I Know the Secret of Your Body

I’ve always been conservative. I follow the rules.

But today, out of nowhere, I received a package.

There was a note inside that read: Tonight at 10 PM. Wear this. Come to Lush Bar.

I opened it. Inside was an outrageously sheer dress.

There was no way I could wear this in public.

I was about to toss it in the trash when I got a text from an unknown number: I know your body’s secret.

My blood ran cold.

Panicking, I pulled on the dress and hurried toward the bar, dodging people the whole way.

Because I’m different from everyone else.

I was born with two uteruses and only one kidney.

If my newlywed husband found out, he’d divorce me for sure…

My name is Vivian Rivers. I just got married not too long ago.

My husband Marcus travels a lot for work, so to keep him from worrying, I rarely go out.

I dress modestly too.

I honestly thought I’d never done anything to betray him.

But that evening, right after I got home from work, I found a strange package sitting outside my door.

I thought it was something Marcus sent again. He loves buying me things.

Excited, I tore open the package. It was a dress.

A beautiful, plain silk dress. I took a shower, changed into it, and walked over to the full-length mirror. My face instantly turned red.

The dress was see-through!

Why would Marcus buy me something like this? No, no, I can’t wear this. I’ll throw it in the trash on my way out.

But before I could even take the dress off, I got a text from an unknown number.

I opened it. My face went white.

It said: I know your body’s secret.

That line was so strange. I should’ve just deleted it like spam, but the thing is, I really do have a secret.

I was born with a double uterus. And I only have one kidney.

Who is this person? Why would they send me a message like this?

I texted back, “Who are you?”

No reply. I tried calling. They didn’t pick up.

I clutched the dress, my mind racing.

Suddenly, my phone rang. Marcus was calling on FaceTime.

“Whoa, you’re actually wearing something like that? You look gorgeous, babe. Save that for me when I get back.” His voice snapped me back to reality.

I’d answered his FaceTime in this dress. If Marcus got the wrong idea, how would I even explain?

I quickly said, “Honey, I just got this dress and tried it on. The tags are still on, see? Maybe I should return it. It’s not really appropriate.”

But Marcus just nodded with satisfaction. “Return it? Why? You finally bought yourself something nice. Don’t you dare send it back.”

I caught the subtext immediately. He thought I bought it.

But I didn’t buy this dress!

So who would send a married woman something this suggestive?

I didn’t dare ask.

I picked up the packaging from the floor. A note fell out: “Tonight at 10 PM. Wear it. Come to Lush Bar. Or else, you know what happens.”

My face went pale. I hung up on Marcus.

Combined with that strange text, it all clicked.

Someone was targeting me. Someone wanted to blackmail me with my secret.

But I really don’t want Marcus to know.

Our relationship wasn’t easy to begin with.

His whole family keeps asking when we’re going to have kids. If they found out about my condition, that it affects my ability to get pregnant, he’d divorce me.

But I love Marcus so much. I can’t let him go.

I looked at the clock. It was already 9:50.

I didn’t have time to think. I threw on a coat and rushed out, hailing a cab.

I went to Lush Bar.

But just a few minutes into the ride, I got another text:

Take off that coat. Do what you’re told. Don’t try anything clever. I can see you at all times.

My heart jumped. I looked up at the rearview mirror and met the driver’s eyes.

They were cloudy and dull. He grinned at me, showing yellowed teeth.

Could the mystery person be him?

I slowly took off my coat. My curvy figure looked even more provocative under the sheer dress.

I stared hard at the cab driver and asked cautiously, “Is it you?”

He nodded eagerly. My heart sank.

I was in his car. How was I supposed to escape?

But then he said, “You requested the cab ending in 3553, right? That’s me.”

I wiped the sweat from my palms. I was being paranoid.

The driver kept his eyes on the road the whole time. Sure, he glanced at me now and then, but he didn’t do anything unusual.

And he was driving the whole time. There was no way he could’ve been texting.

I didn’t see anyone suspicious the entire ride either.

Soon we arrived at Lush Bar. I jumped out and ran.

Because the text came again. This time with a countdown.

10, 9, 8…

I burst through the door just as the countdown hit 2.

The timing was way too precise. This person had to be watching me nearby!

I spun around. Several men and women were staring at me.

That’s when I realized what I was wearing. Even for a bar, this sheer dress stood out.

My face burned with embarrassment.

Buzz buzz.

My phone vibrated again.

Unknown number: Dance closely with the man in white in front of you for ten minutes. Countdown starts in one minute.

I didn’t have time to think. I walked toward the man in white.

He was already dancing. I tapped his shoulder.

He turned around. I froze.

It was him.

I covered my face and tried to run.

But he grabbed my wrist. His hand was burning hot.

“Vivian, is that you?” It was Ray, my coworker.

He’d been chasing me for three years. I’d told him I’d never be with someone as indecent as him.

But now, I was dressed way more indecently than he was.

“No, you’ve got the wrong person.” I covered my face and turned away.

But he laughed and pulled me into his arms. “Vivian, I’d recognize those two moles on your waist even in my dreams.”

My phone buzzed. I knew it was counting down again.

I gritted my teeth and said to Ray, “Hey, can we just dance close for ten minutes? I lost a game with friends. It’s a dare.”

He didn’t hesitate. The music started, and he put his hands on my waist and started moving.

But halfway through, he got too close. Every hair on my body stood on end.

Those ten minutes felt like the longest of my life.

When it ended, he still wouldn’t let go. He kept running his hands over my waist.

I swallowed my disgust and pushed his hand away. I texted the unknown number: That’s enough. Pranks should have limits. I’m calling the cops.

But then they sent me a photo. It was me and Ray dancing close together.

With that dress and that angle, it looked completely inappropriate.

The text said: If you don’t obey, I’ll send this to your husband.

I didn’t dare gamble. But I searched in the direction the photo was taken from.

Everyone was dancing. No one was on their phone.

What was I supposed to do? Was I just going to keep getting blackmailed like this?

Buzz buzz. The next demand arrived:

Go to the bar bathroom. Push open the third stall. Go inside and get something.

I walked past couple after couple making out.

I finally found the bathroom. It was gender-neutral.

The door to the third stall was half-open. There was no sound. I pushed it open and walked in.

I thought there’d be something obvious, but there was nothing inside.

I was carefully checking the walls for messages when someone came in!

He grabbed me fast.

I couldn’t turn around. I was locked tight in his arms.

“Please, let me go. I can give you money!” I tried to negotiate with him.

But he just laughed. “I just paid ten for you. How much can you give me?”

Ten? Did he mean ten thousand?

Who was sick enough to sell me for ten thousand dollars?

“You’ve got the wrong person. Let me go now and I won’t say anything. But if you keep this up, sexual assault is a crime!”

The man chuckled softly. “Vivian, I’ve liked you for three years. Getting to have you is worth breaking the law.”

“Ray?” Once I called out his name, he stopped disguising his voice.

“Vivian, just let me touch you once. After that, I’ll do whatever you want.”

“No! I’m married!” I refused firmly.

But Ray suddenly ripped my dress. “Oh really? A married woman comes to a bar dressed like this while her husband’s away, looking for a hookup.”

“It’s not what you think…”

But he didn’t listen to my explanation. He silenced me with one sentence.

He said, “Don’t you want to know who sold your information to me?”

“There are over a hundred guys in our group chat. They’ve all seen videos of you changing clothes, using the bathroom, and even doing it with your husband.”

My whole body went cold. I was terrified by this sudden information.

Seeing me stay quiet, Ray opened his phone and showed me a photo.

My blood rushed to my head. It was a photo of me in the bathroom after a shower, applying lotion.

Crystal clear. Nothing hidden.

I bit my lip until it bled. Numb, I made the only choice I could: “Fine. When you’re done, you’ll tell me.”

Seeing me agree to cooperate, Ray got excited. He lifted me up and pushed me against the wall…

His mouth kissed down from behind my ear. His stubble was rough and scratchy.

I closed my eyes in despair. Tears streamed down my face.