Chapter 7

(Evelyn's POV)

The driver pulled away from the curb and I didn't look back at Serena's window. I didn't need to. The image was already burned into my brain—two shadows becoming one, while I sat alone in a cab that smelled like strangers and cigarettes.

The city flew past through the window. Streetlights and billboards. People walking hand-in-hand, laughing, living their normal lives. I used to be one of them. I used to think I had it all figured out.

"You know what the worst part is?" I didn't mean to speak out loud, but the driver nodded encouragingly. "I suspected. Deep down, I knew something was wrong. But I convinced myself I was being crazy. That I was imagining things. That a man who chased me for five years wouldn't throw it all away."

"People do stupid things," the driver said quietly. "Doesn't make it your fault."

"Doesn't it? I ignored every red flag. Every gut feeling. I made excuses for him."

"That's called trust. Nothing is wrong with trusting your husband."

"Ex-husband." The word felt foreign on my tongue. "Soon, anyway."

The storage facility was ahead, all fluorescent lights and orange garage doors. I'd been there exactly twice—once when we moved into the apartment and Julian insisted we rent a unit for "overflow," and once six months ago when I needed our tax documents.

I'd stumbled across that box then and started to open it. But Julian had called, asking where the Thai takeout menu was, and I'd closed it back without looking inside. I wouldn't make that mistake again.

"You want me to wait?" the driver asked as I paid him.

I looked at the storage facility, then back at him. This kind stranger who'd witnessed my humiliation without judgment.

"No. Thank you. I'll call another cab when I'm done."

He nodded, handed me a business card. "In case you need a ride home, or anywhere else. Call me. No questions asked."

The kindness broke something in me. A crack in the wall I'd built around my emotions. I took the card, whispered thanks, and got out before I fell apart in front of him.

The storage unit smelled like dust and old memories when I pressed the button for the light. 

There were boxes everywhere. Mostly labeled in Julian' handwriting. Documents from College, our Wedding, and the Hart Industries Paperwork.

Mine was in the back corner, labeled ‘Miscellaneous’. Such an ordinary word for something that was about to change everything.

I pulled it toward me, the cardboard scraping against the concrete floor. My hands shook as I lifted the flaps.

Inside were papers scattered without order. But I remembered each one, even if I hadn't wanted to.

Hotel receipt from Paris, two rooms booked, and only one charged to the final bill.

Credit card statement. Victoria's Secret worth $347. I'd never worn Victoria's Secret in my life. I preferred cotton, comfortable and boring.

A birthday card, unsigned. Lipstick kiss marks on the inside. I'd found it in Julian's gym bag last March. He'd said a client gave it to him as a joke.

Plane tickets. Restaurant reservations for two. Receipts from jewelry stores.

Each piece told a story I'd refused to believe.

My phone was in my hand before I consciously decided to take it out. I photographed everything. Every damn receipt. Every statement. Every damning piece of evidence that my marriage was a lie.

At the bottom of the box, something glinted. A flash drive.

I didn't remember putting a flash drive in there. Didn't remember even having one. But there it was anyway and I could put it to good use.

My hands were steadier now as I pulled out my phone again, and found the adapter I kept in my purse. The flash drive slotted in with a soft click.

It contained a video file with date stamped March 15th. Eight months ago.

I pressed play, and our living room filled the screen, security footage from the camera Julian installed after the break-in two streets over. I'd forgotten we even had it.

The apartment was empty and peaceful. Then the front door opened and Julian walked in. He was not alone, he was with Serena.

They were laughing and comfortable, like they'd done this a hundred times before. Because they probably had.

"Are you sure she won't be back early?" Serena's voice was clear through the speakers.

"She's always at the book club until five." Julian shrugged out of his jacket. "We have time."

I wasn't breathing anymore as my eyes couldn't believe my ears.

They didn't even make it to the bedroom. It was on my couch—our couch. The one we picked out together, arguing playfully about leather versus fabric. The one where we watched movies and ate Chinese food and made love on lazy Sunday mornings.

I closed my eyes, but the sounds filtered through anyway. I quickly fast-forwarded. I couldn't watch this. 

The video jumped ahead, and they were dressed again. Serena fixed her makeup in our hallway mirror.

"When are you going to tell her about us?" she asked.

Julian pulled her close, kissing her temple. The same way he kissed mine every morning.

"Soon. I just need to figure out the right time. The company needs stability right now."

"You've been saying that for a year, Julian."

A year.

"I married her when I was young and stupid." His voice was so casual, like he didn't chase me for five years. Fear men. "But you, you're who I'm supposed to be with."

Then the video ended.

I sat in the storage unit, surrounded by boxes, and finally let myself feel it.

The rage came first, hot and consuming. I wanted to scream. I wanted to throw things. I wanted to drive back to Serena's apartment and bang on that door until my knuckles bled.

Then the grief, sharp and suffocating. Seven years of my life given to a man who was "young and stupid" when he married me.

Finally, clarity.

My phone buzzed. It was a text from him.

"Meeting's over. Heading home now. Want me to pick up anything for you? "

I stared at the message, and at the smiley face emoji. At the casual cruelty of a man who thought I was still waiting at home, none the wiser.

My fingers moved without conscious thought. "Actually, yes. We need to talk when you get home. It's important."

Three dots appeared. Disappeared, then appeared again.

"Everything okay?"

I looked around the storage unit. At the evidence of his betrayal, and at the life I thought I had.

"We'll talk when you get home."

I screenshot the video and saved the flash drive to my cloud. Packed everything back into the box except for one thing, the birthday card with Serena's lipstick.

That, I was keeping.