The Stranger In My Marriage

Gwendolyn

I look at my wristwatch, and it's exactly seven p.m. I almost sigh when he finally steps out of the apartment building. I lower the rearview mirror and pull my glasses closer as I watch him get into his car.

I don't make any move. I'm already preparing myself to step out of my car, but I wait until he drives away. The moment his car disappears from sight, I finally step out and walk straight inside, heading directly toward the lobby receptionist.

“Hi, can you tell me which apartment the man who just walked out came from?” I ask. I feel like I didn't even lock my car, but at this point, I don't care.

“I'm sorry, ma'am. That's private information.” She smiles politely.

I look at her and read her immediately. She's in her early twenties, and she's not wearing any expensive jewelry. My eyes drop to my own wrist, and I slowly unclasp my fifty-thousand-dollar diamond bracelet.

“He's my husband,” I say, placing it on the table. “He forgot something important inside.” I give her a small wink.

She looks around the lobby. For a second, it seems like she's not going to take it, but then she reaches for the bracelet.

“I know he didn't step out of Apartment eight-oh-four,” she finally says. I look at her, confused. “Second floor,” she adds with a wink.

I immediately understand that she has given me my answer.

I don't stand around. I push my glasses closer again before walking straight toward the elevator and pressing the button for the second floor. When I get there, I step out and walk straight toward the door.

Eight-oh-four.

I raise my hand and knock. It doesn't take long before someone opens the door.

“What did you forget now?”

A woman's voice comes from behind the door. But the moment she sees me, her expression changes. She immediately tries to close the door, but I push past her and force my way inside.

“He's not here, okay? Please leave,” she says.

I ignore her. Instead, I look around the apartment, studying the place. Everything looks expensive and carefully arranged, but the photo frame sitting on the table immediately catches my attention.

“Wow,” I gasp. This was audacious of her.

I turn toward her. She's wearing a bathrobe, and her hair is still wet, as if she has just come out of the shower.

“Do you know who this man is?” I ask.

“Roman. Why are you asking?”

“I am his wife. We have three kids together. Did you know that when you decided to jump into bed with him?”

I shake my head. “Oh, stupid question. Of course you did. It's all over his page.”

“Well, then go take it up with him. I'm single.”

“You're single?” I walk closer to her. She looks much younger than me, maybe in her late twenties.

“So because you're single, you think you have the right to just break people's marriage?”

I'm so angry right now. What kind of stupid reply is that?

“Like I said, I owe you no explanation, crazy woman. So get out of my place before I call the police!”

She screams and looks at me like I'm some piece of filth.

“Shit, do you even comb your hair? I mean...” She laughs, looking me up and down. “I see it now. No man could be attracted to that.”

“Excuse me?” I stare at her. “Hold on. You really think he'll leave us for you?”

“I mean...” She swirls her hair around her finger, then suddenly pops a piece of gum into her mouth, completely looking down at me.

“Listen to me—”

“Oh, no, I won't.”

She reaches toward the table for her phone, but I rush toward her. She grabs it and is already about to dial when I struggle to get it from her.

“Are you crazy? Leave me alone!” she screams.

“You're not calling the police. You have me to deal with before that!” I shout back.

Now we're both struggling for the phone. She tries to trip me, but I dodge her. Somehow, I manage to get the phone from her hands.

Then she falls.

I don't even understand how it happens.

She simply hits the floor and doesn't move.

The phone is still in my hand as I stare down at her. Then my eyes land on the glass coffee table.

There are bloodstains on it.

No.

My eyes follow the trail, and that's when I see the pool of blood beside her head.

My heart skips several beats.

I drop to my knees and immediately check her vitals.

She's not breathing.

There is no sign of life.