Chapter 1: Jessie’s POV

Is it wrong that I suspected my husband of wanting to kill me?

I know I shouldn’t feel that way, but something has felt off.

Originally, my husband Alan and I had met in college while in our undergrad program. We started dating and right after graduation, I married, who I thought to be, the man of my dreams and became his trophy housewife. I happily watched as Alan’s career sky-rocketed, and he reached his peak as a multi-millionaire.

For the past five years, Alan has been an exceptional husband. Even with his thriving and busy company, he made sure our romance and relationship as husband and wife continues to thrive and grow stronger. I never felt the need to complain. Our lives were perfect, with the exception of no children.

But recently, something has shifted. My husband’s behavior changed suddenly and almost abruptly. It seemed like Alan stopped looking at me and started stalking me with his eyes instead. I would often catch him staring at me from behind and when I didn’t catch him, I could feel his eyes on me, almost boring holes into my back. Every time I turned to look at him, he’d flash a smile that never met his eyes and that began to terrify me. His eyes seemed black and dreary and seemed like a black hole, threatening to pull me in at any moment.

But it wasn’t just that. I noticed Alan started coming home later than usual. Every time I brought it up, he would have a different excuse, and they almost seemed rehearsed. I didn’t notice how much it was starting to affect me until I began losing my hair and and having constant migraines. And worst of all, my anxiety made it impossible for me to sleep. So, I did what any desperate person would do and acquired a prescription for sleeping pills.

I let out a long sigh as I check the calendar and see that it’s my fifth wedding anniversary. Written in red right next to it, was Alan’s flight information. He’d make it back just in time from his business trip and unbeknownst to him, a long talk about all these changes was all that I had for him.

I sit down and try to mentally prepare myself for his arrival when I hear the doorbell ring. I feel my heart skip a beat and suddenly, the room is hot. I rush to the door and smooth out my dress before opening it. Just as expected, my husband stands just on the other side with large smile. He pulls me into a big warm hug. The touch alone caused me to stiffen but I forced my muscles to relax as he sported a large smile. And I couldn’t help but notice that he was clean-shaven, well dressed in one of his best suits. He always looked younger when he looked like this and part of me felt flattered that he’d go through all this trouble for our anniversary.

“These are for you. Happy Anniversary!” Alan says as he unveils a bouquet of flowers from behind his back. He leans forward, kissing my forehead as he hands them to me.

“Thank you.” I say as I smell the freshness of each one. I feel my worries and doubts whither away ever so slightly. Moments like these reminded me of the man I fell in love with and married, always surprising me with gifts that little gestures that showed me how much love we shared. Maybe all these changes and doubts about him were all in my head.

“Okay Jessie, its time to close your eyes. I have one more surprise for you.” Just before I close my eyes, I see him unveil a beautifully wrapped gift box from his suit pocket. I smile in anticipation as I feel a cool piece of metal touch my skin.

“When can I open my eyes?” I ask excitedly.

“You can open them now.” I open my eyes in response and look down at my chest to find an exquisite ceramic necklace.

I stand in silence, feeling the tears welt up in my eyes. I knew this necklace. It had been my grandmother’s. I remember my parents looking hopelessly for this necklace after my grandmother’s passing. She had made them promise to gift it to me on her deathbed. Unfortunately, my parents died in a car accident, without every fulfilling their promise. I had even searched for this very necklace without ever find a trace of it.

And today, on our fifth wedding anniversary, my husband brought it to me.

I felt my heart swell with emotions as my eyes filled with tears. He must have been looking for this for months. How did he find it?

Alan took a step forward, pulling me into his arms with a look of concern.

“I love it. Thank you, Alan.” I hug his waist tightly as I admire the best gift, he’s ever given me.

“I love you and I wanted to show you that I’m willing to do anything for you.” Alan kisses my cheek as he leads me to the living room and motions for me to sit down on the couch.

“I actually found it two weeks ago. You have no idea how difficult it was to keep this from you. It was torture.” Alan unveiled every detail of his surprise plan, and I felt guilty as I listened. I had misunderstood my husband. His recent change in behavior shouldn’t have been maliciously speculated. He wasn’t trying to kill me, and he wasn’t a bad person.

“Alan, I’m so sorry.”

“For what?” I watch as his face turns from excitement to worry.

“I-I was so suspicious of you coming home late, recently. It wasn’t fair of me to mentally accuse you of anything.” I couldn’t bring myself to tell him the truth - that I had assumed he was trying to kill me.

“You’re my wife. You have every right to assume that. Especially after these last few weeks.” I let out a sigh of relief. I always admired how Alan respected and understood my emotions – even if they were outlandish.

“I love you, Alan. I promise not to accuse you anymore.”

This, however, was a promise I’d be forced to break after just one night.

The next morning, I found myself eating breakfast alone as Alann had an early morning business meeting. After putting my dish in the sink, I heard the doorbell and rushed to answer it. It was a mail courier package, left just outside the door. I closed the door after bringing it inside an began opening it. I was shocked to see ultrasound photos from a pregnant woman inside.

The ultrasound stated the woman’s name – Blair Smith. Smith: that’s my husband’s surname and I was always addressed as Mrs. Smith. It also states that this ‘Blair’ was four weeks pregnant.

Is this Ms. Smith related to my husband?

Thinking back to our evening yesterday, I felt my throat tighten and I felt a tinge of pain in my heart.

Could Alan really have done this?

I held the ultrasound close to my chest as I sit down.

Could Alan have gotten this woman pregnant?

Why would he get another woman pregnant?