The detective's report finally arrived.In just half a month of tailing Daniel,he’d hooked up with three different men.
One was Steven;the other two were one-night stands from a bar.
Steven was still dreaming of a future with Daniel.

But Daniel clearly intend to keep me as his breeding tool while living a playboy life outside.
Whether Steven was in Daniel’s future plans was unclear,but he certainly wasn’t the whole picture.
If Steven hadn’t killed me in my last life,I might’ve felt sorry for his blind devotion.
Now,I determined to shatter Steven’s illusions about Daniel.
I arranged to meet Steven,begging him not to tell Daniel.
He was puzzled but agreed.

I deliberately applied pale makeup to look haggard.
When we met,I got straight to the point.“You’ve known Daniel for a long time,and you’re very close.Have you ever seen him with someone else behind my back?”
Steven was briefly stunned,likely thinking I’d uncovered his relationship with Daniel.But seeing my calm demeanor,he dismissed the idea.
“Emily,did you hear some baseless rumor?Daniel adores you. He's always talking about you. Everyone knows he's a married man and keeps his distance from other women.”

I wanted to ask if he’d seen Daniel with any men,but I I was afraid he'd confess their relationship and ruin my plan.
Instead,I handed him my phone.
“I received these photos from a stranger—Daniel with another guy,looking very intimate.”
I only showed Ethan’s photos,avoiding the detective’s,which screamed surveillance.
With a sigh,I said,“If Daniel were cheating with a woman, I might believe it.But liking men?Why would he marry me if he did?”
“Steven,I heard you’re a tech genius.Can you take a look and see if these photos are fake?”
Steven stared the phone,his expression shifting from shock to ashen.When he returned it,his fingers were ice cold.
Still,he tried to act composed.“clearly doctored—amateurish work. Only someone as naive as you would fall for it.”
“Send me the originals.I’ll run them through my computer to see if I can figure out who’s trying to frame Daniel.”
I nodded eagerly,and forwarded the photos.
“I didn’t confront Daniel and came to you because I suspected they were fake.Good thing I asked you first.If you find out who sent these to sabotage us,tell me—I won’t let them off!”
After that,Steven disappeared from our lives for a while.
I casually asked Daniel what happened between them.
Daniel,visibly upset,said he didn’t know.
Their cold war didn’t last long.Within two weeks,Daniel won Steven back.
I wasn’t there,but I could guess the excuses:He seduced me…It was a mistake…My first and last time…
Whether it was love blinded him or Steven was naive,he forgave Daniel far too easily.
I couldn’t.
I re-hired the detective,instructing him to notify me immediately if Daniel hooked up with another man.
After Steven’s outburst,Daniel bahaved for a bit.But old habits die hard,and soon he was back at his old ways.
One day,the detective called.Daniel was at a hotel,getting cozy with a guy,and he gave me the address and room number.
I called Steven.“The same number texted me again.They say Daniel’s at a hotel with a guy right now and sent me the details.”
“They said if I didn’t believe the photos,I should see for myself.I’m scared,Steven.Can you come with me?”
Steven agreed without hesitation.