Chapter 3

"Lucas hasn't had Christmas dinner at home a single time since we got married."

I listened to Chloe recount experiences so similar to my own.

I couldn't help but ask, "Were you planning to go abroad for Christmas this year?"

"Not exactly." She paused, then added, "But every year as Christmas approaches, Lucas buys flights abroad, only to cancel them later."

"Why?"

Chloe was silent for a moment before speaking. "He claimed clients from abroad wanted to celebrate here, so he'd cancel his plans."

"So, he said his Christmas dinners were always with clients."

I suddenly remembered that every year after Christmas, Sarah would ask me to invest in certain projects.

I asked Chloe what those projects were.

I opened Sarah's laptop and cross-referenced them, only to find they were all the same.

"So, we've both been in the dark," Chloe said calmly.

"How did you find out?" I couldn't help but be curious.

She gave a faint smile. "Naturally, I looked into those projects he mentioned and found your wife's name."

"Then, looking through his PayPal transaction history, I saw their chat messages in the memo field."

"That's how I knew they were meeting up again this year."

"So, you called me because you're planning...?" I idly played with my mouse, listening intently.

"A partnership. We both get what we need."

"Then, it's a pleasure doing business with you."

After hanging up, I copied all the project files from Sarah's laptop.

As I was checking for anything I might have missed, I noticed a huge file.

I clicked on it, and it was full of nested folders.

I tried opening them one by one, finally finding a locked file.

I tried many passwords, but none worked.

Just as I was about to give up and exit the folder,

I noticed her laptop wallpaper.

In the middle of a large heart, there was a prominent string of letters and numbers:

'S520L'

I'd accidentally glimpsed her laptop once before, and she'd frantically covered it up.

I thought she was just being shy.

After all, I was foolish enough to believe this string of letters and numbers were the capitalized initials of our two names.

But I never thought Lucas's initial would also be 'L'.

I quickly typed in the password, and sure enough, it opened.

I gave a bitter laugh internally.

Even though I knew what would be inside, and I told myself I'd let her go,

seeing her and Lucas's records, I couldn't stop the pain and hatred.

The records were dense with details, big and small.

Seven subfolders, one for each of the seven years.

Though each year comprised only a few days, they took up a full 10GB.

Year one: "Even though I married a man I didn't love, I still keep the most important place in my heart for you. I'll come back to be with you every Christmas. Love you, Lucas."

Year two: "I hate Leo's touch. Only these few days at Christmas are when I truly feel comfortable, all thanks to Lucas."

Year three: "Leo was such a bother looking for me, forcing Lucas to take me home and wasting a night of intimacy with Lucas."

...

I scrolled further and further, each entry more explicit.

It felt like I was drowning in a river, unable to breathe.

The last entry was from the day she abandoned me to go find Lucas alone.

Sarah was celebrating.

"Lucas really isn't going abroad?!"

"Good thing I found someone to cover my shift, otherwise I would have missed Lucas's party."

"A six-hour drive is nothing, it's all worth it for Lucas."

"No need to tell Leo, I didn't want him to come with me anyway; he'd just get in our way."

There were also a few unmentionable selfies she'd taken.

I clutched the mouse, blood draining from my face, my grip so tight I thought it would shatter.

Enduring the sharp pain in my heart, I copied and backed up all the evidence.

Just as I was about to grab a glass of water to compose myself,

Sarah's call came in.

"Leo Knight, get in the car right now and bring my laptop over."