Chapter 2

Chloe glared at me with pure disappointment, then dropped to her knees to carefully help Malik up.

Seeing Malik groaning in pain, her eyes filled with genuine concern.

She was the one cheating on me, yet somehow I was the bad guy. As my wife, she was actively defending another man, sending my blood pressure through the roof.

I let out a bitter, furious laugh. "Chloe, what kind of trainer grabs a client's ass? What kind of trainer urges someone to get a divorce and spews filthy trash like that?!"

"And you still claim you two are clean? Do you think I'm deaf and blind?!"

Chloe lunged forward and slapped me across the face. "He's just candid! What's the big deal?!"

"He only tapped my back to remind me to engage my core while running! I can't believe your dirty mind twisted it into something disgusting! Brian, when you have a dirty heart, everything looks filthy to you. I am so disappointed in you!"

Hearing the commotion, several women working out nearby couldn't watch any longer and chimed in, defending Malik.

"Malik is an elite trainer, a total professional. Watch it, or he'll sue you for defamation!"

"I saw everything clearly. Malik was touching her back! You have a gutter mind, you're humiliating all of us!"

Bombarded by their accusations, I stood stunned. A wave of self-doubt washed over me. Had I really misread the situation? Had I completely misunderstood them?

One person might see it wrong, but not everyone. Maybe the stress from dashing day in and day out had messed with my head, making me see things...

A real man owns up to his mistakes. I immediately apologized to my wife.

Chloe glared at me, eyes blazing. "What's the point of apologizing to me? The one you owe an apology to is Malik!"

Feeling thoroughly in the wrong, I turned apologetically toward Malik. But before I could get a word out, he started screaming.

"Get lost! I'm not accepting your damn apology!"

"I'm pressing charges! I'll make sure you pay for what you did!"

Malik shot me a venomous glare, shook off Chloe's hand, and stormed out in a huff.

"Malik, wait!"

Panicking, Chloe rushed after him.

Now I was genuinely terrified. Looking at how things played out, I really had jumped to conclusions.

I had falsely accused him and beaten him up. If he filed a police report, I could end up in jail. A criminal record would ruin my entire life.

Regret flooded over me for my reckless temper. I tried to run after them to apologize, but the women from the gym circled me, pointing fingers and scolding me. It took everything I had just to break free.

By the time I got outside, both of them were long gone. I frantically dialed Chloe's phone. It took three or four attempts before she finally picked up.

"Brian, do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused me?! Go home right now and wait until I get back to deal with you!"

"Malik, wait up... slow down... mgh~"

Before I could say a word, the line went dead.

Why was her voice so ragged and breathless? She sounded rushed, panting heavily. Was she chasing after Malik?

I waited at home until past nine o'clock before Chloe finally walked through the door.

Exhaustion was written all over her face. She held her lower back, limping painfully, with two distinct bruises visible on her legs.

On her neck were several faint red marks.

Shock seized me.

"Babe, what happened to you?"