Chapter 2

I stood there, unmoving.

I was shrouded in the pillar's shadow, while just a few steps away, Jessica stood in the bright light of the mall, head down, typing away on her phone.

She looked totally absorbed, not even noticing I was there.

I stared at her, and for the first time, the face I'd seen for ten years suddenly felt like a stranger.

The face that used to turn red fighting for me, and those eyes that once teared up out of pity for me, right now, in my head, they were nothing but one big, ironic joke.

What exactly were they trying to confirm?

Were they measuring how much I trusted Ryan? Or just judging my place in the family?

Or was I nothing more than a wager to them, just a toy for their amusement?

Ten years as best friends, three years as husband and wife.

The two people who mattered most to me had just teamed up to hit me with a slap I never saw coming.

My phone buzzed, and I instinctively glanced down.

It was a message from Jessica: "Babe, did you get lost in the bathroom or what? Why aren't you back yet?"

I took a deep breath, swallowing back the nausea and the chill twisting in my gut.

Then I lifted my head, put on my usual gentle smile, and walked over to her.

"I'm back. It was pretty packed in there," I said.

Jessica quickly put her phone away and hooked her arm through mine, looking genuinely worried.

"Is your stomach any better? Want to see a doctor?" she asked.

"I'm fine," I said, shaking my head, my gaze drifting to her free hand.

That was the very hand that had just stabbed me in the back.

"Alright, it's getting late. I'll take you home," she said, smiling.

I nodded, letting her link arms with me.

On the way back, Jessica kept making plans for my future.

"Girl, you can't keep being so naive. You need to get your hands on Ryan's debit card," she said.

"And doesn't he have a bunch of supplementary credit cards? You should get those too. A woman needs money in her hands to have real confidence."

"Just listen to me, and you'll thank me later," she added.

I listened quietly, occasionally responding with a soft "yeah" to show I was paying attention.

I kept my eyes off her face, focusing instead on the neon lights streaking past the car window.

Those strange, surreal colors looked like twisted masks, reflected in my emotionless eyes.

When we pulled up outside my apartment building, Jessica parked the car.

She took out that envelope stuffed with cash again, trying to press it into my hand.

I gently pushed it back to her.

"Jessica, I know you mean well, but I really can't take your money," I said.

"Come on, why are you being so polite?" she protested.

"It's not about being polite," I replied, looking her straight in the eye, my voice steady. "Ryan doesn't give me much, but I've got some savings. I'm good. Your money's hard-earned, so please, just take it back."

I stood my ground, and Jessica was caught off guard.

She clearly hadn't expected me, the person who always went along with whatever she said, to shut her down so decisively.

She hesitated for a few seconds, then finally tucked the envelope away, her face showing a trace of discomfort.

"Alright then. If you ever need anything, just let me know," she said.

"I will," I replied with a smile, unbuckling my seatbelt. "I'll head up now. Drive carefully."

Without giving her a chance to say anything else, I opened the door, got out, and walked straight into the building.

As I stepped into the elevator, I caught my own calm face in the shiny walls.

No tears, no drama.

That sudden betrayal crashed over me like a freezing blizzard, wiping out every last bit of warmth and softness in my heart.

When I got home, I didn't turn on the lights.

In the darkness, this home I'd decorated myself, once full of warmth and memories, felt cold and unfamiliar to me for the first time.

Ryan's slippers were still by the door, and the throw pillow Jessica gifted me was still on the couch.

Everything looked just like it always did, but somehow, nothing felt right anymore.

There was only one thing on my mind: 'When did they start betraying me?'

I asked myself, 'Wasn't I flawless as a wife to Ryan? Didn't I do everything I could for his family?'

And for Jessica, I gave her everything, trusted her with all I had.'

But what did I get in return?'

I made my way to Ryan's study, where his computer and all his paperwork were kept, everything that belonged to him was right there.

I'd never so much as looked at his stuff before, all because I trusted him.

Trust? Now that's just laughable,' I thought to myself.

The desk was neat, and the computer needed a password to get in.

I tried my birthday, his birthday, our wedding anniversary, each time, the screen flashed 'incorrect password.' Not a single one was right.

My gaze finally drifted to the locked drawer on the far right side of the desk.

That drawer had been locked since the day I moved in as his wife.

Ryan always claimed it held things that were private, off-limits to me.

I believed him back then and never pressed for details.

Thinking about it now, it's almost ridiculous.

What could a married man possibly have that his wife, the person he lives with day in and day out, isn't allowed to see?

Unless he's got some shady secret stashed in there.

I crouched down, peering at that tiny keyhole.

In that moment, I felt an eerie, almost unnatural calm settle over me.

If you two are acting together, then I need to get my hands on your script first. Only then can I figure out how to play my part in your little drama,' I thought to myself.

Instead of trying to force the lock open, I chose another way.

I went back to the bedroom, opened my jewelry box, and pulled out a set of keys from the secret slot at the bottom.

These were the spare keys Ryan gave me back when we renovated the place, every single door and cabinet in the house had its own key.

He said I wouldn't need them anymore and told me to put them away, so I tucked them into the jewelry box and almost forgot they even existed.

Gripping that icy little key, I headed back to the study.

I paused before the locked drawer.

Then, with deliberate slowness, I inserted the key into the lock.