I Decided to Surprise My Wife at the Airport Pickup — Then She Walked Out Holding Another Man’s Hand
Chapter 2
They sat in Ethan’s car without speaking.
Olivia sat in the passenger seat.
Nathan had taken another vehicle.
Ethan kept both hands on the steering wheel.
“Are you sleeping with him?”
Olivia closed her eyes.
“It’s not that simple.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
She looked at him.
“No.”
Ethan laughed bitterly.
“You’re holding another man’s hand at the airport and telling me it’s not what it looks like.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Then tell me what it is.”
Olivia stared through the windshield.
“His name is Nathan Brooks.”
“I know his name.”
“He works with me.”
“Where?”
“Chicago.”
Ethan turned toward her.
“You’ve never mentioned him.”
“I didn’t think it mattered.”
“Apparently it does.”
Silence filled the car.
Then Olivia whispered:
“He knows something about you.”
Ethan frowned.
“About me?”
“Yes.”
“What?”
She shook her head.
“Not here.”
Ethan felt his stomach tighten.
They drove home.
For the first time in twelve years of marriage, Ethan and Olivia sat across from each other at the kitchen table like strangers.
Finally, Olivia spoke.
“Nathan is investigating something.”
“What?”
“Financial fraud.”
Ethan stared.
“What does that have to do with me?”
“He believes you may be connected to it.”
Ethan stood.
“That’s insane.”
Olivia’s voice trembled.
“I know.”
“Do you believe him?”
She didn’t answer.
That hurt more than anything.
Ethan walked toward the bedroom.
On the dresser was their wedding photograph.
Twelve years.
One house.
Two careers.
A life they had built together.
He looked at the picture.
Then his phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
A message appeared.
You shouldn’t trust your wife.
A second message followed.
Ask her what happened three years ago.
Ethan stared.
Three years ago.
That was the year Olivia had suddenly taken a six-month leave from work.
She had never explained why.
He had assumed it was stress.
Now he wasn’t sure.
He turned around.
“Olivia.”
She looked up.
“What’s three years ago?”
Her face changed.
And Ethan realized immediately.
She knew exactly what he meant.
