Chapter 3While I Was Away, My Wife Got Married

As soon as the plane landed, I jumped in a cab and raced home.

On the way, I tried to stay calm, telling myself there might be another explanation.

I ran into Mrs. Olsen, my neighbor, at the entrance to our complex.

She paused when she saw me: "Mark, you're back? I thought you guys had moved out."

"Moved? What makes you say that?"

"I saw Sarah with a guy a few days ago, carrying a bunch of stuff out. I figured you were moving to a new place," Mrs. Olsen said, looking confused. "Wasn't that you with her?"

My heart sank.

I unlocked the door, and the stale, stuffy air of a house that hadn't been aired out in a long time hit me.

From the living room to the bedroom to the kitchen, the whole place felt cold and empty.

Sarah's things were gone. Only a few of her less-worn clothes were left in the closet.

Our wedding photo sat on the nightstand. She was wearing her wedding dress and smiling sweetly.

That smile just made me feel bitter.

There was a trash bag under the coffee table, full of torn-up photos.

I pieced them back together, one by one. They were all snapshots of happy moments with Sarah.

In every photo, my face had been carefully torn out.

It was pure hatred.

My phone buzzed. It was Lisa.

"Mark, are you home? I need to tell you something in person."

Half an hour later, at the coffee shop, Lisa nervously stirred her coffee, avoiding my gaze.

"Mark, I don't even know how to say this… Sarah, she started seeing Jake about two months ago."

"Jake? Her college boyfriend?"

"Yeah, that's him." Lisa bit her lip and continued. "Jake got divorced last year and has a kid. He contacted Sarah, and they started hanging out a lot. I thought they were just friends, but then…"

"But then what?"

"A month ago, I saw them outside a hotel… hugging and kissing." Lisa looked down, her face red. "I asked Sarah about it, and she said things weren't working out between you two, that you'd been seeing someone else. But Mark, I know you. I know you wouldn't do that…"

I clenched my fist so hard my nails dug into my skin.

Sarah hadn't just cheated, she'd slandered me too?

"There's something else," Lisa hesitated. "Her stomach…"

"What about her stomach?"

"She might have had an abortion…" Lisa didn't finish the sentence, but I understood.

Tears welled up in my eyes.

I'd guessed as much the moment I saw the ripped-up photos.

I just hadn't wanted to believe it.