**Hiding the Truth**
One quiet evening, while sorting through the wardrobe, Emily came across an odd discovery. Among her husband’s neatly folded jumpers, she found a small parcel wrapped in thick paper. Unfolding it, she revealed an elegant box of expensive perfume—luxurious, with a delicate scent, clearly not cheap. Emily turned the box thoughtfully in her hands, trying to recall what occasion might have warranted such a gift. Her birthday had been a month prior, their wedding anniversary was still distant, and her mother-in-law had never cared for fragrances. Her own mother? No, Edward would never dare choose something so personal for her, knowing how particular she was.
“Another woman?” The thought flickered, yet her heart didn’t seize with dread. It seemed impossible—Edward, always so predictable, betraying her. “There must be an explanation,” she decided, resolving to stay calm and uncover the truth.
That evening, Edward returned home on time, as usual. He never stayed late without warning, one of the small things she valued about him. Silently, she handed him the parcel, watching his reaction closely. Edward unwrapped it, saw the perfume, and his eyes widened in shock.
“Where did you find this?”
“In your wardrobe, among your jumpers. Someone must have hidden it there.”
“I’ve been looking everywhere for it! Thought I’d lost it! Had to buy a different gift!” He seemed genuinely surprised.
“And who was it for?” Emily kept her voice steady.
“For our manager, Margaret Davies. Remember I told you the lads and I chipped in for her anniversary?” Edward grinned, clearly relieved. “The shop assistant said it was her favourite. We all agreed on it, but after the office party, I must’ve been a bit tipsy—brought it home and shoved it in the wardrobe without thinking. Assumed I’d left it on the Tube.”
“What a shame,” Emily nodded, masking her lingering doubt. “At least you’ve got a gift ready for the next occasion.”
“Exactly! You’re a lifesaver!” He kissed her temple. “The lads will be chuffed when I show them tomorrow!”
The matter seemed closed. But doubt had already taken root. Lately, Edward had been absent-minded—forgetting to mention overtime, leaving his phone at work. Emily blamed fatigue, yet deep down, she suspected something else.
Over lunch with her friend Charlotte, the conversation turned to careless mistakes by loved ones. Emily recounted the perfume and Edward’s strange behaviour.
“Doesn’t that seem suspicious?” Charlotte narrowed her eyes. “Maybe there’s someone else?”
“I don’t think so,” Emily replied—but her voice wavered. “Though… he really hasn’t been himself.”
Charlotte shrugged, but the seed was sown. Emily preferred patience to confrontation, yet unease gnawed at her. Was Edward hiding something? A surprise? Or was work wearing him down? She resolved to wait and watch.
Doubt resurged when, during a summer clean, Emily checked the pockets of Edward’s coats. In one, she found a crumpled scrap of paper: “*Contract for the sale of…*” The text cut off, but the implication was clear—someone was selling something. To whom? And what?
She checked another pocket and found a draft document—no signatures, just notes. Relief flickered, yet suspicion remained. Heart pounding, she opened their safe. Inside, their meticulously organised papers were in disarray—certificates, contracts, receipts, all jumbled as if rifled through in haste.
Only Edward could have done this. He was hiding something serious. But she wouldn’t tip her hand. “Let him think I’ve noticed nothing,” she decided.
Soon, Edward began making odd suggestions. Emily owned a modest flat in central London, inherited from her grandfather. Edward insisted they rent it out, moving her grandfather in with her parents. “Extra income,” he argued. Emily resisted—the idea unsettled her. Worse, he grew fixated on their spending, demanding receipts for trivial costs, despite their equal contributions.
Then came the late nights. “Urgent project,” he claimed, brushing off questions. One evening, his colleague James called. Edward was showering; Emily answered.
“Emily! Just wanted a quick word with Ed. Could he ring me back?”
“Is this about his new project?” she ventured. “He’s been so busy.”
“What project?” James sounded baffled. “It’s just routine work.”
Her pulse spiked. Edward was lying.
Next, she checked their joint savings account—healthy from years of careful deposits. But the balance was a third of what it should be. The statement showed large withdrawals: one months ago, another just after the perfume incident.
“He’s stealing from us,” she told Charlotte bitterly.
“Where’s the money going? Another woman?”
“I don’t know. But he’s lying about work.”
Determined, Emily followed him. Dressed inconspicuously, she waited near his office. Edward left promptly, heading not home but to a new-build estate on the outskirts. She hung back, unwilling to risk discovery. Online searches revealed nothing work-related at the address—just cafés, salons, a solicitor’s office.
Then she found his phone password. A contact—*Laura Ashford*—stood out. Charlotte called; the woman hung up. They found her online—photos included one of Edward, unmistakable even from behind.
That night, overhearing Edward whisper, “*If she figures it out…*” Emily’s fears crystallised: he was scheming to sell her flat.
The next morning, she consulted a solicitor, preparing for divorce. Still, she gave Edward one last chance.
“Let’s rent the flat,” he urged over breakfast. “I’ve found someone to handle tenants.”
“Smart,” she feigned agreement. “Best to have a contract.”
Grudgingly, he fetched paperwork. She scanned it, then fixed him with a cold stare.
“Do you truly think me so blind?” She flung the divorce papers onto the table. “I know about Laura. Selling *my* flat to fund your little venture with her? It ends now.”
The divorce was brutal. Laura, it emerged, had convinced Edward to invest in a start-up, backed by her father. Their savings—and potentially the flat—were to fund it.
Emily kept most of her assets. The only true loss was her trust. When she dared love again, doubt shadowed every word. Perhaps that was for the best.
