Chapter 3

That New Year's Eve, Adrian said he had company business and couldn't be with me. I ate a two-person steak alone in my apartment. I'd specifically learned to cook it, carefully preparing it just for him.

Now, I was eating it alone. Lying in bed that night, my phone suddenly rang. It was Adrian.

The intimate sounds of their passion on the other end of the line blocked all my words. I quietly hit record.

"Adrian, you'll marry me, right?"

"Of course, I only love you."

"Then when will you break off your engagement with her?"

"Tomorrow, tomorrow I'll tell my family I'm breaking off the engagement."

The rest were the unmistakable sounds of their intimacy, so I hung up.

A moment later, a photo was sent via SnapChat. I first started a screen recording, then took a screenshot, determined not to miss any evidence.

I opened the message; it was a photo of him and that woman.

I slowly sat up, saved the photo, zoomed in, and carefully examined every detail. Adrian's hand was wrapped around the woman's waist; they were embracing.

He was asleep, but the smile on his face was one I had never seen when he was with me.

Does being with this woman make you that happy?

Just then, another message alert. The sender withdrew the photo. I knew then that it was a good thing I'd saved the evidence.

Then another message came:

"He loves me. I advise you to break off the engagement sooner rather than later."

Then she withdrew that one too, and sent another:

"The one who isn't truly loved is the real outsider."

I simply replied, "Understood."

I spent half an hour composing myself, then booked a flight back home.

Some things are better clarified face-to-face.