Chapter 2

Daniel denied everything.

He said the woman was only a friend.

Then he became angry.

He told his parents that I was controlling.

“She has everything,” he complained. “But she’s always suspicious of me.”

His mother believed him.

I didn’t argue.

I had spent too many years trying to prove that I was a good wife.

Eventually, the arguments became unbearable.

We separated.

I returned to my parents’ home.

Daniel moved in with his uncle.

Nearly two years passed.

We were still legally married, but emotionally, we lived like strangers.

Then I caught him again.

And again.

The first time, I cried.

The second time, I didn’t.

By then, something inside me had changed.

One December evening, a friend called me.

“Clara, I think you should come here.”

“Where?”

She gave me the name of a café.

“Daniel is here.”

I already knew what that meant.

I drove there.

When I entered the café, I saw him sitting across from another woman.

Rebecca.

She was laughing.

Daniel was leaning toward her.

For a moment, I stood frozen.

Then I walked over.

Rebecca saw me first.

Her smile disappeared.

Daniel turned pale.

“Clara…”

I pulled out a chair.

“Mind if I join you?”

Neither answered.

So I sat down.

And smiled.