Husband's Affair with the Intern

Synopsis

I stared at my phone, the blue light illuminating my face in the darkness of our bedroom. Damian's gentle snores filled the room as I scrolled through his messages for the third time tonight. Sleep had become my enemy lately, replaced by this new ritual of doubt and surveillance. I hated what I'd become—this suspicious, anxious version of myself who checked her husband's phone while he slept. My thumb froze mid-scroll. There it was again. That name. Sage Harper. The intern. The twenty-four-year-old who'd started at Damian's company three months ago. The woman he'd been giving rides to work because her car was 'in the shop.' For twelve weeks straight. I tapped on their conversation thread, my stomach clenching as new messages appeared that hadn't been there yesterday. Photos. My breath caught in my throat as I opened the first one. Sage Harper, with her perfect blonde waves and crimson lips, sitting in the driver's seat of my BMW. My car. The one I'd saved for three years to buy. Her manicured fingers caressed the steering wheel as she pouted at the camera. 'Loving the feel of luxury,' the caption read. 'Thanks for letting me try it out, D.' I swiped to the next photo. Sage reclined in the passenger seat, her blouse unbuttoned one button too many, her legs crossed to reveal a dangerous amount of thigh. 'Room for two in here... or maybe more?' My hands trembled so violently I nearly dropped the phone. The shower was still