My sister kissed my husband in front of thirty people at her own anniversary party and called it a joke. kertati Her husband had a wrapped present in his hands and an envelope she had never opened.

Christmases.

Birthdays.

Family dinners.

My children’s birthdays.

My wedding anniversary.

Every time I hugged my sister, I was hugging a woman who had been sleeping with my husband.

Then I found something from three months before the garden party.

Callan: When the time comes, we’ll tell them together.

Sasha: And Bryony?

Callan: She’ll eventually understand.

Eventually.

As though my entire marriage was something I would eventually get over.

I kept scrolling.

Then another message appeared.

Sasha:

What about the money?

I frowned.

Callan:

I’ll handle it.

Sasha:

And the house?

Callan:

She won’t fight me if I do it carefully.

My stomach tightened.

I read it again.

The bedroom door opened.

I looked up.

Callan stood there.

His hair was wet.

He looked at the phone in my hand.

He didn’t ask what I’d found.

He knew.

“You weren’t supposed to find that.”

I looked at him.

“No.”

I put the phone on the bed.

“You weren’t supposed to get caught.”

He closed his eyes.

“Bryony…”

“How long?”

“I told you.”

“No. You lied.”

“I was scared.”

“You weren’t scared when you were doing it.”

He looked at me.

“I love you.”

I shook my head.

“Don’t say that.”

“I do.”