I Became the Other Woman

On the third anniversary of my marriage to Leon Castellano, snow began to fall on the mountain without warning.

I'd arrived at four in the afternoon, giddy with anticipation as I set out the candles, the wine, the medium-well steak he liked, and I'd made an ice cream cake myself.

I watched the snowflakes drifting past the window and waited quietly for him to come.

He'd built this mountain cabin for me himself, back when he still hadn't found his footing in the ranks and had barely a dollar to his name.

All because I'd once said I loved the quiet, loved the sound of falling snow, loved wrapping up in a blanket and talking by the fireplace.

So Leon had quietly put together this surprise for me, hauling every load of timber up the mountain himself, trip after trip.

I still remember the way he looked at me when he first brought me here, so full of love and tenderness.

My phone chimed and broke my train of thought. It was a weather alert, a blizzard warning, heavy snow expected that night.

Worried, I called Leon again and again and sent him countless texts, but there was never any answer.

The snow kept falling harder. It had already banked halfway up the cabin door, and only one last log remained in the fireplace. I curled up on the couch, wrapped in a quilt.

The heater was broken. Leon had said ages ago that he'd get someone to fix it, and then nothing ever came of it.

He'd forgotten how badly I felt the cold. He'd forgotten our anniversary too.

It wasn't until the small hours that Leon finally called back.

"Leon!"

"Emilia."

It was loud on his end, like some kind of party, the clink of glasses mixed with women's happy laughter and the electric thump of rock music, loud enough to make my head throb.

His voice was floaty, his words quick. "Cecilia got back today. She and I are at the club. You... you should get some sleep. Don't wait up."

My heart turned to ash. I opened my mouth weakly and only felt the cold sink deeper into me.

"Leon," I said, "I'm up on the mount…"

"I've got to go. She's calling me."

Beep, beep, beep...

Nothing left but the mechanical busy tone. I looked at the crisp new trade license on the table, my eyes stinging, but I couldn't cry. I almost wanted to laugh.

I'd worked so hard to secure those Scandinavian trade routes. I'd wanted to surprise Leon with it today, and then really talk things through with him.

Now it was all just a joke.

I finished the cold meal alone and found the cabin door wouldn't budge at all anymore. My phone had three percent battery left. I hesitated for a long time, then dialed Leon's number anyway, but before it could connect, the screen went black.

On the other end, Cecilia snatched Leon's phone, a little put out. "Darling, you promised you'd spend tonight with me. Why do you keep staring at your phone?"

Leon frowned faintly and pushed away Cecilia, who reeked of liquor. "What was yesterday's date?"

"The eighteenth. Why?"

Something dawned on Leon. He stood up to leave.

Just then the door to the private room swung open and one of Leon's men hurried in, lowering his voice. "Boss, there's a problem with the Miami deal. It's urgent..."

Leon sighed. "Get hold of Emilia, find out where she is." Then he rushed off.

Wind and snow howled past the window. I stayed curled up in the freezing cabin until dawn.

I broke the door open with a hammer and hiked down through knee-deep snow. About a mile down, I came across a ranger in a pickup who was willing to drive me home.

The heater in the truck was turned up high. A small emblem charm hung from the rearview mirror, silver, etched with fine, intricate lines. I found my eyes lingering on it.

The ranger dropped me off at the gates of the estate and handed me a cup of hot coffee.

"Miss," he said, "it's cold out. Take care of yourself."

I thanked him and offered to go back inside for some money to give him, but he just smiled and refused.