our marriage had existed mostly through phone calls and text messages, a convenient arrangement between two famil

rter, his texts more generic. This trip was my attempt to close that gap, a surprise vi

in a crowd, impeccably dressed, with a charismatic smile that drew people in. He was holding

that felt a little too stiff, a little too rehearsed.

the feeling of unease. "I tried calling y

utiful, with bright, confident eyes and a smile that didn't quite reach them. She was

arah Jenkins, David's assistant. We were in a crucial meeting with the investors, and I

hook it. Her grip was firm,

meet you," I m

r a microscope. I instinctively pulled my sweater tighter around myself. This was Sarah. The assistant David had mention

ued, her arm linking casually with his. "He was ju

smile, not confirming or denying her words. He see

rom his studies abroad and I finished my degree. There was no grand romance, just a quiet understanding. We respected each other's careers and gave each other sp

m my thoughts. She was walking on David's other side, creating a strange, crowded

ointed. It felt

le Sarah slid into the front passenger seat without a moment's hesita

l of the rental mixing with the faint

" David said, looking at me through the rearview mirror.

tel?" I

. "The company put the whole project team there.

it right. It felt too convenient. Sarah tur

hen she added, with a little laugh, "You have to be careful, Chloe. Men ca

as sharp and ugly. She was testing me, provoking me. I looked at David, waiting for h

kles white. He laughed weakly. "Sarah, don't

tuation. In that moment, watching him through the rearview mirror, I started to see the cra

vague answers about his work. The way his voice lit up when he mentioned his "team's" succ

As David checked us in, Sarah stood close by, pointing at something on her

David put his arm around my shoulder. "I know work has been crazy. I

gy felt hollow. It was the same e

only truth I could offer. I wasn't just tired from the flight, I was tired of the distance,

tcase sat by the door, a symbol of my temporary, guest-like status. I just wanted to sleep, to es

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