Chapter 3

I sat in my car for a long time until my attorney sent the divorce agreement, adding a reminder:

"Eleanor, based on your description, if you can get evidence of infidelity, there's a strong possibility your husband will leave with nothing."

"Okay."

I went to the convenience store at the entrance, bought some cigarettes, and headed to the security office.

"Excuse me, Frank. I'm so sorry, but I lost a gold bracelet in this complex yesterday. Would you mind pulling up the security footage for me?"

Frank took the cigarettes and didn't make things difficult for me, readily bringing up the surveillance footage.

I watched segment after segment. It wasn't just tonight; every time I worked late at the office, trying to contribute to our home, Caleb was indulging in his secret life here.

Frank saw me staring blankly at Caleb's figure and asked, "You know Caleb?"

"Oh, let me tell you, Caleb is the model husband of our complex!"

I turned my head blankly, repeating softly, "Model husband?"

Frank got animated, pulling up more footage for me.

"Look, this is when Caleb and his wife, Brittany, first moved in. Caleb handed out donuts and coffee to everyone. He said he was busy with work and asked us to keep an eye out for his wife! I thought, being apart so much, how hard that must be. But Caleb and his wife are just living in marital bliss. Caleb is a sweet-talker, and hardworking too. Look at this one, this is Caleb taking his wife for a walk. His little wife was fussy, complained about being tired after two steps, and Caleb carried her back. And this one, on Valentine's Day, his wife said she wanted a wedding. Oh, still so lovey-dovey after a few years of marriage, but Caleb didn't hesitate for a second! I still have some of their wedding candy, here, try some."

The girl in the footage, wearing a white wedding gown, was beaming with joy in Caleb's arms, and Caleb was elated, just like he was on our wedding day.

The candy was incredibly bitter, yet incredibly sweet, choking my throat so I couldn't speak, only tears fell, drip, drip, drip.

Frank saw my tears and fell silent, cautiously asking, "Who are you to Caleb?"

I tried to force a smile. "I'm his wife."

Then, I grabbed my phone, which was recording the footage, and fled.

I hid in my car, watching the surveillance footage I'd recorded, my thoughts drifting back to my wedding day with Caleb.

He was just like that, holding me and spinning around, shouting to the crowd: "I married Eleanor! Eleanor is my wife now!"

He had been the only order in my collapsing mental world, but now, that order had crumbled.

I stood downstairs, looking up, and saw the lights on in their apartment. Two figures were silhouetted against the French windows.

Caleb and Brittany embraced tightly, their lips met, and I felt my world slowly crumbling before my eyes.

I felt like my breathing stopped for as long as they kissed, and only when they separated did I seem to breathe oxygen again.

I gagged and threw up, leaned against the wall, and called him.

The first call went unanswered, ringing for a long time before going to voicemail.

The second call rang for a long time. Brittany pushed Caleb, and he reluctantly answered, "Hello, Eleanor, why are you calling?"

He yawned, as if utterly exhausted. "Work at the office is so demanding. I'm so tired, I need the best wife in the world to give me a shoulder rub."

Brittany heard this and angrily turned away. Caleb, pleading with her and trying to appease her, looked like such an extra as I watched their two figures by the French windows.

How could someone's heart hold so many people?

He asked me again, "Eleanor, what's wrong? Why aren't you saying anything?"

I looked at him and asked softly, "Do you remember what you told me on our wedding day?"