Page 10 of The Vow Thief
Matt started pacing, jaw tight, hand in his hair.“I’m calling the police.”
I caught his arm.“How did she get a key, Matt?"
That one question turned his anger into fury.“Sarah, you can’t possibly believe that I gave her a key to this house. Where my family lives. Are you being serious right now?”
I almost laughed.“Why not? I also never believed you would fuck her, but here we are."
Now it was his turn to stare at me in pure disbelief. "You can't be...Sarah, of course, I didn't give her a key. I don't know how she got it."
"Well, you can see clearly on the camera that she stuck a key in a locked front door and walked in like she belonged here. And yes, we are calling the police, and I am pressing charges."
Matt's eyes never left my face. "Sarah, please tell me you believe me."
I did. I believed him. But something wouldn't let me give him the satisfaction of knowing that. I wanted him to suffer for bringing this drama into our lives.
"This is your mess, Matt. You might want to call Mr. Holloway and let him know that there will be a restraining order taken out against his personal assistant. That might put a damper on your office love life with her."
Matt flinched, like the words had struck bone.“Sarah, stop. Please. Don’t you dare think I would ever give her a key, or cover for her, or protect her over you.” His voice cracked on the last word, raw with desperation, his hand reaching out like he could grab the truth out of thin air and press it into my palm.
I stared at his outstretched hand, at the tremor in his voice, and for a fleeting second I wanted to take it. To let myself trust him again.
But I couldn’t. Not after what I had just seen.
His hand dropped, his face hollowing like I had taken something from him. Maybe I had.
I turned away, already reaching for my phone.“We’re calling the police.”
Chapter 5 - An Invasion Too Far
Matt's POV
I could not believe what I was hearing from my wife’s mouth. Why in the hell would she think I gave Lily a key to this house? Her house? My house? The accusation sliced deeper than I expected, maybe because some part of me knew I had given Sarah reasons not to trust me. Still, this?
Sarah pulled out her phone and dialed the non-emergency police line. Her voice was steady, businesslike, as if she had already shifted into battle mode. Together, we laid out the situation clearly: the break-in, the photos, the damage in the kids’rooms, and the security footage. I leaned against the kitchen counter, arms crossed, forcing myself to sound calm as I added details when the officer asked.
I needed to be a part of this. Not a bystander. Not the man who had created the opening for Lily to invade our lives in the first place. If I didn’t stand firm now, Sarah would never believe me again. And worse, I could already feel her slipping just beyond my reach.
“Yes, we have all of it on video,” Sarah said.“We’d like to file an official report.”
By the time she hung up, the officer had promised to send someone by within the hour to collect statements and copies of the footage.
She planted her hands on the counter, eyes locked on mine.
“If you really want to be useful, Matt, then you’re going to fake this marriage with me. Hand-holding, smiles, the whole perfect-couple act. I want Lily to see what she couldn’t have. I want her to choke on it.”
Her voice didn’t waver, not once.“This isn’t about saving us. It’s about making her regret every breath she wastes circling our lives. You up for that?”
I folded my arms, careful with my words.“If you want me to play the doting husband, I will.”
Sarah met my eyes, voice steady but sharp.“She broke this marriage. She must never see the damage. I want her to watch us smiling, hand in hand, and believe we are perfect. Let that perfect life be the thing that ruins her. That is justice.”
I nodded, keeping my expression neutral. I had no problem playing happy husband with Sarah. I would weaponize it with her. But for me, it wouldn’t be an act. It would be proof that I still belonged beside her, even if she couldn’t see it yet.
When the officer arrived, I walked him through everything again for the official report. Sarah added one more thing.
“We also want to take a restraining order out against Lily Thompson,” she said firmly.
The officer nodded, jotting notes before turning to the laptop where I pulled up the camera footage. He watched it twice, his mouth tightening as Lily’s figure disappeared up the stairs. Finally, he shook his head.
