The Cost of Love

I went home the next day.

Francis was out, so I checked my phone and saw the picture he posted for all our friends to see, along with the caption he wrote.

[I've met a lot of people, but in the end, you're still my favorite.]

The photo showed just a glimpse of a woman's blue dress.

He was trying to be all poetic. I was not about to hold back—I hit 'like' and left a comment.

[Some creatures chow down on loads of meat but end up realizing they just love the taste of garbage.]

The comment section was full of our mutual friends.

They all thought the woman in his post was me, dropping comments like [Francis and Brianna are couple goals.]

The moment my comment hit the screen, anyone with half a brain could tell things were off.

The comments had been wiped out completely.

Then, my comment was the only one left, sticking out like a sore thumb.

I snapped my phone shut, feeling a twisted sense of satisfaction, and headed to the study to boot up his computer.

I had always been big on privacy, never once snooping through his study, his phone, or his computer. I trusted Francis completely.

What a joke.

With a self-deprecating chuckle, I typed in Chloe's birthday at the login screen, and bingo, I was in.

His messenger was still logged in, right there on the screen. I clicked the icon and his chats with Chloe popped up, but there was nothing but voice messages.

I could not be bothered to listen to each one, so I hit the 'text-to-speech’ button..

Chloe had said, [My husband's onto us. He wants a divorce and is kicking me out with nothing.]

Francis replied, [Babe, how did he catch on? Relax, I've got you covered.]

Chloe sent back a pitiful little cat emoticon.

[I'm out on the street with our son with nowhere to go.]

[I can handle tough times, but our son? How's he supposed to live like this?]

Without missing a beat, Francis sent over the 45,000 dollars we had saved and boasted, [Babe, go and buy a house. This is for the down payment. It'll be in your name, and I'll handle the mortgage.]

Chloe took the money, still playing innocent.

[Oh? What about your wife? Won't she be mad?]

[Brianna doesn't dare to get mad at me. I keep her in line.]

[So, when are you dumping her? We can't have our son be illegitimate, can we?]

My blood boiled as the conversation went on, feeling sick to my stomach.

That was why Francis was so quick to agree to a divorce. He was in a rush to play house with his lover and kid on the side.

I scrolled through the transaction history between them, and it was littered with transfers.

I snapped photos of each transaction, leaving no stone unturned.

To make sure no one could cry wolf, I shot a video too, capturing the voice messages as I played each one back.

My phone was bursting with evidence, and I left feeling triumphant.

Francis called the moment I settled into the cab.

I picked up and heard his voice, panicked and angry.

"Are you out of your mind, posting that garbage on my feed? Take it down now!"

I could not help but laugh. "Garbage? I'm just telling everyone the truth."

Then, I heard a woman's soft crying in the background.

It clicked. He was tearing into me because Chloe was there, sobbing her heart out.

"What truth? You're just bitter because I gave Chloe forty-five thousand dollars. You can't stand her!"

His accusation nearly left me speechless.

Chloe got 45,000 dollars, half of which was mine. Why would I be okay with that?

No woman liked her husband's mistress.

I was done arguing, but I tried to give him one last piece of advice, for old times' sake.

"Francis, you should really get that money back, or else—"

I did not even get to finish. He cut me off, clearly annoyed.

"I've already told you, it's not easy for Chloe with the kid. Can't you show a little compassion? The money I gave Chloe is hers to keep. If you're so unhappy, then let's just get a divorce!"

Before I could get another word in, he slammed the phone down.

I nearly burst into laughter.

Francis could play the saint, the merciful one.

In the end, it was him with lung cancer, not me.