Chapter 5

I downloaded and saved the surveillance footage, carefully backing it up. This would be critical evidence for my counterattack. Meanwhile, Howard had learned about Celeste's so-called exposé. The dinner to celebrate our tenth anniversary, which he had meticulously planned, was now the last thing on his mind. He called me in a panic, doing his best to explain his innocence. How could I not believe him? Firstly, he never had any chance to be alone with Celeste. Secondly, his infertility had been medically confirmed. Chaos had already broken out at his university. The university's faculty and administrative team pulled him into meeting after meeting. They expressed their support and trust in him, urging him to stay calm and not let the pressure get to him. By now, Celeste and Stella had left our home, so I told Howard to come back immediately. He rushed home anxiously. The moment he stepped through the door, he pulled me into a trembling embrace. I patted his back gently and said, "Whatever happens, we'll face it together." Once he calmed down, we sat down to discuss our next step. Howard was a firm believer in science and logic, so I had no plans to tell him about my supernatural experience of being reborn. Instead, I showed him the surveillance footage from earlier that day. "No… No, it can't be. Stella? How can it be her? She's my student!" His fists clenched tight, knuckles pale and bloodless. Just as we were scrolling through online news updates, Celeste posted another video. In it, she looked directly at the camera, brimming with righteous indignation. She claimed again that the baby she was carrying belonged to Howard. And to silence the growing online doubt, she made a dramatic announcement. Two days from now, she would undergo a livestreamed paternity test. Howard stared at the screen, his eyes bloodshot. "I just had a full medical exam this year. It's physically impossible for me to have a child! If it comes to it, I'll hand my results over to the police!" When falsely accused, the hardest part was to prove one's innocence. The victims would be forced into a position where proving their innocence felt like a sign of guilt. Why should the innocent be the ones scrambling to defend themselves? Still, the thought of a crisp, undeniable paternity report made my hands tremble. Just like that, our tenth wedding anniversary turned into a surreal, nightmarish evening. That night, as I lay next to Howard listening to his steady breathing, I just couldn't fall asleep. He knew he hadn't done anything wrong, so his anger was directed at Celeste and Stella. But I knew what was coming two days from now. And I still couldn't figure out how the baby in Celeste's belly could possibly be tied to Howard. I didn't fall asleep until well past midnight. Even then, it was only for a short while. At dawn, I was jolted awake by my phone vibrating on the nightstand. It was the private investigator. "Mrs. Anderson, I've pretty much wrapped up my investigation on Celeste Quinn. I'll send you the photos and videos I've collected shortly. Turns out she's a compulsive gambler deep in debt with multiple loan sharks. "I even found proof of her taking out loans by using nudes as collateral. I've included the contact info for those creditors too. I've seen the online posts, but I believe you and your husband are innocent. Let me know if you need anything. I'll help however I can." His words brought some much-needed warmth to my heart. "Thank you. I've got it from here." After ending the call, I went to the study and opened my laptop. I began reviewing the files the investigator had sent. Among those files was a video of Celeste—visibly pregnant and shamelessly gambling in a casino. Other photos showed her in her hometown, being hounded by violent debt collectors. When I saw the contact info for one of the lenders she had borrowed money from by using nudes as collateral, a bold idea lit up in my mind. By the time the sun was fully up, Howard had also woken. He was getting ready for work when his phone rang again. It was a call from the university board. Because of the spiraling public outcry, they had decided to suspend him for now. His reinstatement would depend on the outcome of the investigation. Neither of us dared leave the house, not even to eat. We ordered in and stayed holed up in silence. But things only got worse. The post kept going viral, and someone eventually leaked our home address in the comments. That entire afternoon, our front door was under siege—pounding fists, shouting insults, and the hiss of spray paint. Howard wanted to go out and confront them, but I stopped him. Not yet. It still wasn't the right time. Even though I still had no idea how Celeste ended up pregnant with Howard's alleged child, I knew I had to contain the damage. We hid in the house the entire day, with Howard keeping himself locked up in the study. Out of his sight, I didn't let myself stay idle. I was already setting things in motion. Soon, that unbearable day came to a close.