous act last night that made the man angry.
Carole calmed herself and walked down the stairs.
"Good morning, Madame. The breakfast was already served."
The house butler told her. Along with the aroma tickling her nose, a smile lightened up her face a bit. They can talk while having breakfast as husband and wife, right?
However, that idea quickly disappeared when Carole found the dining table empty. She looked around. Aston is not there anymore. Even though the delicious foods were just served, it looked cold to Carole.
The house butler walked in and noticed that she was looking for the man.
"Madame, Mr. Albrecht already went to work early in the morning after taking his coffee," he said.
Carole's expression saddened. She slumped on the chair silently while looking at the delicious foods in front of her eyes. Suddenly, her stomach didn't feel hungry anymore. The butler bowed his head and left her alone.
She already imagined in her mind that Aston will explain everything by saying that the photo she saw wasn't true. She was hoping that it was just some edited bullshit from someone because of her husband's reputation.
He will apologize and they are going to another fancy restaurant to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary.
Carole was hopelessly hoping.
****
"I can't believe you did that?!"
The woman wearing a seductive red dress tapped his chest in a flirtatious way while she was sitting on his lap.
"My poor bestfriend, she deserves an explanation too." She said sarcastically. "You should have explained to her that she wasn't good enough for you. She looks like a dog following her father's orders that will do everything for money."
The one speaking and laughing was Natalie. She surprised Aston at his office even though the man told her not to come for a while. She immediately crawled onto his lap like a hungry leech wanting attention.
"You promised to have a date night with me last Saturday, but since your stupid wedding anniversary is coming, I considered it." She pulled him closer while playing with his necktie, grinding her hips into his thighs.
"Can you give me my present now?" she whispered at Aston seductively.
The man stopped staring at his laptop for a while. He was already distracted since this morning and it became more difficult for him to focus when he saw Natalie sitting on his office table with open legs waiting for him.
He still didn't know why that photo was in his phone. He made sure that everything about them is hidden, his affair with Natalie will never last two years if he's not careful.
Aston pushed Natalie, making her frown.
"Are you the one who saved the photo on my phone?" He asked.
The woman looked at him with confusion. "Me? Why would I do that?" She asked. "You know I will not do anything that will break us, right honey?"
She wrapped her arms around the man's shoulder and smothered him with kisses. Though this didn't make Aston assured.
"What's wrong? Are you not in the mood anymore?" Natalie asked, feeling downhearted. She would always get Aston in the mood back then no matter what kind of problem he had, but now it seems like things are getting serious.
"I am thinking of something," he mumbled as a reply.
"Come on, I woke up early just to get here to play with you, you silly guy." She said with a little voice like a kid wanting to have her doll.
Aston looked her in the eyes, looking bothered. "Can you please leave me alone for a while. I need to think. Just wait for my call."
Natalie stood up stomping her feet giving a smack to Aston before putting on her coat and picking her bag. She slammed the door closed to tell the man that she's angry.
She had no time to think about the problem she caused last night. Yes, she's the one who saved that photo of her on top of Aston while they were kissing, but she forgot to delete it.
"Well, Carole is dumb as always. She will think that someone just edited that picture to ruin her husband's image." She mumbled to herself while taking the elevator. She crossed her arms, feeling irritated because she didn't get what she wanted.
However, as soon as the elevator opened, her expression changed. Her eyes widened and her face turned pale as if she saw a ghost. Both of them looked at each other for a while before Natalie broke the awkward silence.
"What brings you here, Carole?" she asked, gulping the saliva inside her throat.
The woman looking at her looked confused too. Carole didn't know if she would smile or get angry or ask about the photo she saw last night. Her mind suddenly got cloudy after seeing Natalie in the elevator.
"Shouldn't I be the one asking you that?" Carole replied back.
"O-Oh," Natalie stammered, stuck by the words she didn't know what to say first.
"I-Uhm, I went here because I'm looking for you, but sadly you are not here."
She already stepped out of the elevator and immediately gave Carole a warm hug, making the other woman comfortable.
"I miss you," she added.