CHAPTER 1 — The Picture on the Counter
Emily had spent the last three hours waiting alone.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows of their luxury penthouse, the city sparkled beneath the midnight sky. Rain tapped softly against the glass while the anniversary dinner she had prepared slowly turned cold.
Two candles still burned.
Two wine glasses remained untouched.
And her husband... never came home.
Her phone buzzed.
"Sorry, emergency meeting. Don't wait up. Love you."
She smiled sadly.
It wasn't the first time.
For months, Daniel had buried himself in work. At least, that's what he always claimed. Endless meetings. Business trips. Late-night phone calls he refused to answer in front of her.
Emily wanted to believe him.
She had to.
Because after seven years of marriage, trust was all they had left.
Trying to distract herself, she carried the dishes toward the kitchen island.
That's when she noticed something.
A framed photograph she'd never seen before.
It wasn't on the counter that morning.
Her hands froze.
She slowly picked it up.
Inside the silver frame was an old wedding picture.
Daniel...
Holding another woman.
Not Emily.
The woman wore the exact same smile Emily had once fallen in love with.
Across the corner of the photo someone had written in faded ink:
"Forever begins today."
Emily felt the air leave her lungs.
"What... is this?"
Her fingers trembled.
Before she could think, the apartment door unlocked.
Daniel walked inside.
The moment he saw the photograph in her hands...
His face turned completely white.
Not guilty.
Terrified.
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then Emily whispered the question every wife fears asking.
"Who is she?"
Daniel took one slow step forward.
"Emily..."
His voice cracked.
"Please... put that picture down."
She stared at him.
"No."
His breathing became heavier.
"You don't understand."
"Then explain."
Instead of answering...
Daniel reached for the frame.
Emily pulled it back.
The glass slipped from her shaking fingers...
CRASH!
The frame shattered across the marble floor.
And hidden behind the photograph...
May you like
A folded letter slid onto the ground.
Neither of them had known it was there.
