Chapter 4

I tapped the direct messages and scrolled down.

Nothing looked suspicious. There were just work group chats, a few friends, and the chat histories were from days ago.

Unwilling to give up, I checked the camera roll and her Safari history. Still, nothing.

Maybe I was wrong?

Maybe she really just thought it was a waste of money?

But that look in her eyes, her dodging, her shoving me away...

I opened her Amazon app.

There were three pending deliveries.

The shipping address was not our apartment.

I memorized the address with a single glance. It was a condo unit in a building downtown.

It wasn't our neighborhood, and it wasn't a place I knew.

I tapped the order details.

The first order, placed a week ago:

A designer men's leather belt, $450.

Not a brand I ever wore.

The second order, five days ago:

A high-end men's skincare set, $280.

Still, not something I used.

The third order, three days ago:

A bottle of luxury men's cologne, $150.

Not the scent I liked.

I set the iPad down. My fingers were shaking violently.

I tapped her purchase history and scrolled further back.

Two months ago: a gaming laptop.

One month ago: a designer watch.

Half a month ago: a custom-made cake delivered to that same address.

The recipient’s name was Tristan.

I stared at that name. I had never heard of him.

I went through her PayPal transactions, her Uber Eats orders, her Uber ride history.

The more I scrolled, the more my hands shook.

There was a restaurant reservation for a romantic tasting menu last Thursday.

She had told me she was working late that night, coming home past nine, claiming she was exhausted and had only eaten a sad salad at her desk.

Two movie tickets, two Sundays ago.

She had said she had an urgent team meeting at the office, leaving in the afternoon and returning late.

I had spent the entire day alone watching football, waiting for her to come home for dinner.

Her Uber history showed she rode to that downtown condo at least twice a week.

The most recent trip was three days ago.

I shut the iPad down.

My phone buzzed. It was a text from my mom: Your dad and I are downstairs. Coming up now.

I stood up, but my knees felt weak. I had to lean against the wall for support.

I walked to the living room, unlocked the front door, and sat back down on the couch.

Soon, footsteps echoed in the hallway. My mom rushed in first, with my dad following closely behind.

The moment my mom saw my face, her expression changed. She hurried over to me.

"Are you okay? Did she hurt you?"

"Mom, I'm fine. Really."

"Where is Chloe?"

"She left."

"Where did she go?"

"I don't know."

My mom sat down next to me while my dad stood by the coffee table.

"Lucas," my dad spoke, his voice calm and steady. "Tell us what happened."

I looked at my dad and recounted everything from the beginning.

The call from the hotel, Chloe’s excuses, her refusing to show me her phone, and her slamming the door on her way out.

I didn't mention that I had just checked her iPad.

By the time I finished, my mom's face was flushed with anger.

"This wedding is off. For good."

"You aren't even married yet, and she's already keeping secrets from you. What happens after you tie the knot? Who does Chloe think she is? Our son is ten times too good for her!"

"There's no negotiating this. If she can call off a wedding behind your back today, she’ll betray you in worse ways tomorrow. You cannot marry this girl."