Chapter 3

Ethan finally picked up on my silence. He turned his head to study my face.

"Did the crash scare you that much?"

I held his gaze.

"Ethan."

"Yeah?"

"Would you ever cheat on me?"

The living room fell into dead silence.

Ethan paused for a beat, then chuckled softly.

It was that familiar, indulgent, affectionate laugh.

"What kind of crazy question is that?"

He reached out to ruffle my hair. I leaned away slightly, leaving his hand hanging in the air.

He didn't get annoyed. He simply pulled his hand back, making his tone even softer.

"How could I ever cheat on you? Don't you know how much you mean to me? Besides you, who else in this world could even catch my eye?"

He let out a quiet sigh.

"Did that little fender bender rattle you, or did someone put stupid ideas in your head? Stop overthinking. Your husband has nothing to hide. I’m an open book."

He took my hand into his, raised his other hand, and mimed taking an oath.

"If I, Ethan, ever betray you, may lightning strike me down on the spot."

Every single word was spoken with absolute conviction.

His eyes were candid, his demeanor calm and confident.

In the past, I would have laughed, swatted his arm, and let it go.

"Alright, stop spiraling."

He wrapped an arm around my shoulder, slid his other arm under my knees, and scooped me up into his arms.

I used to love it when he carried me like this. It made me feel so safe, so protected.

He carried me toward the bedroom, leaning down to press a soft kiss against my forehead.

"You had a rough day. Let's get to bed early. I'll give you a scalp massage."

The moment his lips grazed my skin, my stomach heaved with revulsion.

I violently shoved against his chest.

Ethan stumbled backward, nearly losing his footing. Shock flashed across his face.

"What's wrong?"

I took a step back, widening the distance between us.

"I'm exhausted. I just want to sleep."

I turned toward the bedroom.

At the threshold, I glanced back.

Ethan was still standing where I pushed him, his arms hanging awkwardly, his expression shifting from confusion to bewilderment.

And beneath that, something dark and guarded.

I closed the door and leaned my back against the wood.

Slowly, I slid down to the floor, burying my face in my knees.

I don't know how much time passed before two soft knocks rattled the door.

"Babe?"

Ethan's voice came from the hallway.

I didn't answer.

The doorknob jiggled, but the lock held firm. I had turned the deadbolt from the inside.

"Did you lock the door?"

A sharp edge of suspicion crept into his voice.

"What is going on with you today? Are you hiding something from me?"

A bitter laugh almost tore out of my throat.

*I'm* hiding something from *him*?

"If something's bothering you, just tell me. Don't bottle it up."

His tone turned stern, authoritative.

"We're husband and wife. There shouldn't be secrets between us."

I stood up from the floor and placed my hand on the metal doorknob.

The moment the icy metal bit into my palm, I yanked the door open.

Ethan stood on the threshold, his brow furrowed, lips pressed into a tight, defensive line.

He stared at me, waiting for me to speak.

"Who is she?"

My voice was flat. As flat as someone asking what we were having for dinner.

Ethan's pupils shrank almost imperceptibly.

It was so fast.

So fast that if I hadn't been boring my eyes into his, I would have missed it entirely.

"Who is who?"

His face seamlessly pivoted into genuine confusion.

"What are you talking about?"

"The dashcam."

I stared right into his eyes.

"I saw everything."