Shattered Mask

CHAPTER 1

THE REVELATION

Jack's hands were steady as he replaced the microwave's heating element.

Four years of repair work had taught him patience, the kind of patience that kept a marriage afloat when money was tight, and promises felt like luxuries for him.

He wiped sweat from his brow and smiled.

Tonight, finally, he would surprise Leslie with that diamond bracelet she had been eyeing for months. Four years married. Four years of her quiet disappointment every time he came home smelling like soldering flux instead of success.

Tonight, that changes.

He reached for his water bottle: unfortunately empty.

With a sigh, he stood and headed toward the living room, following the sound of voices. The client had told him to stay in the kitchen, but thirst won over his better judgment.

The living room was all marble and floor-to-ceiling windows. A couple sat on the leather couch, back to him, absorbed in whatever was on the massive screen. The man's arm draped possessively over the woman's shoulder.

Jack spotted the water dispenser near the far wall and moved quietly, not wanting to disturb them.

Then he caught a scent, the prestigious Chanel No. 5.

He smiled. That was Leslie's signature perfume.

The one he had bought her on their first anniversary, back when he could still afford small indulgences.

His steps slowed.

The woman laughed, bright and carefree. A sound he had not heard from his wife in months.

“Such a happy couple,” He thought to himself

But as he got closer, Jack's chest tightened.

“Don't be ridiculous. Lots of women wear that perfume.” He thought again to himself

But then she shifted, tilting her head back against the man's shoulder, and Jack saw the tiny crescent-shaped birthmark behind her left ear.

The room tilted.

"Leslie?”

His voice came out strangled.

The woman froze. The man turned, irritation flashing across his face; he was handsome, in his mid-thirties, with the kind of effortless confidence that came with money.

Leslie slowly sat up, her expression unreadable.

"Jack." Not a question. A statement. Flat and cold.

"What..." Jack's mind scrambled for logic, for an explanation that made sense.

"What are you doing here?" he finally managed to scrape words together

The man's irritation shifted to amusement. "Wait … this is him?" He looked between them, then let out a sharp laugh.

"You are kidding."

"Leslie, answer me." Jack's voice shook now, anger threading through shock. "What the hell is going on?"

She stood slowly, smoothing her dress… a new one he had never seen. Expensive. Her hand rested briefly on the man's shoulder, a gesture of... ownership? Or maybe comfort?

"Jack, don't make a scene."

"Don't make a scene?" He took a step forward.

"You are in another man's house, sitting on his lap, and I am not supposed to … what? … make a scene?" Jack stammered

"Look, buddy." The man stood now, positioning himself slightly in front of Leslie. Protective. Possessive. "I think you should leave."

"Buddy?" Jack's laugh was bitter.

"That's my wife you are touching."

"Your wife?" The man's eyebrows rose. He glanced at Leslie. "You married a repairman?"

Leslie's jaw tightened. "It was a mistake."

The words hit like a physical blow.

"A mistake," Jack repeated slowly. "Four years. That is what it was to you? A mistake?"

"What did you expect, Jack?" Leslie's voice rose, sharp and defensive.

"You show up every night smelling like grease, talking about 'next year' and 'when things turn around.' I am tired of waiting."

"I have been working…" He was immediately cut short

"You have been struggling." She crossed her arms. "There is a difference."

The man stepped forward, all false sympathy.

"Look, mate, I am sure this is hard to process, but Leslie and I…we have something real. Something... stable."

Jack's hands curled into fists. "How long?"

Leslie hesitated.

"How. Long."

"Six months."

The number hung in the air.

Six months. Half a year of lies. Of her coming home late, claiming overtime. Of her distant looks at dinner. Of him, stupidly, hopefully, planning tonight's surprise.

"You are three months pregnant," Jack said quietly. "Is it even mine?"

The man's expression flickered... surprise, then calculation.

Leslie's face drained of colour. "Jack..."

"Answer me, Leslie."

"I don't know," she whispered.

Something inside Jack shattered.

He turned towards the man.

"You knew she was married."

"Honestly? Didn't care." The man shrugged. "She wanted out. I gave her an exit."

"You smug..."

"Okay, we are done here." The man pulled out his phone. "Marcus? Living room. Now."

"Don't you dare..." Jack started towards him.

Two security guards appeared from nowhere, flanking Jack.

"Sir, you need to leave," one said, hand on Jack's shoulder.

"Get your hands off me." Jack shrugged free, looking past them to Leslie. "You really want this? Him? This?"

She wouldn't meet his eyes. "I want better, Jack. I deserve better."

"So do I."

The words came out quietly. Final.

The words pierced his heart, and a wave of anger surged through his mind.

Seeing that as an opportunity, the man berated him. “You heard her, you punk; get out of here, now”

Jack clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.

“You are the punk who goes after other people’s women; face it.”

The words seemed to have stirred up an emotion.

A blow flew in close to his face; he dodged quickly, moving aside as fast as he could.

The man fell on the floor with a loud thud.

Before Jack could fathom what just happened, a blow sent him to the ground, and several others followed him, giving him no time to react.

Leslie looked at Jack, who was being lynched, ignored him, and went to help the man stand up.

“Beat that loser to a pulp.” He ordered as he stood up from the ground, his ego fully bruised as he cleaned the remnants of dust from his fine clothes