CHAPTER 3 THE CRACKS IN THE FACADE

I woke up the next morning feeling drained and exhausted. The gala had been a whirlwind of champagne toasts and polite conversations, but beneath the surface, I had been seething with anxiety and unease.

As I rolled over in bed, I noticed that Alex was already up and getting ready for work. He was standing in front of the mirror, adjusting his tie and humming to himself.

"Good morning," he said, catching my eye in the mirror. "Did you sleep well?"

I forced a smile onto my face. "Yeah, I slept fine. I'm just a little tired from last night."

Alex nodded sympathetically. "You should take it easy today. Maybe stay in bed and relax."

I nodded, feeling a pang of guilt for not being more enthusiastic. But the truth was, I didn't feel like relaxing. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of uncertainty, and I needed to find a lifeline to cling to.

As Alex left for work, I got out of bed and began to get ready for the day. I took a long shower, trying to wash away the feeling of unease that had been building inside me.

But as I stood in front of the mirror, drying myself off, I caught a glimpse of something that made my heart skip a beat.

A text message on Alex's phone.

I hadn't meant to snoop, but the message had caught my eye as I was walking by the nightstand. It was from a number I didn't recognize, and all it said was: "Meet me at the usual place at 5 pm."

My mind began to racing as I tried to process what I had just seen. Who was Alex meeting? And why was he so secretive about it?

I felt a wave of panic wash over me as I realized that I had been living in a bubble. I had been so blinded by my love for Alex that I had ignored all the warning signs.

But now, I couldn't ignore them anymore.

I spent the rest of the day in a daze, trying to make sense of what I had seen. I went through the motions of my daily routine, but my mind was elsewhere.

As the hours ticked by, I found myself becoming more and more agitated. I couldn't shake the feeling that Alex was hiding something from me, and I couldn't help but wonder what else he might be lying about.

As the clock struck 5 p.m., I felt my anxiety spike. I knew that Alex was meeting someone, and I couldn't help but wonder who it was.

I tried to distract myself by watching TV, but my mind kept wandering back to Alex and his mysterious meeting. I felt like I was going crazy, and I didn't know how much more of this I could take.

As the hours ticked by, I found myself becoming more and more desperate. I needed to know the truth, and I needed to know it now.

I picked up my phone and dialled Alex's number, my heart racing with anticipation. But as the phone rang, I realized that I had no idea what I was going to say.

"Hey," Alex answered, his voice cheerful. "What's up?"

I hesitated, unsure of how to proceed. But then, I took a deep breath and plunged forward.

"Who are you meeting?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and for a moment, I wondered if Alex had hung up on me.

But then, he spoke up, his voice smooth as silk.

"I'm meeting a client," he said. "Don't worry about it."

I felt a surge of anger at his dismissive tone, but I tried to keep my cool.

"I'm not worried," I lied. "I just want to know what's going on."

Alex sighed, and I could almost hear him rolling his eyes.

"Look, I'll tell you all about it when I get home, okay?" he said. "Just trust me."

I nodded, even though he couldn't see me.

"Okay," I said. "I trust you."