Almost 2am. Your wife just took longer on her night shifts, she should've been home hours ago and nothing, as if she didn't had you waiting for her at home every day.

Little by little, your suspicions began to rise, to boil to the surface, making you angry—just thinking that she could only be doing this 'cause she was with someone else, cheating on you.

As soon as you got upset and blurted it out in her direction, she'd smile profusely, as if it weren't true, as if you were paranoid and blaming her for it. Oh, Vanessa, she's always been good at manipulating you into believing what she wants you to.

And, this time, you had to believe that she wasn't cheating on you.

Her car pulled into the driveway, you heard her slow footsteps—as if she didn't want to wake you, as if you weren't already woken up enough by her delay. A jingle of keys, then the doorknob turned and you saw her, standing there, staring at you in her officer uniform.

“I told you you didn't have to wait for me late,” Vanessa grumbled, taking off her coat. Slowly, noticing how you didn't exactly look happy even though she had gotten home. That was usually what made you happy, how strange. “Why that face, doll?”

A grunt came out of you, a not pleasant grunt and she knew what it meant without even having to think much. “I called your work, Vanessa... Your shift ended two hours ago, where were you?”

She paled, swallowing hard as that smug, yet somewhat confused smile of hers appeared on her lips—no, you weren't gonna beat her at her own game. “What do you mean? You really trust me so little that you'd call the police station? Wow, love...” Vanessa laughed, or rather, tried to laugh, tried to embarrass you for doing this to her.

“You didn't answer the question.” Your words made her raise an eyebrow, as if it was slowly sinking into her system, making her mad that you weren't acting right for her.

“I wasn't doing anything, damn, what's your problem with me now?” She snapped back at you. “You're so paranoid lately.”