I opened my mouth to explain, but the words caught in my throat. Victor, ever the opportunist, beat me to it. “Oh, this? It’s not what it looks like, Melissa. Your friend here just wanted to celebrate her promotion.”

Melissa looked between us, clearly torn between trusting me and believing her husband’s smooth talk. “Is that true?” she asked me, her eyes searching for honesty.

In that moment, I realized the folly of my plan. Regardless of my intentions, I had put Melissa in a position where her trust was shattered. I had become part of the problem, not the solution.

“It’s… complicated,” I stammered, my voice barely audible. “I thought if you saw him here with me, you’d see what he’s really like. I’m so sorry, Melissa.”