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Alice used to think she would never get married. It wasn't that she disliked romance, but to her, marriage felt like a contract that demanded more giving than she wanted.
Her life already felt stable and comfortable, and she enjoyed making decisions without having to consider someone else's needs. She earned enough on her own, kept her small apartment neat, and liked the idea that no one expected her to cook, clean, or plan around a partner.
Her friends constantly joked about their boyfriends and husbands – men who left dirty dishes on the table, stayed up all night with games, and forgot anniversaries while insisting they were "trying their best." She never found those stories funny. If anything, they reminded her why she planned to stay single.
Then she met Ness.
Their parents arranged the meeting, and she went into it fully expecting another forced conversation she would forget by the end of the week. Instead, she found herself looking across the table at a man who seemed almost too gentle for someone so well known.
Ness spoke softly, smiled easily, and carried himself with a calmness she wasn't used to. He had an athlete's build but not the arrogance she associated with it. He dressed neatly, listened when she spoke, and treated the servers with genuine politeness.
They went on a few more dates, and little by little, her reluctance began to shift. Ness was grounded in ways she didn't expect from someone with his career. He talked about football like it was something he loved, but not something he wanted his entire identity to revolve around.
He baked when he was stressed. He read fantasy books about magic with a seriousness that was almost adorable. He admitted these hobbies with a shy smile, expected her to tease him for how childish or feminine they sounded.
She never did. She found it endearing. Sweet, even.
Their third date ended in a hotel room. It wasn't planned, but neither of them hesitated. She had expected something clumsy, rushed, or performative, because many men tried too hard to impress. But Ness moved slowly and actually paid attention.
He wasn't the most intense or adventurous partner she had been with, yet it was one of the most satisfying experiences of her life. He asked instead of assuming, paid attention to her reactions, and afterward stayed close and made sure she felt safe and cared for. She didn't realize how rare that was until she experienced it.
It was the first time she understood what people meant when they described a partner instead of just a pastime. If she ever had to share her life with a man, she realized, Ness was someone she could imagine beside her.
Life with Ness turned out just as easy as she had imagined. After the wedding, she kept waiting for the moment things would shift, or for some hidden habit to surface and ruin the softness she had grown attached to. It never came. If anything, their domestic life settled into something even more peaceful than she expected.
They shared housework without having to negotiate or turn it into a scoreboard. If she cooked, he washed the dishes. If he vacuumed, she did laundry. Sometimes he baked enough pastries to last two days, and other times she surprised him with takeout when he looked exhausted from training.
Communication with him was also easy. He was honest when he was stressed and careful when she was tired. He never raised his voice, but he also never hid behind silence. If they disagreed, he listened even when it was uncomfortable, and he apologized when he needed to. She realized how unusual that was only after hearing her friends complain about boyfriends who shut down during arguments or refused to talk at all.
Ness was also a deeply thoughtful gift-giver. He didn't buy generic items. He paid attention to comments she made weeks earlier, like the specific antique lock mechanism she admired for her work, or the rare edition of a history book she mentioned once. It made her feel truly seen, not just accommodated.
Alice had initially believed Ness was entirely soft and gentle, but over time, she realized he had a remarkably firm side as well.
She remembered walking down a street near the training center late one evening when a group of men leaning out of a car started catcalling her. Before she could process the annoyance, Ness stopped. His gentle smile didn't disappear, which only made his reaction more unsettling.
He walked up to the car and said something in a low voice she couldn't hear, but the effect was immediate. The men fell silent, their expressions shifting from predatory to stunned. Ness simply gave them a curt, polite nod, took Alice's arm, and continued walking as if nothing had happened.
Similar moments happened again in smaller ways. If someone tried to push ahead of them in a line, Ness told them off politely but directly. When a rude fan grabbed his arm during a public event, he stepped back and shut it down without hesitation. He was sweet, but he had limits, and he protected them without turning cruel. Alice found that strength quietly reassuring.
Of course, Ness's life as a professional football player meant long separations. He often had to travel for weeks or months, sometimes to other countries, depending on the season. The distance was the part she had feared most before they married, but it was easier than she expected.
He called her every few nights, sometimes exhausted, sometimes cheerful, always with that soft smile. He asked about her meals, her work, her sleep. He talked about his teammates, funny airport incidents, new buildings, and the weather. Even through a screen, it felt like he stayed close.
And not once did she get the sense he was cheating or chasing excitement behind her back. Ness was friendly and warm, but not flirtatious. He didn't brag about admirers, he never acted secretive. And Ness seemed comfortable enough spending his nights in a hotel room video calling her instead of going out with his teammates.
Sometimes Alice wondered if she was one of the lucky ones, someone who managed to find a partner who didn't disappoint once the rings were on. Everything felt ideal, or close enough to it, that she rarely questioned anything.
If there was one small thing that occasionally bothered her, it wasn't a flaw in their marriage or in Ness himself. It was his friend – Kaiser.
It wasn't enough to call a problem, nor something she ever felt justified bringing up. Still, it sat quietly inside her like a pebble in a shoe.
Whenever they video called, although she never saw any sign of another woman, there was almost always Kaiser somewhere in the background. He was clearly Ness's default roommate, because Alice never saw anyone else sharing his space.
Sometimes Kaiser wandered past the camera in nothing but shorts, yawning and stretching as if he owned the place. Other times he sat on the couch in a silk robe, looking like a wealthy widow with his hair tied back and a glass of wine in hand while scrolling through his phone.
The constant presence of another man – the same man every time – in such intimate, late-night settings was jarring. If it weren't for the fact that Ness was always neatly dressed in his pajamas and fully focused on her, she might have started believing there was something strange between them.
Even before she met Ness, she had seen the two of them together on television. Interviews, highlight reels, promotional events. They always ended up side by side, whether they planned it or not.
From what she understood, Ness played as Kaiser's midfielder, and not just in a technical sense. He adjusted his style to support Kaiser's more aggressive one, creating chances for him, covering the field so Kaiser could take risks, making him shine brighter. It was widely acknowledged, even by casual fans.
There had been a period when Kaiser transferred to a club in Spain while Ness stayed behind. Many assumed their connection might fade or become distant, but when Kaiser eventually returned to their current club, they fell back into rhythm as if they had been apart for only a day.
Alice only became aware of the depth of it after she married Ness.
One evening, while borrowing his phone to check a message, she accidentally tapped into his notes app. She expected grocery lists or workout routines. Instead, she found pages filled with information about Kaiser.
Daily schedule. Preferred drinks. Allergy reminders. Shoe sizes across different brands. Sleep habits. Training types that triggered soreness. Phrases that motivated him. Phrases that irritated him. Reminders like: "Michael will forget his charger again — check before leaving," and "If he says he ate, ask again." There were even notes on his moods, his stress patterns, and the exact type of tea that calmed him down.
"What is all this, Alexis?" she asked, trying to keep her voice neutral while handing the phone back.
Ness glanced down, his smile still perfectly soft as he took the phone. "Oh, that's just for Michael," he replied, sounding casual, as if it truly was nothing. He tucked the phone away.
"He's brilliant on the field, of course, but he's kind of a mess in private. If I don't keep track, he'll oversleep or skip meals or forget things before traveling. This helps me drag him to practice on time."
It was a reasonable explanation. At least, it sounded like one on the surface. But it didn't explain why the notes were so detailed, or why Ness seemed familiar with every tiny habit.
From everything she had seen in interviews, Kaiser was arrogant, confident, and high-maintenance in a deliberate way. His appearance was always immaculate. His clothes looked expensive. His attitude never suggested someone who needed a keeper. He seemed like the type to lecture someone else about forgetting a schedule, not the type who needed Ness to wake him up and feed him breakfast. The version her husband described didn't match the version the world saw.
And although Ness smiled while explaining, something about it felt different. Still soft, still polite, but missing warmth. As if he wasn't lying, but not telling everything either.
Alice didn't ask again. She wasn't sure she wanted the answer.
It was hard to ignore, though, because Kaiser seemed to occupy every gap in Ness's schedule. When Ness giggled at his phone, Alice knew it was one of two things: either he was watching cute puppy videos, or he was chatting with Kaiser.
And almost every night, after dinner and after he finished helping her clean the kitchen, Ness would put on his headset and settle in for an hour of gaming with him. Only an hour, because the rest of his evening belonged to her, but even so, the consistency sometimes grated on her nerves.
Weekends were the same. Ness's schedule split itself neatly in two without anyone telling him to do it. One day for her, one day for Kaiser. If she wanted both days, she needed to tell him early so he could reschedule with Kaiser, as if Ness's weekend time belonged to both of them by default.
And that was the part that bothered her, even if she kept the feeling tucked away. It made her feel childish to be irritated, because Ness was open about every plan. He didn't hide any of it, and he made sure her needs came first. But the closeness was undeniable, and it often felt like he paid as much attention to Kaiser as he did to his own wife. Sometimes even more.
Sometimes, Kaiser's messages pulled Ness out of the house late at night. There were evenings when he came home near midnight, tired but smiling, and other nights when he didn't return until morning. He always informed her before leaving, and he always brought back a small gift. Snacks she liked, a hair clip, a pretty pen, a mini hand cream. Thoughtful, gentle gestures that made irritation hard to justify.
Ness wasn't sneaking around, he wasn't lying, and he never treated her as an afterthought. Yet, a quiet part of her wondered why her husband seemed to dedicate as much energy to another man as he did to his own wife.
Alice wasn't the type to forbid friendships, and she hated the idea of sounding insecure. But every time, it was Kaiser. Only Kaiser.
One evening, while the two of them folded laundry on the couch, Alice finally approached the topic in the lightest tone she could manage.
"Alexis," she began, pairing two socks, "you spend a lot of time with Kaiser."
Ness looked up, curious. "Do I?"
"A lot," she said, careful to smile so it didn't sound accusatory. "I don't mind you having friends. I just notice you… well… pay special attention to him. More than anyone else."
"Oh." Ness paused, thoughtful, as if he had never considered it. "He's a very special friend to me."
Alice held her breath and kept her voice gentle. "Special how? You're not like this with your other teammates."
"We've been through a lot together. Good and bad. He understands me in ways others don't."
"That close, huh?" she said lightly. "Yours is closer than most male friendships I've seen."
Ness looked genuinely surprised, as if the thought had never crossed his mind. He took a moment before answering, shy and unsure.
"I didn't get along with many kids growing up," he admitted. "People thought my dreams and magic stuff were childish. Kaiser was the first person who didn't laugh at me for it. He was the first real friend I ever had… so I don't exactly know what the normal distance is supposed to be."
His tone was simple and honest, not defensive, not oblivious. As he spoke, a faint flustered smile tugged at his mouth, the kind that belonged to someone who still treasured a memory he couldn't replace.
Alice felt her reply fade before it reached her lips. There was no accusation she could make without sounding petty. She looked at his shy smile, then dropped her gaze back to the laundry pile.
Maybe she was overthinking it, but the uncertainty lingered. Eventually, she decided the simplest solution was to see it for herself. If she could understand their dynamic up close, maybe her mind would finally settle.
One evening, while they were making dinner, Alice brought it up casually. "You know, I've only ever seen Kaiser on TV. Why don't the three of us hang out this weekend? You, me, and Kaiser."
Ness's face lit up immediately, his purple eyes sparkling with excitement. "Oh, that's a great idea, Alice! He'll love that. We could go somewhere quiet, maybe get some decent coffee."
His enthusiasm eased something heavy in her chest. If Ness was that open to it, then maybe there truly was nothing to fear.
Later that day, he came back into the room with his phone in hand, smiling. "He said yes. We can all go out this Saturday."
Alice nodded, matching his tone with her own smile. "That sounds great."
But before she could set her phone down on the nightstand, Ness continued, still cheerful, "I'll spend Sunday alone with him then, since Saturday will be the three of us."
Alice's smile froze for a moment. She swallowed the quiet jab of annoyance. "Oh," she said, keeping her tone light, "I was actually hoping we could spend Sunday together. Just us, maybe try that new museum downtown?"
Ness looked slightly hesitant. "Ah, really? I thought maybe you wanted to see your friends on Sunday instead? It's been a while since you had a girls' day."
Her smile remained, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I can meet them next week. I want Sunday with you."
There was a short pause before Ness nodded. "Okay. Okay, then. We'll do the museum on Sunday."
Alice returned to what she was doing, but the anticipation she'd felt earlier was no longer the same. She still wanted to meet Kaiser, but a small part of her no longer looked forward to Saturday the way she did five minutes ago.
Saturday arrived faster than she expected, and the three of them decided to meet at a small coffee shop near the city center. Alice arrived with Ness, fingers lightly linked with his, and it didn't take long to spot Kaiser already waiting inside.
She recognized him instantly, but seeing him in person was different. Kaiser was stunning. He looked far more captivating in real life than he ever did on TV.
His blonde hair was styled neatly, a few artful strands framing his face. The faint streaks of blue caught the light each time he moved. His blue eyes were sharp, outlined with tattooed red eyeliner that gave him a slightly dangerous look.
A dark, fashionable coat rested over his shoulders, paired with a fitted white shirt tucked into black trousers. From the open collar, hints of his blue rose tattoo climbed up the side of his neck.
Alice suddenly felt too aware of herself for the first time all morning. She knew she looked good – she wore a soft knitted top, a long skirt, styled hair, natural makeup – but she still felt dull compared to him.
Before she could dwell on it too long, Kaiser noticed them. His face brightened immediately at the sight of Ness, then shifted into something warm and polite when his gaze landed on her.
Ness moved forward first with his usual open, sweet smile. "Michael, this is my wife," he said, gesturing between them.
Kaiser directed all his attention to her. The sharpness of his expression softened into a friendly smile, and he offered his hand. "It's nice to finally meet you. I'm Kaiser." As he smiled, his blue eyes curved into perfect crescents.
Alice thought that if she had a friend this beautiful, she might act exactly like Ness. Everyone, she reasoned, liked a beautiful person.
"Alice," she replied, shaking his hand. "It's nice to meet you too."
In that moment, just as she said her name, Alice caught a small shift in Kaiser's expression. His bright smile lowered by the slightest degree. Almost impossible to notice, but she was observant by nature, and it gave her a light sense of unease.
They chatted for a bit, and when the barista called their order, the blond offered to grab the drinks for them. As Kaiser walked away, Alice leaned toward Ness. "Alexis. Did I do something wrong?" she murmured quietly. "I think he already dislikes me."
Ness blinked, genuinely confused. "Dislikes you? Why would he?"
"I said my name and his smile changed," she said. "Just a little. But I noticed."
"Oh," Ness said with a small laugh. "It's not you. Kaiser just doesn't like the name Alice for some reason. I don't know why, he never told me. But it's nothing personal. Really."
Alice leaned back in her seat, not fully convinced. She looked toward Kaiser, who was talking casually to the barista. The explanation felt flimsy, yet Ness delivered it with such confidence, and his smile was back to its usual warmth. Alice let it go.
"Alright," she said quietly. "If you say so."
It was a strange thing to dislike such a common name. But if it was truly just a name preference, then it had nothing to do with her, and there was nothing she could do about it.
As the day went on, Alice slowly realized Kaiser was actually pleasant. He knew how to talk. He was charming, sharp in his humor, confident without tipping into obnoxious. Flamboyant, a little cocky, but still likable.
After finishing their drinks, the three of them decided to walk to the nearby mall. Ness stayed close, but Kaiser naturally slipped into conversation with Alice, guiding the topics with ease. He talked about brands, colors, and accessories with enthusiasm.
Alice found herself laughing more than she expected. He was surprisingly good at talking to women, confident in a way that made him feel like someone who had been admired his whole life, yet still knew how to make the person in front of him feel interesting. He had that natural charisma some people were simply born with.
At one boutique, Kaiser helped her choose between two tops, holding them up against her shoulders and narrowing his eyes in mock seriousness. "This one is cute," he said, returning one to the rack, "but you deserve clothes that do more than look cute. Go with the other."
Alice chuckled, amused by how effortless it all seemed for him.
Eventually, they stopped at a perfume counter filled with bottles arranged like tiny treasures. Alice's eyes lit up at the range of choices.
"What scent do you usually go for?" Kaiser asked, glancing at her as he picked up a tester strip.
"Citrus," Alice answered. "It feels fresh and light."
Kaiser hummed thoughtfully. "It suits you, but you should try this." He reached for a sleek bottle decorated with silver accents and sprayed it lightly onto a strip before handing it over. "Here."
"What is it?"
"Roses," Kaiser said, his grin turning playful. "My scent of choice, if you must know."
Alice looked surprised. "I didn't think you'd like something floral."
"You're thinking of the wrong roses," he replied. "These are sharp, modern. And they last."
She brought the strip to her nose. The scent was soft at first, then deeper, warm and elegant. She liked it instantly. "Oh wow. This is really nice. Romantic without being too much."
Kaiser nodded. "I use it sometimes. Works like a charm."
Alice laughed. "You wear rose perfume?"
"It smells nice and makes me feel sexy," he said with a proud little smirk. "Gender is irrelevant."
She had no argument for that, and he knew it.
Even though it was supposed to be a three-person outing, Alice found herself talking to Kaiser far more than her husband. He simply knew what to say, what to recommend, and what would look good.
Ness didn't seem bothered at all. He followed beside them with a relaxed smile, carrying the growing number of bags without complaint while Kaiser and Alice compared colors and scents like two best friends.
By the time they got home, their arms were full. They unpacked together in the bedroom, placing clothes in the wardrobe, arranging new accessories, lining up makeup on the vanity.
"Kaiser's such a really charming guy, Alexis," Alice said, arranging her lipstick tubes, still smiling about their outing.
Ness nodded, pushing a hanger into place. "Yeah, Michael's good when he wants to be."
"A guy like him must be popular with women."
"Oh, definitely," Ness replied without hesitation. "But not just women. He's popular with men too."
Alice chuckled. "Come on, your football fans don't count."
"I'm not talking about fans," Ness said, stepping back to admire his work in the wardrobe. "No, he genuinely attracts a lot of men. He used to bring them home often."
"Really?"
"Yeah. But now that we're older, he's less impulsive about it. Not as many quick flings anymore. He still gets attention, though."
Alice laughed, glancing at him with a teasing expression. "Oh really? So tell me, Alexis, were you one of the guys who had a crush on him back in the day too? Did you manage to end up in Kaiser's bed?"
Ness snorted, amused. "Please. He doesn't see me that way. So obviously, no."
Alice paused, pretending to inspect her perfume samples. Ness hadn't denied the first part. Only the second.
She hid her own reaction, choosing a playful tone. "You talk like if he did see you that way, you would've gone for it."
Ness chuckled again, brushing past her as he picked up the last shopping bag. "Whatever hypothetical you're thinking doesn't matter. I'm happily married to my awesome wife right now." He leaned down and kissed her cheek. "And it's the only important thing."
Straightening up again, he headed toward the kitchen. "I'll take care of the fridge. You can rest if you're done setting things up," he called affectionately, humming to himself as he left the room.
Alice stared at the vanity, hands paused mid-movement.
Ness had avoided the question. Not angrily. Not nervously. Just gently, and intentionally.
A chill ran through her. If there was truly nothing, Ness would've shut it down instantly. But he didn't. Even if nothing physical had ever happened, there was clearly still something between Ness and Kaiser. Something Ness avoided naming.
Her gaze drifted to the perfume bottle Kaiser had recommended. She reached out, touched the cap, and hesitated. The faint dread in her chest made no logical sense. He had been kind to her. Charming. Helpful.
But quietly, she pushed the bottle to the back of her drawer and closed it.
She had intended to wear it on Sunday for the museum date with her husband. Now, she no longer felt like wearing it.
The days that followed were quiet and normal on the surface. Ness was still the same. He woke up early to make her breakfast, texted her during breaks, kissed her before work, and reminded her to drink water when the weather was hot.
Ness was still a good husband. She had no real complaint. But she couldn't stop noticing how quickly he reached for his phone whenever Kaiser texted. She couldn't stop noticing how easily he glowed when he talked about him. Ness had always been like that, and she had always accepted it, but now she saw it with different eyes.
Eventually, Ness received his schedule for next month. He would have to fly to France for training and matches, and he would be gone for about four weeks.
Normally she would only feel a small sting of loneliness and maybe a little worry because travelling could be stressful, but this time her stomach felt heavy. He would stay with Kaiser most of the time, and that had always been normal. It still was.
Yet she couldn't stop thinking about it. Logically, she knew nothing would happen. Ness was too decent for that. But instinct didn't care about logic.
She needed an outside perspective.
Alice called a few close friends and arranged a night out. Once they were settled into a comfortable booth with drinks, she decided to approach the topic vaguely.
"Hey, I need some outsider insight," Alice said, swirling the ice in her glass. "Hypothetically, if your boyfriend or husband still kept in close contact with their exes, like, really close contact, what would you think?"
Immediately, opinions were divided. Most of her friends were against it, saying exes were never harmless and boundaries were necessary. "No way," one girl said firmly. "That is just asking for problems." Only two girls were more lenient, arguing that it was fine as long as the partner was transparent and clearly established boundaries.
When everyone finished sharing, all eyes turned to Alice. "Why are you asking? Is Ness still talking to his ex?"
Alice hesitated. "Not exactly. It's not his ex. It's his friend."
Her friends looked confused. "A friend? Then why are you so worried?"
Alice turned her phone in her hands. "He really cares about this friend. A lot. Sometimes I honestly feel like he pays more attention to them than he does to me. And I'm his wife."
A few girls exchanged looks. One sighed. "Girl, you have a perfect husband and you're just fishing for problems. My man stays up gaming four nights a week with his 'boys' until three in the morning and he even forgot my birthday last year. Meanwhile yours is baking you cookies and carrying your bags."
Another laughed. "Yeah, Ness literally pampers you. Appreciate it."
Alice felt the need to defend herself. "It's different. Your men's friends are probably just normal friends. But my husband… I think he used to have a crush on his friend."
The table went still for a moment before someone leaned in. "Wait, did he tell you that? Or did he actually do something out of line with his friend?"
Alice shook her head. "No. He didn't. And he's very respectful. He never crosses any lines. I just— I can feel something. My gut keeps telling me there's something I don't see."
Her friends looked at her before breaking into soft laughs. One waved a hand lightly. "Men are simple. They only focus on what they want to do and whatever is right in front of them. If he's a good husband, he's a good husband. Don't overthink his actions. You're probably just stressing yourself."
Alice tried to take her friends' words to heart. She smiled along, sipped her drink, and pretended their reassurance settled everything. It did help a little, just not completely.
Two days later, she was on a long video call with Ness. He was already settled in his hotel room in France. They chatted easily, Ness recounting details of the new training facility while Alice told him about an annoying client at work. It was the same comfortable, familiar routine they always had when he traveled.
About thirty minutes into the call, Alice caught movement at the edge of the screen. Kaiser walked past the camera, heading into a side room. Judging by the layout, she guessed it was the attached bathroom. She paid it no mind, continuing to listen as Ness described a difficult drill from practice.
Then, about half an hour later, the bathroom door opened, and Kaiser walked out.
He was wearing nothing but a white towel wrapped loosely around his hips. His blonde hair was slicked back, still damp, and beads of water slid down his toned shoulders and collarbones. He looked effortlessly attractive without even trying.
Kaiser glanced at the screen, noticing Ness was still on the call. A faint smirk tugged at his mouth. "You two are still not done?" he drawled as he walked closer. Then he leaned into view with a lazy smile. "Hi, Alice. How's it going?"
Ness turned at the sound of his voice and immediately frowned at the sight of his half-naked teammate. "Michael, seriously? Can you not?" He lifted one hand trying to block the camera and shooed Kaiser back with the other. "Put on some clothes. My wife is literally right there."
Kaiser rolled his eyes but laughed. "Relax. It's not like she hasn't seen shirtless men before." He ruffled Ness's hair with his damp fingers just to be annoying before stepping away.
Their light bickering continued faintly offscreen as Kaiser retreated.
Alice watched the whole interaction carefully.
Ness'd barely reacted. He didn't blushed, stuttered, flinched, or acted even remotely flustered despite Kaiser looking… well, extremely attractive. Just mild irritation and a scoff, the same way he would if someone tracked water across a freshly mopped floor.
Alice let out a quiet breath she hadn't realised she was holding.
Maybe her friends were right. Maybe Ness and Kaiser really were just incredibly close friends with questionable boundaries. Nothing more. Nothing she needed to worry about.
Seeing their quick banter on the screen before Ness could fully chase the blonde away, Alice chuckled.
"It's going well, Kaiser," she greeted. Then she turned back to Ness. "But I need to get going, Alexis. It's late now, and I need my beauty sleep."
Ness faced the camera again, his sweet smile returning. "Goodnight, Alice. Talk soon."
She smiled, waved, and ended the call feeling lighter than she had in days. Maybe she had been overthinking.
Since her mood had lifted, her eyes drifted toward the vanity. The clothes she and Kaiser had picked out, the makeup shades he recommended, even the rose perfume she had tucked away. She had been avoiding them for no real reason. And since the blond's fashion advice was clearly on point, she decided she might as well use it.
The next morning, she spent some time experimenting. She slipped into the soft blouse Kaiser insisted would brighten her complexion, paired it with the skirt he had declared "too cute to leave on the rack," and finally spritzed a small amount of the rose perfume onto her wrists and neck.
The scent bloomed warm and elegant around her, not too sweet, not too heavy. She examined herself in the mirror and felt a small spark of confidence she hadn't expected.
Throughout the day, the compliments came one after another.
Her coworkers stared when she entered the office. "Alice, this outfit is perfect on you," one said. "You look so fresh," another added.
At the café, a girl at the next table leaned over just to ask where Alice bought her top. Later, while browsing a bookstore, someone complimented her perfume, saying it smelled classy and romantic.
It was small, but the attention made her feel good. She texted Ness photos, and he replied with cheerful emojis and affectionate audio messages.
A few evenings later, after another relaxed outing with friends, she returned home humming softly under her breath. She unlocked the door and stepped inside, then paused when she saw a pair of men's shoes neatly placed by the entryway. They were Ness's.
Her brows lifted in surprise. He wasn't supposed to be home until tomorrow afternoon. His travel schedule must have changed at the last minute.
Happiness bubbled up inside her as she slipped off her heels and padded toward the bedroom. The curtains were drawn, and the room was dimly lit by the streetlights outside.
Inside, her husband was lying on his side on the bed, already showered, hair damp and tousled across the pillow. His shoulders rose and fell in a slow, heavy rhythm. The travel must have exhausted him.
Alice stepped closer, her expression softening. Seeing his sleeping, familiar form brought a sudden rush of warmth and relief. She walked quietly to the side of the bed, ready to slip in beside him.
She eased onto the mattress, careful not to jostle him too much. The bed dipped under her weight, and she settled beside him, inching close until her shoulder brushed his arm.
Ness stirred at the contact. He didn't open his eyes, but he moved toward her instinctively. His arm slid around her waist, and he buried his face against the curve of her neck.
Warmth spread through her chest. Even half-asleep, he still held her like she was something precious. She couldn't help the small smile forming on her lips.
Then she felt him inhale softly at her perfume, and he murmured something under his breath. The words were barely audible, thick with sleep, but he was pressed so close that she caught them anyway.
"You want to be held to sleep again, Micha—"
He stopped. His breath paused against her skin. Slowly, he lifted his head and cracked one eye open. When he saw her, his sleepy smile didn’t falter. He simply leaned up and pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek.
"Alice, you're home. I missed you so much," he whispered before pulling her back into his arms. Within seconds, his breathing evened out again, already slipping back under.
Alice stayed still, her smile frozen in place. Inside, she wasn't smiling at all.
She didn't know if it was just a slip of the tongue, a side effect of exhaustion, and if Ness'd assumed she hadn't heard him at all. But the relief that had convinced her she was overthinking everything disappeared in an instant.
She no longer needed to second-guess herself. Ness's lack of reaction to the half-naked man on camera hadn't been proof of innocence. It had been proof of familiarity. He was used to it. He was used to the rose perfume. He was used to the man wearing the rose perfume climbing into bed next to him, wanting to be held to sleep.
There was definitely something between Ness and Kaiser, and it had been happening right under her nose.
Alice remained in her husband's arms, the warmth around her suddenly feeling like a heavy, suffocating weight.
She didn't despise Ness. Not yet. He was still her sweet, considerate husband. But she decided, then and there, that she didn't just feel uneasy about Kaiser.
She detested him.