Chapter 2

I have no idea how I made it out of that building.

Jessica and the two trainers half‑carried me back to my apartment.

I sat on the cold floor, still wearing the same thin clothes I'd left the house in.

Jessica wrapped a blanket around me.

"Claire, say something. You're scaring me."

I lifted my gaze to Jessica, and at last, the tears began to fall.

It wasn't a sobbing breakdown.

They just slipped down, silent and calm.

Each drop hit the floor, no different from the water dripping from the ceiling I had just seen.

"How could he do this?" I said, my voice hoarse, like sandpaper scraping my throat.

"What did I do wrong? I gave up my job and my friends for this family. Every day I think about what he likes to eat and what Lily needs. I really thought we were happy."

Jessica pulled me into a tight hug, trembling with rage.

"It's not your fault! He's the one who's heartless! That jerk has no shame! Men just turn rotten when they get money. None of them is worth a damn!"

She was right. It was not my fault. What was the point of crying? Tears didn't fix anything. They only made enemies smile and loved ones suffer. Slowly, I let the tears stop.

I stood up, still wrapped in the blanket, and walked into the bathroom.

I turned on the faucet and rinsed my face with cold water over and over.

The woman in the mirror looked deathly pale, her eyes red and swollen, her hair a mess.

Like a madwoman. And a fool, all at once.

I'd been a fool for five years.

Enough.

I walked out of the bathroom and told Jessica, "You all should go. I need to be alone for a while."

Jessica was worried. "How can I just leave you when you're like this?"

"I'm fine." My voice was calm. "Honestly, I've never felt this clear-headed before."

Jessica looked into my eyes for a long moment.

There was no sadness, no despair. Just a cold, lifeless void.

She nodded. "Okay. If you need anything, just call me. I'll come right away."

After seeing them out, I locked the door behind me.

The house was completely silent.

Only the clock on the wall was ticking.

I walked into the bedroom and opened the closet.

On Michael's side, all the clothes were neatly hung up, sorted by color. Every bit of it was organized by me.

I opened his drawer. Inside were his watches, cufflinks, and stacks of certificates.

At the very bottom, I found a navy blue velvet box.

Inside was the first watch I ever gave him. Not expensive, but he'd always kept it.

He said it was the symbol of our love.

I stared at the watch and smiled, silent, cold, and heartless.

I pulled out my phone.

In my contacts, the word "Husband" burned my eyes, mocking and ridiculous.

I didn't delete it.

I just moved him from my favorites to the regular list.

Then I created a new photo album and labeled it [Evidence.]

I opened a shopping app and typed [voice recorder] into the search bar.

I picked the most expensive one, with the longest battery life and the most hidden design.

I placed the order and went with the fastest shipping.

Once everything was done, I just sat quietly on the couch, waiting.

Waiting for the recorder to arrive.

And for Michael to come home.

He had no idea that I already knew.

He probably still thought I'd just handle the mess all by myself like the last two times, and smile at him when he walked in the door.

Not this time.

I was done being the idiot who bent over backwards for him and still got called annoying.

I would take back everything that was mine.

My dignity, my daughter, and my house.

Not giving up a single thing.

At three in the morning, my phone buzzed.

It was a message from Michael on WhatsApp.

[Babe, are you asleep yet? Just got out of a business dinner over here. I'm wiped out.]

Followed by a weary emoji.

I stared at those words, my stomach churning.

Business dinner?

Was that on the woman's bed upstairs?

I didn't reply.

After a while, he sent another message.

[Did property management fix the leak? If not, I'll come back tomorrow and take care of it myself.]

See? So thoughtful, and such a good actor.

I picked up my phone and slowly typed out a reply: [Don't worry, it's already sorted. Just focus on your trip.]

I paused for a moment, then added another line. [Take care of yourself. Don't overdo it.]

Once I'd sent the message, I switched off my phone.

The night was far from over.

My battle had only just begun.

Alright then. I would be waiting for you.