Chapter 3

Friday night, Derek said he had a business trip over the weekend.

"There's a project we need to discuss. The client can't travel, so we're going to them." He packed his suitcase as he talked. "I'll be back Monday night."

I leaned against the bedroom doorway, watching him. I made a small sound of acknowledgment.

He zipped up the suitcase, walked over, and hugged me. "Make sure you eat properly while I'm gone. Don't skip meals."

I nodded.

Early the next morning, I took a cab to his company.

The receptionist didn't recognize me. She asked who I was looking for.

"Is Derek on a business trip?" I stood at the front desk without moving.

"And you are?"

"His wife," I said.

She froze, didn't respond.

Just then, a middle-aged man walked by. He looked like one of Derek's coworkers.

He'd overheard our exchange and gave me a once-over.

"You're Derek's wife?"

"Yes."

He frowned. His expression was strange—like he didn't believe me, but also like he was working something out.

"Derek took time off. He's taking his girlfriend to her prenatal checkup." He spoke slowly, deliberately, as if making sure I heard every word. "If you're going to make up a story, at least make it believable."

My mind went blank.

"I am his wife."

"We've been married almost five years."

He looked at me. His expression shifted from doubt to pity to something else entirely.

He pulled his files closer to his chest and took a step back.

"Is something wrong with you?"

He tapped his temple, looking at me like I was crazy.

"Call security!"

I don't know how I ended up being pushed out the door.

As security grabbed my arm and walked me out, I didn't even struggle.

I crouched on the sidewalk, buried my face in my knees, and cried until I was shaking, until there were no tears left.

Monday. The day Derek said his business trip ended.

Seven p.m. He came home right on time.

"The house," I said. "I want to talk about it."

He paused, his face still wearing that gentle expression. "What about it? Thinking about that stalled project again?"

"It's not stalled."

I locked eyes with him.

"I went there today."

His expression didn't change, but his hand holding the remote paused for a second.

"Why would you go there?" He shook his head with a smile, his tone like he was coaxing a child. "Didn't I tell you? It's just a construction site. Waste of a trip."

"Construction site?"

My voice came out so quiet it didn't sound like mine.

"I saw the building today. Fifteenth floor. Fully finished."

He stopped talking.

"I also saw the person living in 1502." I said, "She asked who I was looking for, then shut the door."

The remote clattered to the floor. He didn't pick it up.

The air went still. So still I could hear the refrigerator humming.

"Derek." I said his name. "Tell me right now. Is that building stalled or not?"

He opened his mouth, then closed it.

A few seconds passed. He lowered his head, his voice dropping. "The developer did have problems back then. But later a new company took over and they restarted construction. I didn't mean to hide it from you, it's just..."

Just what—he didn't finish.

"Just what?" I finished for him. "Just that you happened to move another woman in?"

He jerked his head up. "It's not what you think!"

"Then what is it?"

I pulled out my phone, found the security footage from the property office, and held it up to his face.

On screen, he had his arm around that woman, standing at the building entrance. She rose on her toes and kissed him.

He glanced at it. His face changed.

"What is this?"

I asked.

He didn't answer.

"Last week you said you were on a business trip. Was that a business trip?"

He lowered his eyes. His Adam's apple bobbed.

"There's one more thing." I put my phone away. "I went to your office that day."