By the end
Elena glanced once more at the empty table. The clock already read one a.m., and there was still no call or message from Victor. He must be stuck at work again, she thought, though she didnt truly believe her own excuse.
Over the past month the delays had become a habit. At first they happened once every two weeks, then weekly, and now it seemed her husband had completely given up on arriving home on time.
She could recall exactly how it all began. Initially Victor claimed a work crisisan important project with a looming deadline. She believed him and waited late into the night.
Soon the justifications grew more farfetched. One Monday he called to say he was trapped in the parking lot because a bulldozer was clearing snow and wouldnt let him out. Elena stayed quiet, but she watched him closely. She knew his office had an underground garage where not even ten bulldozers could reach.
On Wednesday he mentioned an important meeting, although their company barely held gatherings, and when they did, they were on Zoom in the morning.
Yesterday he offered his best excuse yet: he had stayed at the office because he felt nauseous and had been in the restroom for an hour.
Elena wasnt naive. She sensed Victor was hiding something and didnt want to force the truth out. But what could it be?
How are you feeling? she asked, trying to sound calm and caring.
Victor, just having stepped inside, collapsed onto the bed and let out a heavy sigh.
Not great, he replied, rubbing his stomach. I ate lunch from a buffet and I think I got foodpoisoned
Terrible, Elena said, feigning exaggerated sympathy while watching his reaction. Let me get you some medicine. It works well.
No! Victor snapped up, then immediately fell silent, realizing he was on the verge of shouting.
Whats wrong? Elena wondered.
The guys at work gave me some pills. I cant remember the name, but they helped.
Okay, if you say so, Elena shrugged. Just make sure you remember the name next time; you never know what you took
Youre right, Victor said with a tense smile. Im going to shower and then lie down; I feel off.
Sure, Elena replied, rubbing his cheek before leaving the bedroom.
The moment Victor disappeared into the bathroom, Elena rushed to the kitchen. She stood by the table, gripping her husbands phone nervously, scanning its screen. No suspicious messages, calls, or chats appeared. Then she thought of checking the banking apps.
Transfer: 5,000 lei to Angela P. she read silently, and her whole body tightened. She heard Victor shut the tap. In a panic, she closed every tab and took the phone to the bedroom.
Dont panic, dont panic, she whispered to herself like a mantra. Who the heck is Angela P.?
She tried to recallperhaps a coworker, an accountant?
Sleep eluded her that night. She tossed on the huge, now cold and emptyfeeling bed. Victor slept peacefully beside her, unaware of the turmoil swirling in her mind. Eventually she drifted off, but even in her dreams she was haunted by fragmented, alarming images and broken sentences.
She awoke abruptly, as if shocked.
Angela! The name struck her like a knife. Victors former flame, the one he barely ever mentioned, dismissing as a teenage crush.
Elena sat up, feeling cold sweat run down her back. Suddenly everything clicked: the delays, the weak excuses, the food poisoning. And now this sizable sum of money
She cradled her head in her hands, trying to steady her trembling.
A teenage crush, the phrase echoed in her head.
She couldnt fall back asleep. She stayed up until dawn, watching Victor, trying to piece together the puzzle.
The suspicion that Angela was his ex was now crystal clear. But what connection could they still have after so many years? Why had he sent her such a large transfer?
She slipped out of bed quietly, careful not to wake him. In the kitchen she made coffee and grabbed a notebook. A plan was needed.
What should I do? the question pounded at her temples.
Confront Victor directly? He was already lyingone simple conversation wouldnt force the truth.
Hire a detective? That seemed extreme, and she had no idea where to start.
Search for Angela herself?
She knew she couldnt wait. Each additional night of delay could worsen the situation. Yet she also needed to act without alerting Victor.
She decided to start smallinvestigate his socialmedia profile. Maybe old photos, memories, mutual friends would reveal clues.
She opened the laptop and began scrolling through his feed. Most pictures were recentfamily, work, vacations. Near the bottom, however, she spotted a few older shots. In one, a longerhaired Victor stood beside a girl. Elena examined the unfamiliar face closely.
It was Angelathe ex he had spoken of.
She shut the laptop, inhaled deeply. Now she faced two choices: close her eyes and continue life as if nothing had happened, risking an even worse scenario, or uncover the truth, no matter how painful.
The decision was obvious. She had to know, and she would find out, whatever the cost.
Later that evening, Elena sat in the living room, nervously twisting her phone. She had already rehearsed the serious conversation when the front door opened.
We need to talk, Victor said from the doorway, his voice hoarse and tired.
I wanted to talk to you too, Elena began, but
In the end, Elena realized that sometimes forgiveness doesnt mean forgetting; it means choosing to move forward together, even with the shadows of the past hanging over you.
