Chapter 1 The Anniversary That Wasn't
Ten years.
I looked at the gold bracelet on my wrist.
Lucas gave it to me on our wedding day. For ten years, I believed we had a perfect marriage. Tonight was our anniversary, and I wanted it to be special.
I wore a cream outfit. It was expensive but simple. On my dresser was a small box.
Inside was a gold tie pin with Lucas’s initials. I had spent weeks finding the right gift. I wanted to show him that I still cared as much as I did on day one.
My phone buzzed. It was Tessa.
Tessa: Don’t forget to take photos tonight! I want to see everything.
Me: You know Lucas. He hates photos. He says they are a waste of time.
Tessa: It is your 10th anniversary. He can survive one photo. Have a great time, Maya.
I put the phone down and went downstairs.
A delivery person was at the door with white lilies. I opened the card.
To my Little Sister. Don’t let him take you for granted. You deserve the best. – Damien.
I shook my head. Damien always thought
Lucas was not good enough for me. He was protective and sometimes too loud about it. I snapped a photo of the flowers and sent it to him.
Me: They are beautiful, Damien. Stop worrying. Everything is fine.
Damien: If he makes a mistake tonight, call me. I mean it.
I laughed and grabbed my bag. I drove to the restaurant and arrived fifteen minutes early. I wanted to be there first. I wanted to see the look on Lucas’s face when he walked in.
The waiter came to the table. "Would you like to order, Mrs. Vale?"
"I will wait for my husband," I said.
Ten minutes passed. Lucas did not arrive. I checked my phone. There were no texts.
Twenty minutes passed. The restaurant was full of happy couples, but my table was empty. I felt a cold knot in my stomach.
Lucas was never this late without calling.
I dialed his number. He picked up on the third ring.
"Maya?" His voice sounded fast. He sounded like he was in a hurry.
"Lucas? Where are you? I’ve been waiting for twenty minutes."
"I can't make it," he said. He didn't even sound sorry. "Something came up at the office. A big meeting. I have to stay."
I gripped my phone. "A meeting? Lucas, it’s our tenth anniversary. We had a reservation for months. You promised."
"I know, I know," he interrupted. "It's work, Maya. You know how important this contract is. I'll bring some dessert home later. We can celebrate then."
"But—"
"I have to go. See you at home."
The line went dead.
I stared at the empty chair across from me. I looked at the gift box in my purse. He didn't care. He didn't even try to explain. He just hung up.
The waiter returned. "Is your husband coming, ma'am?"
I felt the eyes of the other people in the restaurant on me. They saw me sitting alone. I felt a flash of heat in my face, but it wasn't just sadness. It was anger.
"No," I said clearly. "He isn't coming. Give me the check for the water."
I paid and walked out. I didn't cry. I didn't want to be the woman who cried in a restaurant.
I got into my car and sat in the dark. My phone buzzed again.
Tessa: How is the dinner going? Did he love the pin?
Me: He didn't show up. He said there was a meeting at the office.
Tessa called me immediately. I answered.
"He did what?" Tessa shouted. "Maya, it is ten years! Nobody has a surprise meeting at 8:00 PM on their anniversary. He is lying to you."
"He sounded busy, Tessa," I said, but I didn't believe my own words.
"Go to the office," Tessa said. "If he is really there, then fine. But if he isn't, you need to know where he is. Stop being so nice. Go find him."
I looked at the road leading to the office.
Usually, I would just go home and wait. I would be the patient wife. I would forgive him like I always did.
But something felt different tonight. The way he hung up the phone was too cold.
"I'm going," I said.
"Good," Tessa said. "Call me when you get there."
I drove toward Lucas’s office building. My heart was beating fast. I kept telling myself that I would find him at his desk. I would find him working, and I would feel bad for doubting him.
When I pulled up to the high-rise, I looked up. The building was almost completely dark. Only the top floor had a few lights on, but those were the cleaning lights.
There was no meeting.
I parked the car and walked toward the lobby. My hands were steady now. I didn't feel nervous anymore. I felt like I was finally waking up.
The receptionist looked up as I walked in.
She looked surprised.
"Mrs. Vale? What are you doing here?"
"I'm looking for Lucas," I said. "He said he was in a meeting."
The woman looked uncomfortable. She looked down at her computer. "Mr. Vale left over an hour ago, ma'am. He said he had a private appointment."
A private appointment. Not a meeting. Not work.
I felt a chill go down my spine. "Did he say where?"
"No, ma'am. He just left."
I walked back to my car. My mind was working fast now. I remembered that Lucas’s car had a GPS tracker for the company's insurance. I had the app on my phone because I managed the family accounts.
I opened the app. I saw a red dot. It wasn't at a restaurant. It wasn't at our house. It was at an apartment complex across town.
I didn't hesitate. I started the engine and drove toward the red dot.
The "patient wife" died in that parking lot.
The woman who replaced her was ready to see the truth.
