Emily whispered:
— Daniel…
“No,” I said. “Tell me.”
He looked completely defeated.
— I was going to ask you for a divorce.
These words made a greater impression on me than I expected.
But somehow I already knew there was something more.
Then I saw a briefcase on the hotel desk.
The logo of a real estate company is printed on the top.
I went over and opened it.
Daniel lunged at me.
— Laura, no.
Too late.
Inside was a lease agreement.
Two-room apartment.
Signed six days earlier.
Daniel Miller.
Emily Carter.
My vision became blurry.
— You rented an apartment together.
No one answered.
I turned the pages.
Moving date: next Monday.
The next day Daniel allegedly returned home.
I slowly looked up.
— You weren’t planning on returning permanently, were you?
Daniel’s eyes filled with shame.
Emily looked at him.
— You told me she knew you were leaving soon.
That sentence changed everything.
I looked at Emily.
For the first time she seemed unsure of herself.
She seemed confused.
— What exactly did he tell you?
He lowered his voice.
“He said you’ve already talked about separating. He said you’re practically living separate lives.”
I laughed once.
There was nothing funny about it.
— Last week we were choosing new curtains for the living room.
Emily turned pale.
He looked at Daniel.
— You said she was prepared.
— I was just trying to protect everyone.
I looked at him.
Employee issues
— Protect everyone?
My voice rose.
“You let me help you pack your suitcase for a vacation you were supposed to spend with another woman. You kissed me goodbye. You promised you’d call me every night.”
Emily left him.
Travel and transportation
— You told me she knew.
Daniel turned to her.
Emily, please.
“Don’t call me ‘Emily,’ please.” Did you say something to her?”
Silence.
Emily’s eyes filled with tears.
Language resources
Suddenly I understood something almost unbelievable.
He lied to both of us.
Various lies.
The same cowardice.
Emily grabbed her suitcase.
Suitcases
“Where are you going?” asked Daniel.
She looked at him with disgust.
— Far from you.
— Emily, wait. I love you.
I shuddered.
Hearing these words hurt me.
But Emily shook her head.
“You don’t love me. You lied to me to get me to stay with you.”
He pulled the suitcase towards the door.
Then he stopped next to me.
– Sorry.
