The pizza suddenly seemed unappetizing as a cold wave of dread washed over me. My hands trembled as I set the box down, the cheerful buzz of the apartment now swallowed by a looming silence. What was I about to find on that camera?
My fingers fumbled as I activated the tablet controlling our door camera. The ominous message from the pizza box had set my nerves on edge, making every moment until the app opened feel endless. I scrolled through the camera’s recorded history, each swipe intensifying the suspense.
Then, it appeared.
There was Jake, my Jake, welcoming a woman at our doorstep. She wasn’t just any woman—she was laughing, handing him a bottle of wine. My heart plummeted. I kept scrolling. On different days, different women appeared, one even bringing a stack of movies.
Every time I was away, it seemed, Jake had company. Different women, each visit documented clearly by the camera he had installed, ironically, for our safety.
IMAGE FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSE ONLY
(SOURCE: Midjourney)
Frozen, the tablet slipped from my grip. How could he betray me? When had our shared life turned into this deceit? Tears clouded my vision, each recorded clip a dagger to my heart. The trust I had placed in him, the love I thought we shared—had it all been one-sided?
With every shared laugh, every exchanged bottle of wine, the apartment seemed to contract, the walls pressing in. I had cherished this place, our life together, but now every corner echoed betrayal.
Nausea overwhelmed me, a lump forming in my throat as the harsh reality sank in. This was no mere mistake or misunderstanding; it was a deliberate, ongoing betrayal. Anger surged through me, mingling with my grief.
IMAGE FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSE ONLY
I needed to confront him, to demand explanations. But first, I had to gather myself, to collect the fragments of my shattered dignity. I couldn’t let him see me broken.
I steeled myself; the love I once felt had been replaced by a biting cold fury. Jake owed me some serious answers.
CONTINUE READING NEXT PAGE
