She Chose Him, I Chose Her Ruin

 On the way to pick up a client, I opened the navigation app.

Soon, the navigation system emitted a bubbly male voice, “Your thoughtful Billie is here to accompany you on your journey for two, just like eloping!"

I slammed on the brakes and hit the steering wheel, still hearing the guy's voice. “There's a small supermarket up ahead that sells cookies Billie loves. Please buy some for me!"

I froze for a moment as I was listening to the navigation voice before calling my wife to ask, “Did you use the Porsche at home?"

On the other end, Carolyn Stafford, my wife, spoke gently, “I used it a few days ago when my car broke down. What's wrong?"

I laughed and said it was nothing, hung up the phone and turned toward Carolyn’s company.

——

I rarely came to her company and understood that trust was the most important thing between a couple.

I didn't want to doubt her, but the voice message kept echoing in my mind. 

As I sat in Carolyn's office, asking HR to bring all the files of the newly hired female employees, Carolyn walked in.

“Hubby, what’s the matter?" Carolyn sat across from me and smiled at me.

I only answered shortly, “Just checking up on you."

“Did you find anything?" She asked before saying casually, tapping the table. “If you didn’t find anything, you’ll have to make it up to me. I want you to go skydiving with me.”

Looking at Carolyn's shy smile, I still couldn't help but feel like I was being too narrow-minded.

All the documents submitted by HR showed no issues and there wasn't even a Billie among the new hires. Maybe I was overthinking it. I put down the documents and met Carolyn's teasing gaze, sighing helplessly.

“I was just following procedure." I pushed the documents toward her. “If you don't like it, I won't do this kind of thing anymore."

She immediately smiled apologetically and coaxed me, “I know you only care about me, so of course, I'm happy to do it. How could I not like it?"

Carolyn had always been gentle, even when she was strict with others, she treated me like a child. Even when I made mistakes, she would apologize first and make me feel loved.

I shouldn't have doubted her.

I followed Carolyn back home, watching her carry the groceries into the kitchen. As I turned to head to the study to handle the documents, I saw her phone vibrate. 

I was about to call out to her when I caught a glimpse of the caller's name out of the corner of my eye. My breath caught and I grabbed the phone to answer it.

The familiar voice came through.

On the other end, a voice almost playfully scolded her, “Carol, Billie’s second-half performance is a huge success! My boss praised me today, so Billie has to thank you properly.”

My heart tightened.

I heard the voice on the other end laughing and saying, “I heard that my boss was conducting an inspection today. So, Carol, give me an update on the current situation over there."

The man with the note “Billie from the distillery" was calling my wife by Carol. 

Even the few old-timers who had been with the company since its inception would address Carolyn as “Mrs. Stafford," and no one dared to speak to her so casually, even if they were close.

But that time, the guy named Billie had not hesitated to call her Carol.

“Carol, why aren't you answering me? Is the signal bad?"

The call suddenly disconnected. I looked at Carolyn, who was still busy in the kitchen, with a pale face. 

Suddenly, I remembered that she seemed to have developed a passion for wine tasting. 

In the company's project coordination, there was an unexpected contact with a winery that shouldn't have been involved.

I had asked Carolyn at the time why she had suddenly changed the strategy. But she only said, “No matter what industry it is, as long as there’s a piece of the pie, I want a slice.”

Then, she looked at me gently, “I want to make my husband the happiest man and give him the best life.”

I was filled with sweetness, as if a strong hand had slapped me across the face, shattering my illusions and all my expectations of marriage.