Chapter 2While I Was Away, My Wife Got Married

It was three in the morning, and I was still tossing and turning, unable to sleep. The photo just kept replaying in my mind.

Sarah and I had been together for four years, married for one. We were so in love. How could she have gone and married someone else?

I opened her Facebook profile and started scrolling. She hadn't posted much in the last two months, just a few updates about everyday stuff.

Before that, it was all photos of us together – food we'd eaten, trips we'd taken. It looked so perfect.

But now it all felt like a lie.

My head was spinning.

Was she being forced into this? Had someone hacked her account?

Or had Jake done something to coerce her?

Or… had she really betrayed me?

I tried calling her again, but still no answer.

My phone vibrated. It was a text from my mom: "Honey, someone at the store said they saw Sarah with a man, all cozy and holding hands. What's going on?"

My heart sank.

The phone lit up again. It was Sarah's friend, Lisa: "Mark, I don't know if I should tell you this, but Sarah's been acting weird lately. Last week I saw her at a coffee shop with a guy, and they were all over each other. When I asked her about it, she said he was her cousin… but…"

I shot up in bed, cold sweat running down my forehead.

I immediately called the project manager and told him there was a family emergency and I needed to get back home right away.

After hanging up, I booked the earliest flight back.

Looking out at the colorful city lights, my mind wandered back to that day a year ago.

Sarah stood outside the courthouse in a white sundress, smiling brighter than the sun.

She took my hand, leaned into me, and said, "Mark, I'm only marrying you for life."

I bent down and kissed her forehead: "I'll always be good to you."

Now, that vow seemed like the biggest joke of all.