Emma’s life, on the surface, looked pretty good. As a successful real estate agent, she earned enough to enjoy the lifestyle she’d always dreamed of. But behind closed doors, her marriage was slowly unraveling. Her husband, James, had grown cold and distant—and the moment his lover called Emma to rent a place, everything began to collapse.
One morning, Emma sat at the kitchen table, preparing breakfast for the two of them. The comforting scent of fresh coffee and the gentle sizzle of eggs filled their warm kitchen. She plated the omelet with toast, clinging to the hope that sticking to their routine might bring them closer again.
Trying to lighten the mood, she asked, “Any thoughts on the weekend? Maybe we could check out that new gallery or catch a movie?” Her voice was gentle, as if trying to bridge a growing gap.
James didn’t even look up. “Maybe,” he muttered, glued to his phone.
Emma felt the familiar sting of rejection, though she masked it with a small smile. This was their new normal—her reaching out, him drifting further.
While refilling their coffee, Emma caught a name flashing on his phone: “Lisa,” along with the picture of a woman she didn’t recognize. Her heart skipped, but she kept her composure.
“Who’s Lisa?” she asked casually, trying not to let on that her stomach had just twisted in knots.
“Just someone from work,” James replied, barely interested. “We’ve got a business trip this weekend. I’ll be back Monday.”
His words were so flat, they felt like background noise.
Emma nodded and smiled through the tightness in her chest. “Okay, safe travels,” she said, kissing his cheek as he grabbed his keys. “See you Monday.”
Once he was gone, the house felt silent and cold. She watched from the window as his car disappeared down the road, a gnawing unease creeping in.
Something about this “business trip” didn’t sit right.
Still, she shook off the feeling—she had a client to meet. A woman was interested in renting a high-end apartment for the weekend, and Emma was determined to stay professional, despite her racing thoughts.
But as she got ready to head out, she couldn’t shake the image of Lisa’s name on James’s phone.
Later that day, she arrived at the apartment for the showing, still distracted by the events of the morning. Work, she reminded herself, was a good place to stay grounded.
Then the client walked in—and Emma froze.
It was her. Lisa. The woman from James’s phone.
Her heart pounded.
What happened next would change everything.