Hot Shower, Cold Heart by Mark Twain 7
Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Over the next few days, the dominoes fall.
Emma releases the bank transfers and security footage. Zach’s affair and abuse of power? Confirmed.
Naomi’s “innocent student” persona shatters. She’s now the most hated homewrecker on the internet.
The stairwell incident becomes a viral meme.
The academy moves fast. Zach gets suspended pending investigation.
He tries calling. I don’t pick up.
He sends walls of text-apologies, excuses, threats. I screenshot every single one without reading them.
Evidence of harassment. Unstable behavior. Useful for later.
Naomi vanishes. Rumor is she’s hiding in her dorm, too terrified to show her face. Her clinical rotation? Dead in the
water.
Her future? Looks pretty fucking bleak from here.
I assume this ends with Zach getting disciplined, Naomi disgraced, and me walking away with a clean divorce.
Then Naomi calls.
She wants to meet. Some dive coffee shop on the edge of town.
Her voice on the phone is raw, wrecked. Says there’s something about Zach I need to know.
I almost hang up. But curiosity wins.
I bring a voice recorder. Show up on time.
The girl across from me looks like a ghost. Eyes swollen, face blotchy. Fresh red handprints across her cheek.
“Dr. Ashford…”
Tears spill before she even finishes my name. She laughs bitterly. “Pathetic, right? My mom did this. I’m sorry. I know it’s too late for apologies-”
“Get to the point.”
09:53
Hot Shower, Cold Heart: How Water Temperature Fynosed My Militanu Haohandle Affain
Chapter 7
My voice is ice.
She takes a shaky breath. “Do you know why Zach was so obsessed with me?”
I raise an eyebrow.
“Because I look like his sister.”
Her voice goes flat. Hollow. “His real sister. Zoe Carter.”
I freeze.
Zach had a sister. She died in a car accident years ago.
It’s a wound he never talks about.
“He said Zoe died saving him. That he’s carried the guilt ever since.”
Naomi’s staring at nothing now. “He said the first time he saw me, it was like she came back.”
“At first, he was just… nice. Protective. Then we slept together. And he told me I was her replacement. That he was giving me all the love he never got to give her.”
Nausea rolls through me.
This isn’t just cheating. This is twisted.
But I don’t care. Not anymore.
“So what?” My voice is sharp as a blade. “That’s supposed to justify betraying me? Destroying our marriage?”
“Naomi, you’re a med student. You should know that’s just a fucked-up excuse he fed you to make his behavior sound romantic instead of sick.”
“If he really missed his sister, he’d honor his marriage-not use some girl as a stand-in for his screwed-up grief.”
Naomi flinches. Goes paler. “I know I’m trash! But Dr. Ashford-don’t you feel sorry for him? He’s a victim too!”
“A victim?!”
I almost laugh. Stand up. “Naomi, you’re telling me this to ease your own guilt. Or maybe you think I’ll pity him.”
“I won’t.”
“I don’t care why he did it. Betrayal is betrayal. Lies are lies.”
09:54
Hot Shower. Cold Heart: How Water Temperature Exposed My Military Husband’s Affair
5.4%
Chapter 7
“You both made choices. And those choices ruined three lives. Deal with it.”
I turn to leave.
Naomi’s voice cracks behind me, shrill and desperate: “You loved him, didn’t you?! If you loved him, why can’t you forgive him?!”
I stop.
Don’t turn around.
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09:54
Hot Shower, Cold Heart: How Water Temperature Exposed My Military Husband’s Affair
5.7%
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