1. The doorbell rang once

“Alex, come on, you’ re going to be late,” Caro called softly, her voice carrying a melody of care through the narrow hallway.

From the edge of the kitchen, she leaned into the doorway, balancing a steaming mug of coffee in one hand and a dish towel s lung over her shoulder. The morning sun filtered through the transparent white curtains, painting golden streaks across the tiled floor.

“ Five more minutes,” Alex groaned from the living room couch, pulling a pillow over his head.

“You said that ten minutes ago,” she said with a light laugh. “ Breakfast is getting cold, and your son is already at the table pretending to be invisible.”

“ I’m not pretending!” piped up a tiny voice.

Caro turned toward the table with a grin. “Oh really? Because I can’t seem to see anyone who refuses to finish their eggs.”

Henry giggled, mouth full. “ But eggs are weird mom!”

“Well, weird or not, growing superheroes eat their breakfast."

Alex finally sat up, hair tousled, rubbing sleep from his eyes. “You two are teaming up against me, huh?”

“We always do,” Caro teased, walking over to place the mug in front of him. “ Now eat something before you turn back into a pumpkin.”

“ Pretty sure that’s not how it works, come on, drop my coffee right here,” he sent a harsh smirk, spreading his legs wide to drop the coffee.

Caro bent down and planted a kiss on his forehead. “Just go with it.” But Alex didn't return the kisses back and didn't pretend to care either. He even acted as though the kids irritates him.

Their mornings always started this way: light teasing, warm food, and soft moments shared between the three of them. It was a fragile routine, one Caro had worked hard to build. She poured herself a cup of tea and sank into the seat across from them, watching the two people she loved most in the world.

Just as she took her first sip, the doorbell rang.

Caro frowned. “That’s odd. Who stops by this early?”

Alex shrugged, not looking up from his toast. “ Probably a delivery.” “ I didn’t order anything.”

Caro stood, drying her hands as she walked toward the front door. She pulled it open and her fingers hung on air.

There was no one there. Only a small, square package resting neatly on the doorstep. Her heart skipped.

She stepped out cautiously, glancing down both ends of the street. There was no van or neighbor. Just lonely streets.

Picking it up, she noticed the package was light, wrapped in plain brown carton box with no return address.

“Alex,” she called back, voice tinged with unease, “ Did you order something?” “ No. Why?” he answered, mouth half-full.

“There’s something strange here...”

Caro stepped back inside, setting the parcel on the dining table. Alex glanced up and narrowed his eyes.

“What is it?”

“ I don’t know. It was just there.”

With tentative fingers, Caro peeled the paper back. Inside was a small blackbox. She hesitated for a moment, then lifted the lid.

Her brows wrinkled.

Inside, neatly folded, was a delicate pair of lace-trimmed panties, feminine, lingeries, expensive- looking. Nestled beneath them were photographs. She picked them up, her fingers trembling.

And then her world tilted.

It was Alex.

Very clear as day, in bed with another woman.

The angle was intimate. The expressions undeniable. One of the photos even captured him smiling into the woman’s neck. The timestamp on the bottom corner read only two weeks ago.

Caro felt the blood drain from her face. Her chest tightened, the sound of her heartbeat pounding in her ears. The mug slipped from her hand and shattered against the tile.

Alex sprang up. “What the hell? What is wrong with you?” his voice thundered.

She turned the photos toward him. Her voice s hook. “What is this, Alex?”

He froze immidiately. His eyes scanned the images, then flicked back to her. “They’ re... not what they look like caro.”

“ Not what they —” Caro choked, a disbelieving laugh escaping her throat. “You’ re in bed with another woman, Alex. There’s no other way to see it!”

He rubbed the back of his neck, sighing. “ It’s complicated, Caro.”

“Complicated? Could you try denying this for a second please?” Her voice cracked. “ I’ve been here every day, raising your son, building this home, loving you and you were sleeping with someone else?”

“ It’s not like that,” he said sharply, stepping forward. “ It was a mistake and I didn't mean to.... relax, don't tell me you are yelling over this mere photos. It means nothing.”

“yelling? Means nothing? Is that all you could say? Why send them to our house?”

Alex flinched, then ran his hand on his hair. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

“Who is she, Alex?” Caro demanded. “Tell me the truth, the boldness to send this shit here!” He hesitated. “ Bella.”

Everything inside Caro stilled.

“Your ex-wife?” she snapped back. He nodded slowly. “Yes.”

 Henry stood watching, confused, while he snack on his meal. He doesn't know Bella as his mum rather as aunt Bella as he's father had told him. He's mother left when she gave birth to him and never really visited except once in Halloween. Alex didn't want to also reveal her as his mother, since she didn't want to stay with him, it would hurt the boy's memory knowing his own mum abandoned him. So Alex simply played along with the mother's decision.

Caro felt as though the air had been punched from her lungs. She stared at him, trying to understand.

“Why? Why what is going on Alex? After everything you told me about her? how she left you, how she made your life hell, why?”

“ Because she has the money,” he said quietly, barely audible. “She’s the one helping us stay afloat. The rent, the car, the house, everything. I didn’t want you to know because.....because I thought I could fix it before it came to this.”

Caro stumbled back, stunned. “So you’ve been using her... and me?”

“ No!” he snapped, then softer, “ No, Caro. I love you. I do. But I didn’t know how else to keep things together. I needed help and Bella... she offered, can we not go through this anymore? You are my wife! Don't forget your duty as s house wife here. Obey and listen to me let's get back to the dinning. Now!" He's voice raw and careless.

The nausea hit her like a wave. “So you sold yourself to your ex-wife and brought that filth into our home? Into our lives?”

Alex looked desperate now, running his hands through his hair again , moving front and back “ you don't want to see me loose it now caro!"

Caro stood there, quiet, sorrow cycling in her chest. She wanted to hit his face multiple times

but couldn't. She'd always frightened at the sound of his voice, but today, she seemed fearless s little bit.

Silence lurked through them for a while.

Caro’s hands clenched at her sides. Her eyes were full of tears, but none had fallen yet. “ I can’t believe I gave up everything for this, this means that you have been with her all these years I have been married to you alex, you're a terrible person."

Alex mood switched and he reached for her hand. “ Please. Caro. I need you. This was a mistake —”

She pulled away. “You made a mistake. You chose this part.”

His jaw tightened. “You’ re my wife. You should standby me. By my decision and choices. Don't question my decisions, I'm your husband. It's for our betterment.”

Caro stared at him, the words deepening. “ No, Alex. I was your convenience. You know what? I need a divorce, you don't deserve me!"

A hush fell over the room.

Even the child had grown quiet on his meal, watching from the corner, sensing the storm that had overtaken their sweet happy morning.

Caro didn’t say another word. She turned and walked into the bedroom, shut the door behind her.

Only then, in the safety of her solitude, did the tears come.

And the sound of them echoed louder than the doorbell that started it all.