Husband Material

1 My first major case back in Weston Bay was my husband’s—for soliciting a prostitute. The file lay open, the black-and-white print a blur. “Captain Vance,” my subordinate Miller said, “this is Derek Croft, Weston Bay’s richest man, and his girlfriend. The city’s favorite couple—silver fox and ingénue. That age gap’s their whole appeal.” He smirked. “She called the cops on him yesterday as a joke. Lovers’ game.” I walked to the mediation room. Through the ajar door, I saw Derek on his knees, wiping a milk tea stain off his girlfriend’s shoe with his seven-figure suit. “Are you stupid?” she pouted. “I called the cops on you.” Derek gazed up, eyes adoring. “My little star, I’d give you my life.” The hallway lights flickered. My heart sank into darkness. If they wanted to play games with the law, I’d ensure he faced the consequences. … Clutching the summons, I turned to Miller behind me. “Take them to an interrogation room. By the book.” Miller froze, a troubled look crossing his face. “Captain… is that really necessary? You just got back, you might not know, but Mr. Croft is…” “I don’t care who he is,” I cut him off, my voice turning to ice. “Filing a false report wastes police resources and disrupts public order. He will be investigated. The law doesn’t have a VIP entrance.” Chastened, Miller mumbled a quick, “Yes, ma’am,” and pushed the door open to the mediation room. The commotion started instantly. Sienna’s voice was laced with indignation. “Why are you arresting us? I already told you it was just a joke!” Derek’s voice followed, not with anger, but with a tone of indulgent calm. “Just cooperate, Sienna. It’ll be over soon.” Their footsteps grew closer, and the two of them emerged. Sienna was still sulking, stomping ahead of him in a huff. “This is all your fault! I asked you to go shopping with me yesterday, but you had to have some stupid meeting. That’s why I got mad and called the cops!” Derek practically jogged to keep up, a fawning look on his face. “I’ll have my assistant buy out the entire new season from every designer. You can try everything on at home.” At this, Sienna turned her head, and I got a clear look at her. A delicate, palm-sized face, bright eyes, pearly teeth—she was, admittedly, a stunning girl. What caught the eye, though, was her mane of pink hair and a miniskirt so short it threatened to reveal the top of her thighs with every step. She was barely in her twenties, radiating a brazen, untamed vitality. She was from a different universe than someone like me, who lived in a uniform. A heavy weight settled in my chest, a dull, suffocating ache. Derek Croft. The man at the apex of Weston Bay’s social pyramid, the man to whom countless people bowed and scraped. And here he was, practically groveling to appease this girl. “Don’t be mad,” he cooed. “I’ll cancel my next meeting. We’ll go shopping, okay?” Sienna just huffed, but she slowed her pace. I watched them disappear into the interrogation room. The door clicked shut, sealing away their cloying intimacy. Miller approached me. “Captain, who should take the statement?” “You do it. Personally,” I said, my voice hoarse. “Get the reason for the call. I want every single detail.” Miller nodded and went inside. It wasn't long before Sienna’s voice, thick with a need to show off, drifted through the door. “Officer, I told you, it was a joke. He’s always working, always busy with his company. Getting him to go to the mall with me is like moving a mountain.” “What good is a black card? So what if it has no limit? Can it help me try on dresses?” Miller must have asked about the solicitation, because the room went quiet for a few seconds. Then, Sienna’s voice returned, laced with a giggle. “Oh, that? I was just mad. A few days ago, he said he wanted to spice things up, so he tied my hands with his tie… I was just angry that he was only thinking of his own pleasure, so I said that to get back at him.” She paused, as if showing something off. “Look, you can still see the marks on my wrist. He looks so serious all the time, but really…” Her words grew more and more explicit. I couldn’t listen anymore. I turned and leaned against the wall, my mind a chaotic storm. Derek and I had been married for three years. His family was old money in Weston Bay; mine was deeply entrenched in the political circles of D.C. When we married, it was hailed as a merger of dynasties, a perfect match. And we played our parts convincingly, the model couple at every gala and charity event. He gave me tasteful, appropriate gifts; I handled his overbearing relatives. But only I knew the truth of our marriage: it was a cold, desolate wasteland. He was always reserved, detached, his face an unreadable mask. Even in bed, he moved with the detached efficiency of a man completing a task. Last year, I had fought tooth and nail for this transfer back to Weston Bay, leaving a core position at headquarters in D.C. for a captaincy in a local precinct. Anyone with eyes could see it was a demotion disguised as a promotion. But I’d been foolishly optimistic. I thought closing the distance might thaw the ice between us. What a joke. The first “gift” I received after sacrificing my career was a front-row seat to my husband’s performance of a lifetime—a raw, vibrant passion he had never once shown me. In the end, no charges were filed. The chief of police came down himself, wringing his hands. “Aurora, my dear… Mr. Croft is… well, he’s vital to the city’s economy. Can we just let this one go?” I said nothing, which was its own form of consent. The Croft family’s influence in Weston Bay was too deep. One false police report wasn't nearly enough to keep him locked up. As I watched Derek carefully shield Sienna while helping her into his car, I pulled out my phone and sent a text to his mother. [I just saw Derek at the precinct. He was being questioned for soliciting a prostitute.] She replied instantly. [Aurora, you’re back? I’m sending the driver for you right now. Don’t you worry, sweetheart. I’ll make sure you get the justice you deserve.] Half an hour later, I walked into the Croft family mansion to the sound of Derek’s father screaming at him. They knew about Sienna, of course, but had chosen to turn a blind eye. But for the situation to escalate to the police, and for me to be involved—that changed everything. The Croft family owed my family for their help in securing their foothold in Weston Bay years ago. Not to mention, Derek’s mother had practically lived in D.C. for a year to make our marriage happen. The moment she saw me, her face broke into a wide smile. She rushed over, taking my hand. “Aurora, you poor thing. You’ve been wronged. I will teach this bastard a lesson he’ll never forget.” Derek’s head snapped up. He instantly understood that I was the one who had tattled, and his eyes shot daggers at me. Before he could speak, his father’s voice boomed. “Apologize to Aurora this instant! And you will swear to me that you will break things off with that Sienna girl for good!” Derek’s chin shot up, his gaze defiant. “No.” “Sienna is the love of my life,” he declared. “No one is going to tear us apart!” His father trembled with rage. “What did you just say?” “If it weren’t for Aurora’s family in D.C., would the Crofts be where they are today? If you dare disrespect her, you are no son of mine!” Derek gritted his teeth, refusing to back down, but he didn’t argue further. He didn’t apologize, either. He just stormed towards the door. His father turned to me. “Aurora, go with him. Talk some sense into him.” I nodded and followed him out. Suddenly, Derek spun around, his hand clamping around my arm like a vice. He dragged me to the car, shoving me inside. The door slammed shut with a deafening bang. Before I could even buckle my seatbelt, he floored the gas pedal, and the car shot forward like a bullet. His eyes were webbed with red veins. “Aurora Vance,” he snarled, his jaw clenched. “You’ve got some nerve. Did you transfer back to Weston Bay just to spy on me? Wasn’t this sham of a marriage enough of a leash for you?” I rubbed my reddening arm, biting my lip to keep from speaking. Seeing my silence, Derek shot a contemptuous look at me from the corner of his eye. “And don't you dare blame me for falling for someone else. Look at you. You walk around dressed like a goddamn nun, with a face so long it could trip someone. And in bed? Please. You’re like a dead fish, just one position, lying flat on your back.” “Sienna is younger, she’s more fun, she knows things you don’t. With her, I finally know what love feels like. What it feels like to be truly alive!” He was punishing me for telling on him, his words sharper and crueler than ever before. Each one was a shard of ice, stabbing into my heart, letting the blood flow freely. Three years of marriage, three years I’d spent like an idiot, hoping to warm his frozen heart, only to be rewarded with this humiliation. The shrill ring of a phone cut through my thoughts. I glanced at the car’s display. The caller ID—"My Little Star"—burned my eyes. He answered, and a tearful voice came through the speaker. “Derek, I cut my finger! It hurts so much!” Derek’s entire demeanor shifted. The rage vanished, replaced by sheer panic. He softened his voice, cooing into the phone. “Don’t cry, don’t cry, baby. I’m on my way. Just wait for me, okay?” He hung up, yanked the steering wheel, and screeched to a halt on the side of the road. “Out,” he commanded coldly. “We’re at least six miles from the city. You’re just going to leave me…” Before I could finish, he leaned across, unbuckled my seatbelt, and pushed open my door. “I said, get out.” I was shoved out of the car, stumbling a few steps before I found my footing. A second later, the door slammed shut. The black Maybach peeled away, disappearing into the night. The wind was a blade against my skin. I stood on the side of a desolate suburban highway with only 5% battery left on my phone. I frantically dialed the precinct, but the screen went black before the call could connect. I walked for what felt like an eternity, my legs heavy as lead, dark spots dancing in my vision. Finally, I couldn't go on. I collapsed on the side of the road. When I woke up, the sterile scent of disinfectant filled my nostrils. I was in a hospital bed, an IV drip taped to the back of my hand. A doctor walked in, his expression complicated. “You’re awake.” “You’ve miscarried,” he said gently. “The pregnancy was already unstable, and walking for so long…” Miscarried? I froze. My fingers moved unconsciously to my flat stomach. There had been a child in there… a child who had left before I even knew he existed. The doctor sighed. “Get some rest.” The door closed, and I fumbled for my phone, plugging it into the charger. The moment it turned on, a news alert popped onto the screen: [WESTON BAY BILLIONAIRE DEREK CROFT MOBILIZES CITY'S TOP SURGEONS FOR GIRLFRIEND'S MINOR FINGER CUT!] The accompanying photo showed Derek cradling Sienna, his face a mask of profound concern. Sienna held up her hand, and the photo was zoomed in on a scratch so faint it was barely visible. My already shattered heart was pierced through once more. While he was comforting his precious love, I was lying on the side of a road, losing our child. I ripped the IV from my hand and stumbled out of the room like a ghost. At the end of the hallway, I ran right into them—Derek and Sienna. Derek’s brow furrowed instantly, his disgust unconcealed. “Aurora Vance, you’re like a goddamn ghost. You just won’t go away. You followed us to the hospital to fake an illness? I thought you were supposed to be some high-society lady. Since when did you stoop to these pathetic, desperate tactics?” Staring at him, my voice trembled. “I had a miscarriage.” Sienna’s eyes widened, and she grabbed Derek’s arm. “Derek! You told me you hadn’t touched her in forever! Where did this baby come from?” “You lied to me! We’re breaking up!” Panic flashed across Derek’s face. He pulled her into his arms, kissing and cooing. “Don’t listen to her, baby, she’s lying! I see her once a month, at most, for a stupid dinner. I don’t even touch her hand!” “My little star, you know I’m completely spent by the time I leave you. Where would I get the energy for anyone else?” After placating Sienna, he turned to glare at me, his tone dripping with venom. “Aurora, who do you think you are? The Virgin Mary? You get pregnant just by looking at someone? Have you no shame?” A small crowd had begun to gather, their whispers reaching my ears. “Who is that woman? She looks so put-together, why is she harassing Mr. Croft and Miss Sienna?” “Did you hear? Something about a miscarriage? Sounds like she was trying to trap him with a baby and is making a scene.” “Everyone knows Mr. Croft worships the ground Sienna walks on. This woman is delusional.” Their stares were like needles, piercing my skin, leaving me with nowhere to hide. A chill washed over me, but my mind felt like it had been struck by lightning. Last month, Derek had come to D.C. to see me. We had a few drinks with dinner. That night, instead of sleeping in the guest room as he always did, he had held me tight, murmuring “baby,” and “my little star” over and over, his voice hot against my ear. I thought the alcohol had lowered his defenses. I thought it was the beginning of our relationship finally thawing. It was after that night that I had made up my mind to transfer to Weston Bay, thinking we might actually have a chance at a real family. But now, seeing "My Little Star" on his phone, hearing the pet names he had whispered to Sienna countless times… it all clicked into place with horrifying clarity. He hadn't been calling for me that night. He thought I was Sienna. That one moment of warmth that had made my cheeks flush and my heart fill with hope was nothing more than a case of mistaken identity. A farce. A wave of nausea churned in my stomach, and I had to grab the wall to keep from collapsing. Derek was still explaining things to Sienna, his voice so gentle it could wring water, a stark contrast to the venom he had just spat at me. Sienna finally stopped crying and walked over to me, a smug, insincere smile on her face. “Sweetheart, you really shouldn’t get so worked up.” “You can’t force feelings. Derek’s heart isn’t with you. You’re just torturing yourself by holding on.” I stared at her, my eyes cold as ice. She ignored my glare and continued, “To be blunt, in love, the one who isn’t loved is the real other woman. It would be better for everyone if you just walked away.” As she finished, she suddenly lifted the hem of her t-shirt, revealing a pink tattoo on her hip: "Derek’s Little Star." Then she grabbed Derek, pulling up his shirt to show me the same spot on his body. There, on Derek’s hip, was a line of text: "Sienna’s Dog." The words were so absurd, so glaringly painful. The Derek Croft who dominated the business world, whose gaze was cold enough to freeze hell over, had willingly branded himself for the woman he loved. My heart felt like it was being beaten with a blunt instrument, over and over, until it was just a numb, throbbing pulp. He was capable of this kind of wild, all-consuming love. Just not for me. Sienna smirked, dropping their shirts. Her fingers traced the tattoo on his hip, her voice a purr. “Derek says I’m the only one who can make him feel this way. Can you, sweetheart?” The churning in my stomach was unbearable. I turned to leave. But Sienna reached out, grabbing my arm. The moment her fingers touched my sleeve, she let out a piercing scream and threw herself backward, crashing into a medical cart. CRASH! Glass shattered everywhere. Sienna collapsed onto the floor, clutching her arm as blood streamed through her fingers. “Derek!” she cried, sobbing hysterically. Derek’s eyes turned to ice. He lunged at me, grabbing my collar. “Aurora, are you trying to die?” “Apologize to Sienna. Now!” I tore his hand away. “I didn’t push her,” I retorted. “Why should I apologize?” His face was a mask of fury. He roared at his bodyguards. “Slap her! Don’t stop until she apologizes!” Two men immediately stepped forward. One pinned my arms while the other swung. CRACK! The sharp sound echoed down the hall. My cheek exploded in fire. “Are you going to apologize?” Derek stared at me. I gritted my teeth, blood trickling from the corner of my mouth. “No.” SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! The blows rained down on my face, each one harder than the last. My head was knocked to the side, then wrenched back, forcing me to watch the hand rise and fall, again and again. The crowd fell silent, too scared to even breathe. Lying in Derek’s arms, Sienna peeked up at me, a triumphant smirk hidden on her lips. After more than a dozen slaps, my face was swollen beyond recognition, and my vision began to blur. Derek raised a hand to stop them. His voice was glacial. “Last chance. Are you going to apologize?” I shook my throbbing head, blood dripping from my chin. “It wasn’t… me.” His eyes filled with a terrifying rage. He bent down, picked up a shard of glass, and grabbed my arm. In the exact same spot where Sienna was “injured,” he dragged the sharp edge across my skin. “Then let this pain be a reminder!” he seethed. “See if you ever dare to touch her again!” Blood welled up instantly, streaming down my arm. Without another glance at me, Derek scooped Sienna into his arms and walked away. The hallway was empty. I leaned against the wall, the sting on my face and the gash on my arm a roaring fire of pain. But it was nothing compared to the dead, cold silence in my heart. He would never believe me. My denials were worth less than a single frown from Sienna. Fine. Since he’s made his choice, he can't blame me for being ruthless. My fingers tightened around the crumpled ultrasound report in my pocket. After a moment of silence, I pulled out my phone and dialed two numbers I knew by heart.

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