The Double Life 2

Copyright © [2025] [SinFantasy]. All rights reserved. No part of this story may be reproduced, transmitted, stored, or reused, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical.

All persons engaging in any sexual activity are at least eighteen years of age.

Author's Note:

Note 1: A special thanks to pepere and barneyr for their invaluable editing assistance. Thank you Omenainen for beta reading this work and for your detailed feedback.

Note 2: This is my biggest work so far, and editing has been an exhaustive task. Although I have been diligent, some errors may still persist.

Note 3: This is a 47,000 + word suspense thriller novel. This story follows the themes of redemption, self-growth, and healing. There are some sexually explicit scenes along the way, but they are not the focus of this story. This is a journey of rising over circumstance and finding your own happiness.

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~~ THE DOUBLE LIFE ~~

When her past catches up to her, everything she thought she knew is about to be challenged.

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Part One: "The Missing Husband"

Chapter 1: "A Frosty Night"

Sarah burst into James's office, her face red and her hands shaking. She hadn't been in this room for a whole year. The strong smell of leather mixed with cigars hit her hard. She controlled the nausea and stood firm.

"I quit," she roared. Her voice cracked with strain. "Effective immediately."

She had returned from her week-long business trip to Chicago with her boss, James. They had gone straight to the office to finish the paperwork before she could start her vacation, but James had other ideas. He had asked her to join him for another "business trip" at a ski resort over Christmas.

This was the last straw, and she had gone livid. She had suffered through his sick, sadistic games long enough. She wanted to end it all today.

James leaned back in the leather seat. He had expected this reaction.

"Is that so?" he drawled with an amused smile. He took his time to look at her from head to toe. "What makes you think I'll let you go?"

His leering eyes made her skin crawl. "You have no say in the matter, James." She stood her ground.

"Surely you don't want Mark to know about your work and... about us, Sarah." He asked slowly.

A cold fury rose in her heart at his threat. She thought about Mark, her devoted husband of the past year. Mark loved her unconditionally. She had carefully hidden her past from Mark till now. He was a simple man and knowing her history would surely break his heart.

Sarah had made up her mind and was ready to risk it all. She spoke with gritty teeth. "I have had enough of your threats. They won't work on me anymore."

James chuckled at her words. He was about to say something when she stopped by pointing a finger at him.

"I will bring you down with me." She challenged. "Even if that means I have to turn myself in." There was a fire in her eyes.

James kept his cool. "You don't have any evidence against me," he said slowly.

Sarah moved closer, her voice low and threatening. "Oh yes, even if I only confessed to my part in your dirty deeds, it would be enough to send you away for a long time... and I also know about your drug and arms deals."

James lost his smirk. His face paled at her determination. "Don't be stupid, Sarah." He stood up from his chair in protest. "You will get both of us killed!"

"I am ready to risk it, but are you?" Her voice had an undertone of madness. "I have already lost my innocence, my self-respect, and my dignity... but I refuse to lose Mark. I am tired of living this double life. It ends now." Her eyes followed his every movement. She knew the telltale signs. His jaw tightened slightly as he took a deep breath. She braced herself.

He got up and slowly moved towards her. There was a tenderness in his eyes. He gently tucked away a strand of her hair that loomed over her eyes. He spoke slowly. "Please, Sarah, I love you. No one understands you as I do. You don't need Mark. Come back to me, please."

She pushed him away. "Love? Do you even know what it means?"

She took a few steps away from him. "I am not the same naive girl anymore. I have seen all of your tricks. You are a pathetic bastard who sold me off for petty gains."

She turned toward the door when James tried to block her way. "Move," she said. Her voice was low, full of cold fury.

James hesitated as he weighed his options. It was wise to back off for now. He would have his chance later. "This isn't over," he muttered.

Sarah paused in the doorway and turned back to face him. "This is your final warning, James. If you come anywhere close to me or Mark, I will burn you. No matter the cost." She warned him in a cold voice.

James watched her leave with wide eyes. He felt numb as the door slammed shut. A sudden pain of loss and regret gripped him. A single tear rolled down his cheek.

He had refused to acknowledge this before, but he knew now... She was his solace. His chance for redemption... Now that she wanted to break her ties with him, a sudden realization hit him. She was his true love.

She loved him too... An innocent young love. He never cherished it then. His greed had blinded him. How he wished he could change things now.

He was the catalyst for her transformation. He had pushed her to the brink. She had changed from a kind, loving soul to a heartless demon. He had almost lost hope of getting her back until Mark came into her life. She had healed in Mark's presence, and recently he could see a glimpse of the old Sarah again. Now he wanted her back.

"No, I won't let you go... ever," his voice echoed in the room.

***

A cold blast of air cut across Sarah as she gripped the steering wheel. Her stiff fingers felt frozen even through her leather gloves. Her breath fogged inside her black Lexus in the pale light of dashboard instruments. The world outside was blanketed with fresh snow, muffled to some foreign, monochrome universe bathed in misty moonlight.

Sarah glanced at the clock: 08:30 PM. She was late, and she had missed dinner again. Mark would be let down again. She knew a hot meal would always be ready for her, regardless of how furious he was. She would say her standard sorry, and he would smile at her insincere words. How many times had this repeated in their one-year-long marriage? They were still newlyweds, for God's sake.

Mark was her rock, always supportive and slightly too understanding. He trusted her completely. Though he requested she take care of herself, he never asked her to cut down on her working hours. Mark had to deal with the home front while she was toiling hard. He took care of her father during his frequent bouts of long-term illness. She was heartbroken when her father passed away, but Mark had been with her during all her misery. She couldn't help but feel guilty because she had exploited his kindness many times. It was time for her to take care of him now.

Quitting her job was the most liberating and hardest choice Sarah had ever made. She was free as if a weight had been removed from her shoulders. She had saved enough to start her own business. There would be challenges, but she could count on Mark. He would be with her thick and thin. All that could wait though. It was time to treat Mark like her number one priority now.

Christmas was barely a week away, and she was preparing for these holidays. She could very well imagine them sitting by the fireplace sipping hot chocolate. They would be decorating the Christmas tree together. She then imagined the two of them alone on Christmas morning. Exchanging gifts beneath the mistletoe and making love in the warmth of the fireplace.

Sarah wanted children. Her biological clock was ticking at the age of twenty-seven. She never dared to tell Mark about her desire yet. It was a bit too soon, but maybe she would convince him to start the family this year.

She turned the corner to their quiet suburban neighborhood and noticed a teenage boy standing near their home. The boy ducked immediately and tried to hide behind the dumpster.

Was it, Jimmy? Once she confirmed it was Jimmy, she chose to ignore him.

Jimmy was harmless, but she never liked him. The boy was awkward and had earned his nickname "Jinx." He had wandering eyes and was a social klutz. Mark cared for him and helped him from time to time. He was Mark's errand boy. She had to accept that Jinx had improved under Mark's guidance. He had learned to be subtle in his leering but that did not improve her opinion of the boy. She knew he was up to no good.

Sarah caught Jinx's lingering gaze in the rearview mirror. She had complained to Mark about Jinx so many times. Mark always listened but asked her to give him a chance. She left Jimmy the "Jinx" to his affairs and moved into her driveway.

She opened the trunk to grab her designer bags. Snow cracked under her Italian leather boots, making prints on the white covering. She climbed the walkway to the front door. She opened it and paused to look at the little heart mark that she and Mark had cut together.

"Mark?" She said in her cool, commanding voice as she came in, closing the door with a resounding click. "I'm home."

She got no reply. The house was still, and the silence annoyed her.

She removed her snow boots and hooked her coat as she breathed in the familiar smell. She caught a whiff of something rich. Her stomach rumbled and her mouth watered. "Mark must have begun dinner before he took his walk," she guessed, a surge of affection for her considerate husband. He always knew exactly what she required, particularly after a hard day at the office.

Sarah padded into the kitchen and saw a casserole dish out on the counter. It was Mark's infamous lasagna, swimming in melted cheese and sauce. Her heart swelled at the sight. He must have been annoyed that she had stretched her business trip and was running late, as she always was. He always managed to find a way to show his love somehow.

She filled her plate to the brim and sat down as she ate her whole meal. Enjoying the taste that was tempting her senses as she reveled in his affection. Although Mark never expressed his emotions, his actions told her everything about how much he adored her. He always brought her favorite chocolates with the grocery, although he never consumed them himself. The way he did the laundry, sorting everything out by color and type.

She got up with a content sigh. She was about to leave the kitchen but paused. It was not fair that her husband cleaned up after her. She washed her plate and stored the leftovers in the fridge. A pang of guilt hit her when she recalled not having cooked for him for the past few months. She planned to bake his favorite pastries tomorrow.

Sarah entered the bedroom and noticed that everything was tidy, just the way Mark liked it. His share of the closet was divided with his white and black clothes. Starched white dress shirts and pressed slacks for business office attire, simple t-shirts, and jeans for everyday wear. Mark wasn't a materialistic individual. He opted for quality over quantity with what he bought. She made up her mind to take him out shopping soon. He could use some new colors added to his outfit.

Ready for bed, she slipped into her most comfortable nightgown. As she began to brush her long, chestnut hair, she paused to look at herself in the dressing table mirror. Her heart-shaped face was framed by the flowing waves. Her brown eyes were striking, her cheekbones high, and her lips full. The combination gave her a seductive look. At five foot seven, she had a curvy figure.

She fantasized briefly about slipping into lacy pajamas, but she was just too exhausted. Tomorrow would not be too late to give her husband the love he deserved. He would be getting all the sex he could handle on this vacation anyway; no hole left untouched until he was unable to perform anymore. She dreamed of waking him up with a slow, sensual blowjob in the morning.

Her gaze swept the room, and she saw Mark's wallet and phone on his dresser. Strange. He never left the house without them. "He must have forgotten them," she attempted to reassure herself, pushing the thought away. Too tired to think anymore, she finally fell asleep, dreaming of a flawless life together with her lovely husband.

***

Jinx watched the master bedroom lights go out from the street as he called a number on his speed dial.

"She's asleep now," he reported.

"Good. You can leave. Come back tomorrow morning. Remember, you only need to buy me some time."

"Understood, Boss." Jinx ended the call and rode home on his bike.

***

Sarah woke to the doorbell's persistent ringing. Rubbing sleep from her eyes, she reached out across Mark's side. It was still cold and undisturbed. He hadn't been home last night. It wasn't the first time he had done that, especially when she had been late. It was his way of registering silent protest. She felt irritated again.

She crawled out of bed with a groan. The doorbell ringing did not provide her with time to change from her pajamas. She trudged down the stairs to open the door.

Jinx's eyes widened at her rumpled look. He grinned with his goofy smile. "Hey, Sarah," he said sheepishly. "Boss told me to come and put up the Christmas tree for you."

"It's too early, Jinx. Return later this evening," she attempted to dismiss him, wishing to return to bed, but the young man did not relent.

"I can fix you some breakfast if you want. My treat!"

Sarah faltered at his tempting suggestion. Her growling stomach betrayed her. "Alright, fine. Come on in then."

She stepped aside and let him in. Jinx began preparing breakfast, and she went back upstairs to wash up. A warm breakfast was ready for her when she came down. Jinx had poached eggs, bacon, toast, and a hot cup of coffee prepared for her. He was wiping his plate clean after eating his fill.

Sarah sympathized with the boy. He should have been starving. "Thanks," she muttered, sitting down and loading her plate. The food was surprisingly delicious, just like Mark's cooking. Has Jinx learned from him? Jinx would soon make some girl very happy at this rate.

She ate her breakfast and chased the boy away. "You can go now. Come back in the evening."

Jinx headed out, and Sarah went for another nap. She slept contentedly for some hours until she was roused by the smell of food by lunchtime. She found half a laden Christmas tree and a haphazard note written by Jinx on the living room floor. "I have prepared some lunch for you, and I will come back tomorrow and complete the Christmas tree."

Sarah sat down to have a meal, but her hunger vanished in a fit of anxiety. She knew something was amiss. Why did Jinx have the house keys, and where was Mark?

She started searching the house frantically. The first thing she saw missing was their wedding picture from the hallway. All their photographs that were framed were missing as well. Why did she not notice this yesterday? Had Mark taken them away? Why?

She grabbed his phone in the bedroom, but it was dead. Not battery dead, but fully bricked. His wallet had money but no identification or bank cards. She could feel the panic welling up inside her. She called Mark's number but got his voicemail. She tried him again and again with the same outcome.

"Please be okay," she prayed. "Please come home."

Panic engulfed her. She could not think clearly anymore. The worst possibilities began crossing her mind. Did anything happen to him when he had taken a stroll in the snowy evening? Why had he gone out when there was snowfall? Had he gone directly to the office the next morning? He would typically leave her a message, but none was found on this occasion.

"Did he learn about James?" That realization made her knees weaken.

She leaned against the bed. "Oh God, not now," she moaned. "I had finally gained my freedom. I have finally confronted my past."

Her face streamed with tears as she lay down on the mattress. She had to go find him and reconcile. Sarah recognized in her heart that true love comes only once in a lifetime and cannot be replaced. Once lost, it would be gone forever. She won't let her pride and shame cost her the most important thing in her life.

She grabbed her phone with trembling hands. There was only one person she could think of. She called her best friend, Tanya.

"Hey, girl," Tanya replied brightly. "Long time no speak! What's up?"

"Please, Tanya," Sarah pleaded through tears. "I need you now. Can you please come over?"

Tanya hesitated. "What's wrong, Sarah?"

"It's Mark. He has been missing since yesterday. I am freaking out here!"

"Okay, okay. Stop. I'll be there right away. We'll get through this."

Sarah hung up and wept some more. She did not know what she would ever do without Mark. She only had one thought in her head. He would return home--he had to.

***

Chapter 2: "A happy marriage?"

Tanya arrived an hour later, a curvy woman in her red winter coat. Her sweet dimples suited the charm of her rosy, cold-flushed face. She had not altered much since college and still wore her black-framed glasses and tidy dark braid. Her figure had filled out more, but she could move with incredible grace and poise.

Tanya wrapped Sarah in a warm hug. "Oh, Honey," her voice was full of concern. "What happened?"

Sarah sniffled. Her eyes were puffy from crying. "Mark is gone, Tanya. He had left no note. We were going to spend some quality time together this holiday. I don't know why he left. We need to find him, Tanya."

Tanya nodded. Her eyebrows furrowed in concentration. "Okay. Let's think this through. Have you checked on his phone yet? Emails, texts, voicemail?"

"His phone is bricked," Sarah said, struggling to contain her sobs. "And all our photos are gone too! I'm losing my mind, Tanya!"

The two of them sat at the kitchen table. Tanya took Sarah's phone and started scrolling through the contacts list. "We're going to call all Mark's friends and colleagues that we can find on this list. Maybe someone will know something about where he is. We can also ask for more leads if necessary."

Sarah's heart sank with every answered and unanswered call as they worked their way through the phone list. No one had heard from Mark in weeks, maybe months. Mark's boss told them that Mark had quit work without reason a few months back.

Sarah's mind was reeling. She couldn't find any kind of sense. Mark had quit his job sometime after her dad got sick. She was generally not home because of her busy schedule and work-related travel. Mark was basically forced into staying home with her dad. She didn't fault him for quitting his job, but why had he never mentioned it? What else had he had to silently endure for her? Was she so clueless that she never paid attention to anything?

Tanya held Sarah's hand. "Calm down. We can't jump to a conclusion just yet. We still have a lot to follow up." She told her to search for Mark's photograph. She instructed Sarah to flip through the wedding albums as well.

Sarah opened the wedding album. Her hands shook as she turned through the pages. She breathed a shuddering gasp. Pictures of her standing in her wedding dress caused her to smile. She could see smiling faces everywhere, but where was Mark? Where were the photos of the two of them together?

She frantically flipped through every page, but many of the slots were empty. She could see herself laughing with her dad. There were pictures of her with her bridesmaids. She was posing by herself in front of the flower-covered arch but there were no pictures of her husband. Not even a single one. Mark's pictures were removed from the album. It was as if he had erased his own presence from their most precious moments. Like he was cropped out of her life.