My Dead Hamster Exposed Him

I wasn't out to suspect Stuart. I mean, in marriage, trust was the whole deal, right? That was why we never put up cameras or snooped through each other's phones.Maybe I'd just been too naive.I tore through the whole house—nothing. No ashtrays, no lighters, not even a hint of smoke. For a second, I wondered if I'd just been wrong. Maybe the hamster was just... sick.Then I saw it—the wallpaper.There used to be a tiny pen mark behind the couch where I'd scratched it. It was gone. The whole section had been replaced.That was when it clicked. If someone had been smoking in here for months, the wallpaper would've yellowed. Stuart must've swapped it out before I got back.I called him.He answered right away, voice soft. "Hey, honey, what's wrong?""Why'd the wallpaper get changed?" I asked, playing it cool."Oh, that?" He laughed. "My mom stayed over and messed it up, so I replaced it."He sounded totally normal. Not a crack in his voice. "Anyway, I booked us a place for toni

A week later, there was a medical exchange conference in Nordica City. Stuart and I both went.I left early on purpose, then texted him that I'd forgotten the bracelet he gave me and asked him to bring it.When he arrived, he handed it over like nothing.I put it on, head down. Didn't say a word.The hall was packed. Zoey was there too—laughing, chatting.On her wrist was my bracelet. Again.I nudged Stuart. "Look. Hers is the same as mine."He played surprised. "Oh—yeah. But it looks better on you."I didn't answer. Just stared at him.He really thought I was that stupid.The leadership droned on up front. I dropped my head and scrolled.Zoey had been busy.Three months ago—a tight shot of a wrist. My real bracelet.[Thanks for the affirmation. It gave me a goal to work toward.]Ten days ago—a cropped dinner table. A hand with a watch lifting food.I knew that hand. Stuart's.Caption? [If time could stop here]Yesterday—a back view. Tall guy, gray trench coat.[Waiti

I didn't say anything else.I didn't mention divorce. Didn't confront him. I went home like normal.But he was home less and less. One day it was a meeting. Next day, some academic exchange. Excuse after excuse.I could tell. He wouldn't meet my eyes. Barely looked at me.I knew what that meant.Stuart wasn't brave. He could cheat, sure—but facing the fallout? That was different. Losing everything. Public humiliation. Getting kicked out of a city like Nordica City.He came from a small town. Marrying me and landing a job here hadn't been easy. Deep down, he knew divorcing me and choosing Zoey might not actually level him up.Still—They made a move.A few days after the surgery, I'd just finished an eight-hour case when the head nurse stopped me. "Dr. Loughlin, you should check the trending topics."I pulled out my phone. Third on the list was my name.[Nordica City National Research Hospital Dr. Lori Loughlin Takes Credit][Dr. Lori Loughlin Plagiarizes Intern's Paper]Zo

The big screen flickered on.Zoey and Stuart, clear as day, sneaking through a hotel hallway.Then their flirty chat logs.An audio clip tied to the plagiarism mess.Zoey's voice filled the room. "Uncle, once this works, you can officially put me in Lori's position. Her research alone is enough to qualify me for associate director."Dr. Fletcher shot up and slammed the table. "You—this is an illegal recording!"I smiled. "Don't stress about how I got it. Just answer me—was that you or not?"Then I turned to Dr. Sinclair. "I have three points."I held up a finger. "First, Dr. Gacke and Dr. Fletcher are uncle and niece."Another finger. "Second, Dr. Gacke worked with Dr. Cooper to steal my research. Dr. Cooper himself can confirm that."Third finger. "And third—Dr. Cooper had an affair with an intern. That violates hospital conduct policies, doesn't it?"The footage kept looping on the screen.Doctors who'd never taken my side before started speaking up."Dr. Sinclair, the e