Chapter 2
Monica placed the document on the marble counter.
Marcus moved so quickly that I instinctively stepped backward.
"Nia, don't make this worse."
I stared at him.
"Worse for whom?"
He stopped.
Vanessa stood near the elevators, her arms wrapped around herself.
The entire lobby seemed to have gone quiet.
Monica slid the paper toward me.
"This is a copy of the reservation activity," she explained. "I can confirm the changes made under your booking, although certain guest details require separate authorization."
I looked down.
My name appeared at the top.
Nia Bennett.
Three nights.
Grand Magnolia Signature Suite.
That much was correct.
Then I saw the changes.
An additional guest had been registered.
A romantic arrival package had been requested.
The suite had been upgraded to include private dining and champagne service.
And an additional authorization had been placed on the payment card associated with the booking.
I stared at the figures.
Three thousand eight hundred dollars.
My mouth went dry.
"Marcus, what is this?"
He looked away.
"I can explain."
"Then explain."
He rubbed his forehead.
"I thought you weren't coming until later."
I stared at him.
"Later?"
He froze.
The word hung between us.
I looked at Monica.
"Was someone supposed to arrive later?"
She hesitated.
"The reservation notes indicate that Mrs. Bennett would be arriving after the additional guest."
I felt cold.
I hadn't written that.
I hadn't approved it.
And I certainly hadn't authorized another woman to enjoy a romantic hotel package with my husband.
"Who added that note?"
Monica checked the activity.
"The modification was submitted through the guest portal yesterday evening."
I turned toward Marcus.
"Did you access my reservation?"
He didn't answer.
I remembered giving him the booking details several weeks earlier.
At the time, I'd considered inviting him to Savannah for our anniversary.
I never imagined he'd use the information to bring another woman.
"Marcus."
He swallowed.
"Yes."
My knees weakened.
I gripped the counter.
"You used my reservation?"
His expression tightened.
"I was going to pay for everything."
I looked at the charges.
"With what card?"
He glanced at the paper.
Then away.
I knew the answer before he spoke.
"Our joint card."
I closed my eyes.
For months, I'd been carefully rebuilding the savings we had used to renovate our townhouse.
I had delayed replacing my aging car.
I had taken extra design projects.
I had even canceled a vacation because Marcus insisted we needed to be financially responsible.
And now he had charged thousands of dollars for a romantic weekend with someone else.
I opened my eyes.
"Cancel every unauthorized upgrade."
Monica nodded immediately.
"We can review the charges and cancellation terms."
Marcus stepped forward.
"Nia, please don't make decisions while you're upset."
I turned toward him.
"You made your decisions already."
Vanessa began crying.
"I didn't know this was your reservation."
I looked at her.
She seemed genuinely shaken.
"How long have you been seeing my husband?"
Marcus interrupted.
"Vanessa, don't."
She turned toward him.
"No."
Her voice trembled.
"You told me you were separated."
I stared at her.
"How long?"
She swallowed.
"Eight months."
The lobby disappeared around me.
Eight months.
Eight months of late meetings.
Missed dinners.
Canceled anniversaries.
Eight months of wondering whether I was asking too much from my marriage.
I felt something break.
"Eight months?"
Vanessa nodded.
"I'm sorry."
I looked at Marcus.
He stared at the floor.
I remembered the night I'd asked whether we were drifting apart.
He'd kissed my forehead and told me I was overthinking.
I remembered apologizing.
I had apologized for noticing the truth.
Suddenly, I couldn't bear to stand beside him.
I reached for my bags.
Marcus grabbed the handle of the black one.
"Nia, wait."
I pulled it free.
"Let go."
He released it.
I looked toward Monica.
"Is there another room available?"
Her expression softened.
"Yes, ma'am."
"I want a separate room. Nothing connected to the existing suite."
"Of course."
Marcus looked stunned.
"You're staying?"
I turned toward him.
"I drove four hours. I'm exhausted. And I'm not going to let you decide where I sleep."
Vanessa quietly moved toward the lobby seating area.
Marcus followed me as Monica prepared a new room.
"Nia, this doesn't have to destroy us."
I stopped.
I looked directly at him.
"You brought another woman into my hotel reservation."
He flinched.
"You lied about where you were."
"I know."
"You spent our money."
"I'll repay it."
"And you told her our marriage was over."
He lowered his eyes.
I felt tears sliding down my cheeks.
"So tell me, Marcus. What exactly is left for you to explain?"
He couldn't answer.
Monica handed me a new keycard.
I thanked her.
Then I walked toward the elevators.
This time, Marcus didn't follow.
Inside my room, I locked the door.
I placed both bags on the floor.
Then I sat on the edge of the bed.
For several minutes, I couldn't move.
I had imagined this weekend as the beginning of a better chapter in our marriage.
Instead, I was sitting alone in a hotel room trying to understand how my husband had become a stranger.
My phone vibrated.
Marcus.
I ignored it.
Another call.
Then another.
Finally, a message appeared.
NIA, PLEASE. THERE ARE THINGS YOU DON'T KNOW.
I stared at the screen.
Then I typed four words.
THEN STOP LYING TO ME.
He didn't reply.
Twenty minutes later, someone knocked.
I froze.
"Mrs. Bennett?"
It was Monica.
I opened the door slightly.
She stood holding an envelope.
"I thought you might want copies of the documents you requested."
I accepted them.
"Thank you."
She hesitated.
"May I say something?"
I nodded.
Her expression became gentle.
"You don't have to decide your entire future tonight."
My throat tightened.
I almost cried again.
"Thank you."
She gave me a small smile.
Then she added, "But there is one more issue with the reservation activity."
My stomach dropped.
"What?"
She handed me another page.
"A secondary payment method was added under your name."
I stared at it.
The card number was unfamiliar.
But the billing address was mine.
And the account holder was listed as Nia Bennett.
I felt cold.
"I've never seen this card."
Monica looked concerned.
"Then I recommend contacting the issuer immediately."
I read the details again.
An account in my name.
A card I didn't recognize.
A payment method I had never authorized.
I thought the worst part of the afternoon had been finding my husband with another woman.
But as I stared at that unfamiliar account number, I realized something far more frightening.
May you like
Marcus might not have been hiding only an affair.
He might have been hiding debts in my name.
