[Zacky, man, you’re a legend. Ten years of sneaking around and your wife’s still in the dark? Come on, spill the secret.]

[There’s no real trick,] he replied. [Just make sure you look like you’re completely worn out from taking care of the family every day. Exhausted, devoted, all-in. She’ll never suspect a thing.]

The screen which my husband forgot to shut down, kept lighting up with messages from a group chat called Sneaky Affairs Club.

[Aside from Zacky, I think the department head guy got the next longest record without getting caught.]

I stared at the screen, a bitter smirk tugging at my lips.

Zack’s strategy? Honestly, it was pretty clever. But what he didn’t know… was that he wasn’t the only one in this house faking it.

***

“Honey, here’s my whole paycheck for the month,” Zack said, handing me the envelope. “Didn’t you say you had your eye on that designer bag last week? And our son’s growing fast—if you want something, get it.”

He tugged at his jacket, looking at me with that familiar look of love and pride. Like he lived to take care of us.

“You’re not keeping anything for yourself?” I asked, glancing at his worn-out suit, the fabric faded from too many washes.

“What do I need money for?” he chuckled. “I’m a man—my job is to work hard out there so you and our son can enjoy life.”

On his face, I saw it again—this picture of the perfect, selfless husband. Too bad… he didn’t realize he wasn’t the only one playing a drama role in this family.

"Working late again tonight, huh? Wish I could do more! My wife works way too hard."

As Zack headed out the door, briefcase in hand, anyone watching would say the same thing: What a dedicated husband. A real family man.

Who would’ve guessed that this so-called good guy was out there in some sleazy group chat, casually dropping cheating tips like he was writing a how-to guide?

[Women? They’re not much different than any others,] someone joked in the chat. [Once they have kids, that’s it. That’s the weak spot.]

[As long as you keep the kid on your side, she’ll be too distracted to even look your way.]

[All you have to do is play the role—make it look like you’re giving your whole life to the family. She won’t suspect a thing.]

[And don’t forget—every credit card needs its cover story.]

The chat lit up with reactions:

[Zacky, man, you’re the GOAT. Years of cheating and still clean.]

[Didn’t he get married, like, ten years ago? Everyone else in this group’s come and gone, but Zacky and the department head? Still standing.]

I stared at the screen, frozen.

His LetsTalk second account was still open. The messages kept coming. Until suddenly, the window blinked and force-closed.

I just stood there. Like the punchline of some cruel joke I hadn’t realized I was part of.

My perfect husband… Had been cheating on me all along.

I heard the lock clicked—he was home. Sooner than I expected.

I walked out of the kitchen like nothing had happened. Zack's eyes flicked to his laptop—now dark—and I saw his shoulders relaxed a bit.

"Something wrong?" I asked with a smile, even as my heart twisted in a dozen different directions.

"Nah, nothing. Just… left my phone and laptop at home." He glanced at me, carefully scanning. "I was worried you wouldn’t be able to reach me. Did anyone message me, by the way?"

His tone was casual, but the look in his eyes… that was fear. Not for me. For his "work."

"It’s this big deal I’m working on. You know, the one I mentioned? Once I close it, I can finally get you that bracelet you’ve been eyeing."

Ah, there it was. I knew exactly what he wanted to hear. "Your screen stayed off the whole time. Didn’t see or hear a thing."

I watched the tension drop from his face like someone had just given him CPR. He leaned in and kissed me on the forehead.

"Our anniversary’s coming up. Let’s send the kid to your mom’s for the night—just the two of us, something special." He then turned around to leave.

"Babe—wait."

My voice stopped him in his tracks. A faint, knowing smirk crept onto my lips.

"Funny thing… I could’ve sworn you left the house this morning in a different outfit."

Zack was nailed on his spot for half a second, eyes flicking toward mine—panicked. Somehow, I could hear him curse internally. Cursing that he’d forgotten to change clothes.

“There's an important client today,” he said quickly. “Boss insisted I borrow his suit—said it’d make a better impression.”

I smiled and nodded, reaching up to straighten his tie for him. “You work so hard. Don’t stay out too late.”

He gave a stiff little nod, trying to play it cool. If anyone looked closely, they could see it—the awkward edge in his walk as he turned to leave.

I let out a soft sigh.

I smelled it. the cologne on that suit was a scent I knew by heart. Velissare Lux No. 3. A signature scent—only worn by the sales associates behind those glossy counters. The ones who flirt just enough to upsell you two grand on a scarf.

To top it all, dangling from his tie—one tiny, glittering earring was there. He hadn’t even noticed. He’d played the doting husband for so long, he’d almost convinced himself it was real.

I turned back to his laptop, reopened LetsTalk and typed in the login for an account I hadn’t touched in years. Muscle memory kicked in. The moment I hit enter, the messages flooded in like a dam breaking.

Thread after thread. Confession after confession. I scrolled through them all, skimming, reading, smiling.

Then, casually, I typed a greeting into the chat.

[Long time no see, boys.]

[Holy shit—it’s the Director! She’s back!]

I smiled to myself, a glint of something dangerous in my eyes.

Being a housewife for too long, you almost forget who you really are. But let’s not get it twisted. I was not just some loyal wife. I was a goddamn succubus in designer heels.

Sneaky Affairs Club. Yeah, it was mine.

Back when I was still playing the game, back when I was a succubus, walking through the human world like it was a playground.

One day, I met Zack.

Maybe I was drawn to his quiet, decent vibe. Or maybe I was just tired of being what I was. Tired of the seduction, the masks, the power plays. I wanted to try something new. I wanted to try being human.

But there was a catch.

When a succubus falls in love—and worse, when she gave birth to a child with a human—she would be cursed. Her powers vanished. Her old life was locked away. Everything she once owned, built, seduced—it’d all gone.

Unless…

Unless she went back to her roots. Unless she was willing to play that game again. The curse could only be broken if she got a man—any man—to willingly betray the one he loved… for her.

Problem was, I wasn't the same woman I used to be. I was older. My charm didn't land like it used to.

Then, Zack? I already gave him everything. I even gave him a son.

“Mom, why are you so slow?” Teddy’s voice snapped me back. He looked up at me, impatient, eyes full of judgment.

Let’s be real, he didn’t even want to be here. His dad had promised him a new toy train if he played along today. If it weren't for that, Teddy wouldn’t be caught dead with a boring out-of-touch Mom.

I didn't dress cutely. I didn't speak his language. I didn't fit in his little world.

“We’re not going to preschool today,” I said, looking at him. Disappointment thick in my voice.

For a second, I wasn’t sure who I was more disappointed in—him… or me.

When Teddy heard he didn’t have to go to preschool, his eyes lit up with quiet excitement. Unfortunately, he remembered the task his dad had given him—and just like that, the joy dimmed.

Today, Dad had plans. A “meeting” with Aunt Stella.

Earlier, he’d reminded Teddy that after school he had to stall his mom. Keep her busy!

I saw the conflict in Teddy’s eyes. It wasn’t the first time I’d seen Zack brag in that group chat—sharing how he used our son to buy himself more time.

Little tricks, little lies. Using Teddy like a pawn.

“Mommy’s got something to do with Aunt Naharel tonight. How about you go to Grandma’s for a bit, okay?”

Teddy hesitated. Then gave a small nod.

If Mom was busy too… then at least he wasn’t ruining anything. And honestly? No preschool sounded like a win. Besides, he’d technically still be doing what Dad had asked him.

After dropping Teddy off, I went straight to the only person in the human world who knew who I used to be—my sister, Naharel. The succubus who stayed behind to watch over our kind in secret.

“You’re saying… you want to go back? Back to being a succubus?” She let out a long sigh before raising her voice again. “You want it all back, Arlenel? Have you completely lost your mind?”

She stared at me like I’d gone mad. “You were the one who was desperate to play house with a human. You gave it all up. You can’t just flip the switch and expect it to be easy.”

I let out a bitter laugh and handed her my phone.

My sister scrolled the screen. Read its content. Then stopped, just as sudden. Her face darkened instantly.

“Humans,” she muttered. “They really are all the same.”

Anger flickered behind her sharp othereworldy eyes.

And in that moment, I knew, the girl who tried to become human in the past… She was gone.

Compared to humans, succubus and succubi were much more honest about who they were.

Honestly, I still couldn’t wrap my head around how my sister Naharel—had once turned into a love-struck fool.

Love? Marriage? Whether SHE were human or something far older… one wrong step and the fall was endless.

“I’ll help you,” she said. “But under the old rules, I can only alter your appearance—never beyond your current CONDITION.”

“That’s enough,” I nodded. I knew even that much was already more than I could ask of her.

“Are you sure?” she asked, her gaze narrowing. “This look—you really think it’s enough to turn his head again? To pull him away from another woman?”

“I only get one shot at this, Arlenel. One transformation," she warned.

Naharel hesitated while studying my face with something between doubt and concern.

I could see what she was thinking. With a face like this—tired, faded, used up—only a desperate man would fall again. Meanwhile, the current Zack was no longer a desperate man.

“I’m sure.” The smile I gave her was steady, quiet and sure. There was steel behind it.

I knew what I had to do. First thing: finding the owner of that earring. Stella Nagle.

Stella was beautiful—no denying that. The top saleswoman at Velissare. The kind of woman who knew how to use her looks and never apologized for it.

In the Sneaky Affairs Club, she wasn’t just Zack’s fling. She was his trophy. His proof that he still had it.

The moment Stella saw me, she knew. Recognition flashed in her eyes like lightning.

"Hi there, I’m here for a return." I gave her a composed polite smile and opened the box I was holding.

Stella's customer-service smile cracked instantly. Inside, nestled in velvet, was the earring I’d pulled off Zack’s tie. It was her earring.

Now, it was game on.

“Ah, so you finally figured out.” Stella glared at me.

Just as quickly, a smirk crept into her cool, confident, smug expression.

“Honestly, if it weren’t for me, you would’ve stayed blissfully ignorant for the rest of your life. You should be thanking me.” She tilted her head, her tone soaked in faux empathy. “At least now you know your sweet little husband’s been cheating.”

Stella didn't stop there.

“A woman should really learn to love herself. Survival of the fittest, don't you agree? Hate to say it, but… you’re kind of obsolete.”

She said it all while staring down at me, her youth radiating like a weapon she knew exactly how to use.

“I mean, do you always chase what belongs to someone else?” she taunted even further. Her predatory smile widened.

“Ms. Naharel—” Stella said, mistaking me for my sister, “—I’m younger. I’ve got the kind of assets you lost years ago.

She leaned in, voice dripping with mock kindness. "Face it, your value’s tanking. Every year, you’re worth less. But me? I’m what men want. I’m an investment.”

“Did you even know? Your husband’s not just some mid-level office guy—he’s the general manager in his company. You think someone like you is worth that kind of man?”

“If you were smart, you’d step aside now. Quietly. With dignity.”

This woman... So young. So sure of herself.

“Is that so?” I looked at her without backing down.

In the world I came from, Stella's beauty didn’t even qualify as low-tier. In the world of succubi, seducing men with just a pretty face was the most primitive trick in the book.

It was the method of those who had nothing else to offer. Stella really had no idea who she was playing with.

"Ms. Nagle, what exactly makes you so sure of yourself?"

"Please, Ms. Naharel, I’m ten years younger than you. That is my advantage." She said it with the kind of smugness only someone very young—or very naive—could pull off.

I looked at her and a flicker of amusement passed through my eyes.

The law of the succubus race stated that if I wanted my powers and identity back, I must do one thing: I had to win back the man who betrayed me. Make him betray his chosen lover.

That was the test I need to go through.

"No wonder you believe the things a man like that tells you," I said, voice cool.

In truth, I could see myself ten years ago through Stella. The same wide-eyed certainty. The same blind trust in someone who didn’t deserve it.

"You’re just dreaming, sweetheart," I continued.

Ten years changes a lot. Not just me. Zack, too.

I glanced past Stella and smiled as a shadow appeared behind her. "Well, if it isn’t my husband. What a coincidence."

Zack froze. "Arlene… I thought you were at the parent-child event with Ted? What are you doing here—"

His voice wavered just slightly. Just enough.

"Didn’t I mention it last time? I said I wanted to get a new bag." I gave him the same calm smile I’d given Stella a moment before. "This old one’s been with me for years. Figured it was finally time for an upgrade."

I turned my eyes to Stella. She had became much silent compared to moments before.

"Got anything you’d recommend?" My smile stayed sweet. But there was something sharp behind it now.

This wasn’t just shopping. This was war and I was just getting started.