Noel has been coming home less frequently lately.

He says the company is working on a major project and that he's working late into the night.

I choose to believe him, just as I once believed he would never be repulsed by me.

Then one evening, Noel came home unusually early. He said he wanted to take a shower and relax.

His phone buzzed continuously, with a flurry of WhatsApp messages appearing on the screen.

“Darling, are you coming over tonight? I miss you.”

My heart stopped.

Looking again, her WhatsApp profile picture was a series of unfamiliar girls' photos.

Young and beautiful, radiant as a flower—exactly like the young...