My Congressman Husband's Red Thong Scandal

My husband came back from his business trip. While I was helping him unpack his suitcase, I found a pair of pink, sexy lace thongs. I checked the size. It wasn't mine. It had clearly been worn. There was no way this was a gift for me. Holding the thong, I walked over to him. "Pretty sexy. It even has a little pearl strand." His face flushed as red as the lace. He snatched it from my hand and hid it behind his back. "It was a prank! The guys at the office snuck it into my bag. I swear I had no idea!" I let out a cold laugh but didn't push him further. He was a U.S. Congressman. People in his line of work didn't play childish pranks like that. Instead of calling him out on his lie, I secretly pulled out my phone and sent an anonymous email to his chief political rival. "I am reporting Representative Ethan Vance for abusing his congressional office to sleep with a female subordinate." You wanted to play dirty, Ethan? Let's see if you can afford the price. My phone screen lit up with the notification: "Report email delivered successfully." I clicked the screen off and placed the phone on the nightstand. Beside me, Ethan was fast asleep. Just half an hour ago, he was clutching that red lace thong, desperately trying to convince me it was just "locker-room dares and stupid bets." Ethan wasn't just a Congressman; he was the party's top fundraiser. In his custom-tailored suits, he looked as solid and honorable as a statue on Capitol Hill. He used to say that any man who liked lace was a freak. Now, that very thong was stuffed right under his pillow. I got out of bed and walked barefoot over to his pile of dry-cleaned suits. I picked up his congressional blazer. On the collar, there was a single strand of chestnut hair. Long and wavy. My hair was jet-black and bone-straight. I reached into his trouser pockets and pulled out a crumpled receipt from a convenience store. The timestamp was 8:30 PM tonight. Items purchased: a pack of strawberry gum, and a box of ultra-thin condoms. At 8:30 PM, Ethan had texted me saying he was working late at his district office and had to put his phone on silent. Working late at a convenience store? Celebrating a passed bill with a box of condoms? I walked back to the bed. Ethan rolled over, murmuring in his sleep. "Stop it... be good..." His tone was incredibly tender, almost pampering. Looking at his sharp, handsome face, my stomach churned with disgust. I didn't sleep a wink that night. Just as dawn broke, Ethan woke up. "Chloe, why are you up so early?" He leaned in to kiss me. I turned my head to avoid him and got up to grab some clothes from the closet. "What's wrong? Still mad about the thong last night? I told you, it was just a stupid game. I lost a bet." I changed with my back turned to him, keeping my voice flat. "I'm not mad. I'm going to drop by your office later to bring some pastries for your staff." Ethan paused in the middle of adjusting his tie. "Don't bother. The office is a mess right now, and it smells like stale coffee." "I used to go all the time. Why? Is there something in your office you don't want me to see now?" I turned around to look at him. Ethan's eyes flickered with anxiety before he frowned. "I just don't want you to tire yourself out. Fine, go if you want." He buttoned his suit, grabbed his car keys, and headed for the door. "I'm heading out. I have an early committee hearing to prep for." The door slammed shut. I walked to the window and watched his SUV pull out of the driveway. He wasn't heading toward Capitol Hill. He was driving west, toward the university district. I pulled out my phone and shot a text to my cousin, Zoe. "Help me look into someone. They probably rent an apartment on the west side, likely a recent college grad who has connections with Ethan." Zoe replied instantly: "Whoa, Chloe. What made you decide to investigate your perfect husband?" I didn't reply. I put my phone down.At eleven in the morning, I walked into Ethan's congressional district office carrying a pastry box. Since it was the holiday season, the office was mostly empty. As soon as I walked through the door, I saw a few young staffers huddled around a desk playing games on their phones. "Chloe is here!" Someone shouted, and they quickly scrambled to hide their phones. "Happy New Year, Chloe! Did you bring us more treats?" Marcus, the Chief of Staff, walked over and took the box from my hands. "You're the only one who pampers us. Representative Vance came in this morning with a face so dark you'd think he lost his campaign budget." I smiled, my eyes scanning the room. "Where is Ethan? He mentioned he had a hearing to prep for." Marcus blinked, looking confused. "A hearing? I haven't heard of any. He's been in his private office since he got in. Said he was catching up on sleep." Just then, the door to Ethan's office opened. But the person who stepped out first wasn't Ethan. It was a young woman. She looked to be in her early twenties, wearing a congressional assistant uniform that was clearly too big for her. The sleeves were rolled up several times, revealing her slim, pale wrists. Her hair was chestnut brown, styled in long, loose waves. Exactly like the strand I found on Ethan's blazer. She was holding a mug. It was a custom couple's mug Ethan had bought for me years ago, which I had kept in his office for my visits. The girl didn't panic when she saw me. Instead, she gave me a sweet, sugary smile. "You must be Chloe. Mr. Vance talks about you all the time." Her voice was soft and airy. Ethan walked out right behind her. When he saw me, his brow furrowed. "Why didn't you call before coming?" He walked over, reaching out naturally to take my purse. I stepped back, evading his touch, and kept my eyes locked on the girl. "And who is this?" Before Ethan could speak, the girl beat him to it. "Hi, Chloe. I'm Lily Miller. I'm the new intern assigned to this office. Mr. Vance is my mentor." Lily. The name sounded innocent, and she looked the part. But the way she looked at me, straight in the eyes, felt like a direct provocation. "An intern? Why are you dressed like that? Didn't the office provide a uniform?" Lily looked down at the oversized blazer she was wearing. Her cheeks flushed pink, and she bit her lip shyly. "I was working late last night and accidentally spilled something on my shirt. My mentor... I mean, Mr. Vance, saw I was cold and let me borrow his spare blazer." Marcus had just said there was no hearing last night. I glanced at Marcus. He was an honest man, and right now, his face was tight with awkwardness. He kept avoiding my gaze. He knew. Or at least, he suspected something and was helping Ethan cover it up. Ethan cleared his throat, breaking the tense silence. "Alright, Lily, go change. Chloe, come inside. We need to talk." He reached for my hand again. But Lily suddenly let out a sharp gasp. The mug in her hand tilted, and hot coffee splashed out, landing right on Ethan's leather shoes. "I'm so sorry! It was an accident!" Lily hurriedly knelt down, pulling tissues from her pocket to wipe Ethan's shoes. As she bent over, her collar loosened slightly. Standing directly above her, I had a perfect view of the bright red lace peeking out from her shirt. The lace pattern and the color were an exact match to the thong Ethan had brought home last night. So this was what he meant by "locker-room dares." Ethan looked down at Lily kneeling at his feet and gently pulled her up by the arm. "It's fine. Did you burn yourself?" Lily's eyes welled with tears. "I'm okay. I just ruined your shoes. Chloe won't be mad at me, right?" I stood there, watching this touching display of mentor-student affection, and felt a wave of nausea. "I'm not mad," I said, a smile pulling at my lips as I looked at Ethan. "After all, it's just the price of losing a game of Truth or Dare. I completely understand." Ethan's face went dead pale.The atmosphere in the office froze instantly. An old fox like Marcus immediately sensed the danger and chimed in to distract the others. "Hey, fresh pastries! Smells amazing! Everyone, come grab some!" The staff eagerly swarmed the table, creating a barrier of noise that shielded Ethan and me from their prying eyes. Ethan's voice was sharp and hushed. "Go wash up." Lily shot me a quick look, nodded obediently, and hurried off to the restroom. Ethan grabbed my wrist, dragged me into his private office, and locked the door behind us. "Chloe, what the hell is wrong with you?" he hissed, his voice trembling with suppressed rage. "Why would you say something so ridiculous in front of my staff?" I shook his hand off and walked over to the sofa. The pillows on the couch had been rearranged. They used to be lined up neatly, but now they were pushed to the center, showing obvious indentations. I quietly averted my eyes. "Ridiculous? Ethan, didn't you tell me that yourself last night? You said you played Truth or Dare at the office, lost, and that's how the thong ended up in your bag." Ethan choked on his words. He clearly hadn't expected me to use his own lie against him. "That was... that was a private joke! Why would you bring it up here? What is Lily going to think?" "Does she even care what people think?" I looked up at him. "Or rather, she doesn't care about what people think, she only cares about what you do." Ethan put his hands on his hips and began pacing the room. "Chloe, I know that thong made you uncomfortable. But I swear to God, it was just a misunderstanding." "Lily just graduated. Her family is struggling, she's naive, and sometimes she doesn't know her boundaries. Don't take it out on her." Naive? Naive enough to wear matching red lace lingerie and kneel to wipe a married man's shoes? Naive enough to use my mug and deliberately drop hints? "Ethan, do you honestly think I'm stupid?" I stood up and walked over to his desk. Our framed wedding photo was sitting there, but it had been deliberately hidden behind a stack of folders. "You're a Congressman. You know how to spin a narrative better than anyone. But I'm a woman, and a woman's intuition is faster than any investigation." Ethan's face darkened. "What are you trying to say? Are you accusing me of sleeping with Lily? Chloe, you're losing your mind. She's twenty-two! She's ten years younger than me! I'm practically old enough to be her uncle!" "Exactly. You're old enough to be her uncle." I laughed coldly. "But you're a very attentive uncle, aren't you? Buying her breakfast, lending her your blazer, even sharing your mug?" Ethan's expression changed. His eyes turned sharp and defensive. "How do you know about the breakfast? Are you tracking me?" "I don't have time for that." I pulled out my phone and showed him a photo. It was a picture Zoe had just texted me. In the photo, Ethan's SUV was parked outside an apartment building on the west side. He was holding a bag of breakfast takeout, looking up at the balcony. "A friend of mine happened to drive by," I lied. "Why? Is this where your little mistress lives?" Ethan snatched the phone from my hand, stared at the photo for a few seconds, and then slammed it face-down on the desk. "Chloe, you're crossing the line! Lily lives there. She had a fever this morning, so I went to check on her and drop off some food. Is being a decent human being a crime now?" It was almost comical. "Decent? Are you decent enough to wash her underwear for her too, Ethan?" "Enough!" Ethan slammed his hand on the desk. "Are you ever going to let this go? I already explained it was a game! Why do you keep digging? Why can't you just be reasonable like you used to be?" A soft knock came from the door. Lily's timid voice drifted in. "Mr. Vance, the team is waiting for you to join them for lunch. Is Chloe still in there?" The anger on Ethan's face vanished instantly, replaced by a composed mask. "Keep my reputation intact out there. We'll talk about this when we get home." He turned to unlock the door. Lily had already changed back into her own clothes. She wore a tight white sweater that hugged every curve of her body. The moment Ethan stepped out, she immediately reached out and grabbed his sleeve. "Ethan, please don't be angry. It's all my fault. I didn't mean to upset Chloe." Ethan looked down at her, his voice softening. "It has nothing to do with you. Come on, let's go get lunch." They walked out side by side. From behind, they looked like a perfect couple.After returning from his office, Ethan slept like a log. But he guarded his phone like a hawk. "What are you looking for? First you track me, and now you want to go through my phone? Chloe, are you going through early menopause or something?" He shoved his phone under his pillow and turned his back to me. I said nothing. I just stared at his back. In the past, whenever I tossed or turned, he would instinctively pull me into his arms. Now, there was an invisible wall between us. In our past arguments, as long as I gave him an out, cooked him a nice meal, or acted sweet, things would blow over. But this time, I wasn't going to let it go. A week later, a celebration dinner was held for Ethan's promotion to Vice Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee. It was also our wedding anniversary. A double celebration. Normally, he would proudly walk me into the room. At three in the afternoon, while I was still at work, Ethan sent me a text. "The office is having a dinner tonight to celebrate my promotion. You should come." I replied with a single word: "Okay." After work, I went to the mall and bought a new dress, a forest-green velvet gown paired with a pearl necklace. It was elegant and hugged my curves perfectly. This was the style Ethan loved most, classy, sophisticated, and dignified. When I arrived at the private dining room of the restaurant, everyone was already seated. Aside from his staff, there were several wealthy political donors and district representatives. Ethan sat at the head of the table, looking incredibly pleased with himself. Lily was sitting right next to him. Tonight, she wore a red slip dress, with Ethan's suit jacket draped over her shoulders. That vibrant red stood out starkly against the sea of men in black, grey, and navy. When I pushed the door open, Ethan's eyes flashed with temporary admiration. "Why are you so late? Everyone's been waiting for you." He pointed to the only empty seat at the table. Meanwhile, Lily sat firmly in the seat next to him, the seat reserved for the spouse. "Chloe is here! Sit, sit!" Marcus stood up awkwardly, trying to offer me his seat to smooth things over. But Ethan held Marcus back. "Don't make her sit there. It's right under the AC vent, and she hates the cold. Sitting by the door is fine." Actually, I had poor circulation and hated drafty areas. Ethan knew this. Yet, not only did he relegate me to the drafty seat by the door, but he also let Lily wear his jacket. I said nothing. I simply smiled and sat down by the entrance. A platter of spicy, steaming fish was brought to the table. The heavy chili scent filled the room. "Ugh..." Lily suddenly covered her mouth, gagging. Everyone's eyes immediately locked onto her. Ethan instantly turned and patted her back, his face tight with concern. "What's wrong? Is your stomach upset?" Lily looked up, her eyes watery. "I can't stand the smell of fish... it makes me want to throw up." A young staffer made a careless joke. "Lily's reaction... it looks exactly like how Chloe was when she was pregnant with her first. Don't tell me..." Before he could finish, the guy next to him elbowed him hard, and he shut his mouth. I looked at Ethan. Upon hearing those words, his instinctive reaction was to shield Lily's stomach with his arm. That single movement pierced my heart. We once had a child. Three years ago, because Ethan had pushed a controversial immigration bill that angered an extremist group, we were targeted. I was attacked, and I lost the baby. The doctor said my uterus was severely damaged, and it would be nearly impossible for me to conceive again. Ethan had carried that guilt for years, swearing he would devote his life to making it up to me. Now, he was protecting another woman's womb right in front of my face. Lily seemed to realize what she had done. She waved her hands in panic. "No... no! Don't say things like that! I just have a stomach bug!" As she spoke, she shot a timid, guilty look at me. "Chloe, please don't misunderstand..." I knew that reaction all too well. I picked up my wine glass and stood up. "Since Lily isn't feeling well, let's have them take the fish away." "Ethan's promotion is a blessing, and Lily has a 'stomach bug.' What a double celebration." Ethan glared at me, his eyes fierce and warning. "Chloe, cut the sarcasm. Sit down!" I slowly tipped my glass, pouring the red wine directly onto the carpet. "A toast. To Representative Vance's bright future, and to Lily's... stomach bug." I set the empty glass down and turned to leave. Behind me, Ethan's furious roar echoed through the room. "Chloe! If you walk out that door tonight, don't you dare think about coming back!" I paused, turned around, and pulled a thick manila envelope from my purse. Ethan's face went pale. The entire room gasped.