Chapter 3

Zoe's POV

Weekend came, and Madison texted me about coffee as always. I played it cool and went.

I smiled at Madison across the coffee shop table while my stomach twisted into knots.

"You look tired," she said, stirring her latte. "Work stress?"

"Just busy with this new project. You know how it is."

She nodded sympathetically, and I wanted to throw my coffee in her face and scream that I knew everything. Instead I just took another sip and asked about her week like nothing had changed, because nothing could change yet.

That night Alex came home around eight and kissed my forehead like he always did.

"How was your day?" I asked.

"Long, tedious meeting with the clients." He loosened his tie. "Yours?"

"Fine, made dinner. It's in the oven."

We ate together, watched TV, went to bed. He wrapped his arm around my waist and fell asleep within minutes while I lay there in the dark listening to him breathe and felt like I was drowning.

Maybe I'm wrong, maybe there's an explanation.

But I'd watched those videos a hundred times now and read every single Instagram post. There was no explanation that could make this okay.

When I was sure Alex was asleep I slipped out of bed and locked myself in the bathroom. I sat on the cold tile floor and cried into a towel so he wouldn't hear me.

The package arrived on Wednesday afternoon while Alex was at work.

Three small boxes, unmarked. I opened them at the kitchen table with shaking hands.

The first camera was disguised as a phone charger, the second looked like a decorative photo frame, and the third was an air freshener.

I'd spent hours researching which ones to buy, reading reviews and comparing prices. This is insane, I'd thought while entering my credit card information. I'm spying on my own husband.

But what other choice did I have?

I downloaded the monitoring app first and followed the instructions step by step.

The living room camera went on the bookshelf angled toward the couch. I plugged it in, adjusted it slightly, and checked my phone to make sure I could see the entire seating area clearly.

The bedroom was harder because my hands wouldn't stop shaking as I positioned the frame on Alex's nightstand. I had to try three times before I got the angle right.

This is our bedroom, and I'm putting a camera in here to spy on my own husband.

I sat on the edge of the bed and put my head in my hands, thinking maybe I should just ask him about everything. Maybe I should show him the videos and give him a chance to explain.

But I already knew what would happen because he'd lie and gaslight me and make me feel crazy for even questioning him. He'd already done exactly that when I gave him the chance to tell me the truth.

I forced myself to finish the job.

The study camera took five minutes to set up. I tested all three feeds again to make sure the audio was clear and the video quality was sharp, then I deleted my browsing history, cleared my purchase records, and wiped every trace of what I'd done.

By the time Alex came home that evening I was cooking dinner like nothing had happened.

"Something smells good," he said, kissing my cheek.

I smiled and told him it was his favorite.

Friday night I made my move.

"So the company wants me to go to LA," I said over dinner, keeping my tone casual. "Three months, they need someone to oversee the new project launch."

Alex's fork stopped halfway to his mouth for just a second before he recovered.

"Three months?" His eyebrows went up. "That's a long time."

But I saw it in his eyes, that flash of something that wasn't concern or sadness but pure excitement.

"I know, I don't really want to go, but it's a good opportunity." I pushed food around my plate. "Could lead to a promotion."

"Well, if it's good for your career..." He reached across the table and squeezed my hand. "I'll miss you obviously, but I'll be fine. I can take care of myself."

"I'll call Madison later and let her know I won't be around for a while," I said.

"Good idea, she'll want to say goodbye."

I excused myself and went to the bedroom to make the call.

"LA? For three months?" Madison's voice rose with what sounded like genuine surprise. "Oh my God Zoe, that's so long."

"I know, I'm going to miss you so much."

"I'll miss you too." She sighed. "But hey, this is great for your career right? You have to go. We can video chat all the time."

"Yeah, we will."

"When do you leave?"

"Next Friday."

"So soon? Okay well we need to hang out before you go, dinner this week?"

"Definitely."

I hung up and stared at my phone, thinking about how sincere and caring she sounded.

For just a moment I wondered if I was making a huge mistake, if maybe I was seeing things that weren't there or if maybe there was some innocent explanation I hadn't thought of.

Then I remembered that video and his voice saying the person I love most is you.

I went back to the living room where Alex was watching something on his laptop.

"What'd she say?" he asked without looking up.

"She's sad I'm leaving but supportive."

"That's Madison, always supportive."

I sat down next to him and leaned my head on his shoulder. He put his arm around me and we stayed like that for a while as I tried to memorize what this felt like, because soon all of this would be gone.

The morning I "left," Alex drove me to the airport.

We didn't talk much during the drive. I stared out the window watching Seattle slip past and wondered if I was really going through with this.

You could still back out, you could tell him you know, you could give him another chance.

But why would I do that so he could lie again? So he could promise to change and then keep seeing Madison behind my back?

No, I'd given him a chance and he'd thrown it away.

At the airport Alex pulled my suitcase from the trunk and walked me inside to the crowded terminal full of early morning travelers.

"Call me when you land," he said.

"I will."

He hugged me tight and I let myself lean into it one last time while his hand rubbed circles on my back.

"I love you," he said into my hair.

"I love you too."

He kissed my forehead and then my lips. When he pulled back he was smiling. "Three months will fly by, and when you get back we'll celebrate. Nice dinner, whatever you want."

"Sounds perfect."

I watched him walk away with his hands in his pockets and I knew he was already thinking about her and already planning what they'd do.

I turned toward security but didn't go through. Instead I found a quiet corner and sat down to wait for two hours, scrolling through my phone and watching people come and go.

Then I opened a rideshare app and requested a car.

Twenty minutes later I was checking into a hotel downtown with cash and using a different name.

I sat on the bed and pulled out my phone to open the monitoring app.

Three camera feeds loaded showing my empty living room, my empty bedroom, and my empty study.

Soon they wouldn't be empty anymore.

I just had to wait.