— Was it?
— Laura, things between us haven’t been good for a long time.
— That’s funny. You never mentioned that while eating the dinners I cooked. Or sleeping beside me. Or telling me you loved me every morning.
— I didn’t know how to tell you.
— So you decided lying was easier.
Daniel rubbed his face.
— I was going to tell you when I got home.
Emily suddenly glanced at him.
Something passed between them.
Something secret.
I noticed.
— Tell me what, exactly?
Daniel froze.
Emily whispered:
— Daniel…
— No, I said. Tell me.
He looked completely defeated.
— I was going to ask for a divorce.
The words landed harder than I expected.
But somehow I already knew there was more.
Then I saw a folder on the hotel desk.
A real-estate company logo was printed across the top.
I walked over and opened it.
Daniel rushed forward.
— Laura, don’t.
Too late.
Inside was a lease agreement.
A two-bedroom apartment.
Signed six days earlier.
Daniel Miller.
Emily Carter.
My vision blurred.
— You rented an apartment together.
Neither answered.
I flipped through the papers.
Move-in date: next Monday.
The day after Daniel was supposed to return home.
I slowly looked up.
— You weren’t coming back to stay, were you?
Daniel’s eyes filled with shame.
Emily stared at him.
— You told me she knew you were leaving soon.
That sentence changed everything.
I looked at Emily.
For the first time, she didn’t look confident.
She looked confused.
— What exactly did he tell you?
Her voice dropped.
— He said you two had already discussed separating. He said you were basically living separate lives.
I laughed once.
There was nothing funny in it.
— Last week we were choosing new curtains for the living room.
Emily’s face went pale.
She looked at Daniel.
— You said she was prepared.
— I was trying to protect everyone.
I stared at him.
— Protect everyone?
My voice rose.
— You let me help you pack for a vacation you were taking with another woman. You kissed me goodbye. You told me you’d call every night.
Trace Family History
Emily stepped away from him.
