My Best Friend’s Keys


    After touring around her house, I felt a bit disappointed. There wasn’t even a pair of men’s slippers in


    her ce.


    I suspect she had tidied up since it took her two hours toe and pick us up to hide any evidence. I


    figured she had thought things through.


    It was enough time for her


    Ivanna prepared a few snacks for Ava, perhaps because she sensed how distracted I was. She then


    turned on the TV, yed a cartoon, and sat beside me. Soon after, she began to scrutinize me, making


    me feel ufortable.


    Then, she patted my hand, saying, “Let it out.”


    My heart raced, and I looked at her defensively while withdrawing my hand. “Let what out?”


    “Share what’s on your mind,” Ivanna encouraged as if trying to coax me.


    I sneered before saying. “What’s on my mind? What do you mean?”


    I saw her mouth twitch. After a moment of silence, she stood up abruptly. “You stay here and y with


    Ava. I’ll make something for you two to eat.”


    After removing her coat and changing clothes, she went into the kitchen.


    I sat with my daughter absentmindedly and gazed at therge screen, pondering whether my thoughts


    were headed in the right direction. Suddenly, her phone rang, and my senses heightened immediately. I


    suspected it was Matthew calling.


    I stood up and sat on the nearest sofa to the kitchen. I heard Ivanna’s voice softly speaking on the


    phone,


    her tone tender and different from when she was with me. Though I couldn’t make out the content of


    her


    conversation, it felt like a thousand needles pricking my heart.


    I rose and headed to the kitchen, but as I approached, I noticed that Ivanna had already ended the call


    and ced the phone in her apron pocket.


    She looked surprised at my sudden appearance. “Go and keep Avapany. You’re my guest, so I’ll


    take


    care of everything. Just wait for the food.”


    I smiled and didn’t move, leaning against the kitchen door frame. “Did you buy this house yourself?”


    “I don’t have that much money. It’s thepany’s,” Ivanna chuckled while looking at me.


    “Yourpany is something else, huh? Not manypanies provide housing for employees these


    days,”


    A terrible feeling crept over me, and I wanted to check the savings ount I shared with Matthew.


    “I’m just living like a celebrity,” Ivanna replied while cleaning the crabs, “Several talents from my


    company live in this neighborhood, and the security and management here are top–notch. Random


    people won’t be disturbing us. You know how celebrities value their privacy.”


    I countered bluntly. “The privacy of ordinary people is just as important, you know? Mistresses can be


    afraid of being exposed too.”


    “You’re right. There are people like that here, too.” Ivanna remained remarkablyposed. “However,


    it’s not necessarily the mistress who fears exposure sometimes. I guess it depends on how


    sophisticated they are.”


    I snorted at the word ‘sophisticated and thought about how bold mistresses had be these days


    since they dared to unt their affairs openly. I didn’t want to argue or continue with this topic, so I


    turned and left the kitchen while ncing at the shoe cab at the entrance.


    I saw her bag with the keys and walked toward mine before fumbling around for my keys. Then I looked


    back at the kitchen and heard the bustling inside. Soon after, I got up, pretending to be calm, and


    approached the door.


    I nced at the kitchen again and quickly reached into Ivanna’s bag to grab her keys. I then searched


    for


    the one Ivanna had used to open the door. My hands trembled, not knowing if it was nerves or fear of


    knowing the oue.


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    I ced her key and my duplicate side by side forparison, unable to believe what I saw. An


    inexplicable feeling crept over me, and I slowly turned around.