Page 21 of Sins of a Husband

She deserves better than him.I wish she would open her eyes and see him for what he truly is. But she’s always been oblivious to things.

I follow him and Julia Freemont to Kelly’s Diner. He texted Katherine after school and told her he had to cancel their plans because he was sick. She bought his story and offered to bring him some chicken soup—stupid girl. I knew he was lying. Just like he lied the five other times he canceled their date.

They’re seated at a booth in front of the window. I stand on the corner across the street and watch. It’s cold out, and light snow is falling. I keep my hands tucked inside my coat pockets to keep them warm. I should have worn gloves.

They’re laughing, and Julia rests her hand on his, their fingers intertwined. The server walks over and sets down their food. He ordered a burger. She ordered chicken fingers. A mountain of golden fries sits between them, waiting to be devoured. He picks one up and tosses it at her.She throws her head back and laughs before picking one up and tossing it at him. It’s disgusting. I want to claw his eyes out. He’s a cheater and a liar and needs to be punished for his sins.

After they eat, they climb into his blue Ford Focus. I climb into my car and follow them back to Julia’s house. He pulls into the driveway five minutes before her curfew. The street is dark, and my black car blends with the night. I watch as he opens the car door for her and walks her to the porch. He grabs her and pulls her into him for a make out session. He will be punished.

His parents are out of town, which makes this the perfect night to punish him for his sins. I drive to his home, park down the street, climb out of my car, and look around to make sure nobody is around. It’s quiet. I need to hurry and get inside before he comes home.

I reach into my bag, pull out the syringe with M99 I scored from some thug in a sketchy part of town, and tuck it into my pocket. I slip the latex gloves over my hands and grab the chef knife I purchased from the thrift store for a dollar. It wasn’t very sharp when I bought it, so I took it and had it sharpened.

As I walked around the back of the house, I peered through the sliding door. I knew there was no security system because this neighborhood was very safe. I wouldn’t be surprised if people slept with their doors unlocked.

I look down at the ground and pick up a medium-sized rock, smashing it into the glass. The glass cracks, and I can break through it with one elbow push. I reach inside, unlock the sliding door, open it, and step inside. He should be home at any moment.

I’m hiding in the laundry room off the kitchen.He’ll enter through the front door, throw his keys down, and walk into the kitchen. At least, that’s what I’m hoping for.

The front door opens, and I hear footsteps. My heart is jackhammering in my chest, and adrenaline has overtaken me. I hear his keys hit the table in the foyer and then footsteps walking into the kitchen. Good boy. He flips on the light and opens the refrigerator. I quietly come up from behind and press the thin needle into his neck. He suddenly turns, and his eyes widen when he sees me. In an instant, he’s on the ground, unable to move.

I wave the knife in front of him.

“You’ve been a very bad boy,” I say. “Instead of telling Katherine you don’t want to see her anymore, you’re sneaking around behind her back with that whore Julia.”

His eyes look like they’re going to pop out of his head. I take pleasure in his fear.

“Katherine thinks you’re perfect, but I know the truth. You must suffer the consequences for your sins.” I raise the knife as I stand over him and then plunge it into the flesh of his abdomen—a blank canvas that will shortly consist of twenty-two stab wounds.

I’m careful not to step in any blood and risk leaving a bloody shoe print. I walk over to the sink and wash off the knife, watching the crimson liquid go down the drain. I run upstairs and into his parents’ room, opening drawers and looking for anything of value. It needs to look like a robbery gone wrong.

I find a diamond bracelet, a few pairs of diamond earrings, a Rolex, and an emerald gold ring and stuff them into my pockets. Before I leave, I stop and stare at the lifeless body lying on the kitchen floor. Now, Katherine is free to resume her search for the perfect man.

Chapter Fifteen

KAT

Present

“Uh, what happened to the painting?”Oliver asks, walking into the living room.

“I threw it out.”

“Threw it out?” His brows furrowed. “Why?”

“Because you were right. It was creepy, and I felt like my paranoia got worse with it being here.”

“I’m happy you realized that, but that painting was very expensive. You could have donated it instead of throwing it in the trash.”

“I just wanted it out of the house as soon as possible, and it was trash day,” I say.

He walks over to the couch and presses his lips against my head. “We can find a better painting to put in its place. I’ll be in my office. I have some work to finish for a meeting tomorrow morning.”

“Okay. Oliver, wait,” I say. “Can you sit for a moment?” I pat the couch.

“Of course. What is it?” He sits beside me.

“When are you going back to Chicago?” I ask.

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