And every time I became exhausted, she said the same thing.
“Ethan, we’re doing this for our future.”
So I kept going.
Until one Tuesday night.
It was almost midnight.
I was still sitting at my desk at work.
My computer screen was filled with spreadsheets.
My coffee had gone cold.
My eyes were burning.
Then my phone vibrated.
A message from Chloe.
Don’t wait for me tonight. I’m staying at Sarah’s.
I frowned.
Chloe had never stayed at Sarah’s without telling me earlier.
I typed:
Everything okay?
She replied almost immediately.
I’m fine. Just tired. Go to sleep.
I stared at the message.
Something felt wrong.
Then another notification appeared.
My banking app.
Payment completed: $2,800.
I opened it.
The money had been transferred to Chloe.
Again.
That was almost everything I had saved that month.
I leaned back in my chair.
For the first time, I felt something other than anger.
I felt tired.
Deeply tired.
Then my phone vibrated again.
Unknown number.
There was a photograph attached.
I opened it.
My blood turned cold.
Chloe was sitting inside an expensive restaurant.
Across from her was a man I had never seen before.
His hand was resting over hers.
