Chapter 2

I stared for a few seconds, then tapped into the chat.

Their messages weren't frequent, but each one felt like a physical blow.

[Is your wife home? I miss you.]

[The moon's beautiful tonight. Bought that lingerie you like.]

[Fighting with the wife again? Brides-to-be are so unreasonable.]

...

Benjamin's replies were simple.

[Yeah.][She's not.][Wait for me.]

That [Wait for me]was sent last Friday at 6 PM.

That was the night we were supposed to finalize our wedding invitations together..

I ended up doing them all alone, finishing at 9 PM. He never came home.

Seeing these messages made me sick.

Then, I noticed the girl's profile picture.

A photo of interlocked fingers. On the man's hand, the ring finger bore the wedding band Benjamin and I had chosen together.

He promised me he'd never take it off, no matter what.

He hadn't.

Even while cheating on me.

A knock sounded on the fitting room door.

"Elaine? You done?"

"Is my phone in there?"

My heart hammered. I frantically closed the app and placed the phone back where I found it.

"Just a sec! Coming out!"

Changed back into my clothes, Benjamin retrieved his phone.

He didn't notice anything wrong and suggested driving us to dinner.

He was in a great mood during the drive.

He played my favorite music. The photo tucked into the passenger sun visor was from our honeymoon phase.

No one would guess this seemingly attentive man was cheating on his fiancée.

I couldn't understand it either.

Why?

Why cheat? Was I not good enough?

When he worked late, I left the porch light on all night.

His stomach was sensitive, so I woke at 5 AM daily to prepare special meals and remind him to take his medicine.

He liked excitement. Even though I'm naturally shy, I clumsily tried to learn how to be seductive in bed for him.

Though he usually just stifled a laugh.

Or was it that he didn't love me enough?

Eight years together. From campus sweethearts to the altar.

I remembered how his hands shook holding the love letter the day he confessed.

I remembered him crying himself sick over the phone when he couldn't get a flight home to see me during his year abroad.

And earlier this year, when I was misdiagnosed with cancer.

Benjamin didn't say much, but at 2 AM, I found him sobbing uncontrollably on the balcony.

He'd even secretly made a will, telling friends,

"If Elaine doesn't make it, I'll go with her."

That was only four months ago.

But two days until our wedding.

And he chose now to cheat.

With a girl who'd helped us pick out the wedding gown.

My eyes stung. I took a deep breath, ready to confront Benjamin.

I turned and saw him smiling at his phone.

The screen wasn't fully covered. I saw her profile picture.

I decided it was time to meet this Chloe.