The Truth Hidden In A Folder

BROOKLYN POV:

I watched him. Grant, my husband. He was at the door, pulling on his jacket, his back to me. Every cell in my body screamed to do what I always did. "Drive safe, honey. Call me when you get there." But the words caught in my throat, tangled with bile and shattered trust.

His broad shoulders, once a symbol of my security, now looked utterly foreign. His retreating figure was no longer the man I knew. It was a stranger walking away.

A choked cry escaped me. I scrambled off the bed, my bare feet hitting the cold wooden floor. "Grant!" I screamed, my voice raw and desperate. I ran after him, out into the living room.

He stopped at the entryway, his hand on the doorknob, turning to face me. His expression was one of mild annoyance, confusion. He didn' t even glance down at my bare feet, didn' t notice the goosebumps rising on my arms in the chilly air. He simply stared blankly.

My heart was dying, inch by excruciating inch. He didn' t see me. He didn' t care.

"Please," I whispered, my voice breaking. "Don' t go, Grant. Please." It was a plea I hated making, but a sliver of hope, a desperate, foolish hope, still flickered within me. Maybe, just maybe, he would choose me.

My eyes burned, tears blurring my vision. My chest tightened, a searing pain, making it hard to breathe. My entire body felt like it was suffocating.

He frowned, his brows knitting together in irritation. "Brooklyn, what is wrong with you? She just had an accident. If I don' t go, who will?" His voice was sharp, laced with impatience.

"And honestly, you' re being ridiculous. Don' t you think I' ll come back? Just try to be understanding for once." He paused, then softened his voice, a practiced tone designed to placate. "I' ll be back soon. I promise. Just get some rest."

Then, he was gone. The door clicked shut, leaving me standing alone in the vast, empty living room. The only sound was my ragged, uncontrolled breathing, echoing in the silence.

A ping from my phone. It was a text from Chelsey.

"So sorry, B. Had a little fender bender. Borrowing your husband for a bit. You don' t mind, do you? Xoxo."

Xoxo. Kisses and hugs. From my best friend. Who was with my husband. My world, my love, my friendship-all of it had just collapsed into a pile of rubble.

My mind went blank. A cold, hard resolve crystallized within me. I ran to the parking garage, my feet pounding against the concrete. Enough. This had to end. Now.

I drove to the address Chelsey had sent, the one from her "fender bender" text. My hands gripped the steering wheel so hard my knuckles were white. The scent of burnt rubber and exhaust fumes clung to the air when I arrived.

There he was. Grant. His arms were wrapped tightly around Chelsey, comforting her. She was sobbing into his shoulder, her face buried in his chest. He stroked her hair, his movements tender, protective.

"Sir, your car is fine. It' s just a scratch," the other driver was saying, clearly frustrated. "There' s no need for all this drama."

Grant pulled away from Chelsey slightly, his face contorted in anger as he faced the other driver. "A scratch? This is my wife' s car! And you upset my… my love! How dare you!"

He then turned back to Chelsey, pulling her closer. "It' s okay, baby. Don' t listen to him. I' ll make sure he pays for every little thing. I' ll take care of you. You' re my wife, you shouldn' t have to deal with this."

My wife. My love. I stood frozen, watching the grotesque play unfold. Chelsey peeked up at Grant, her eyes wide and overflowing with a sickening adoration. The truth of their long-standing affair, the depth of their deception, hit me with the force of a physical blow. My love, my friendship-they weren't just ruined. They were outright annihilated.

Chelsey pulled back, her voice still trembling. "Grant, please don' t leave me tonight. I can' t be alone. Can you… can you stay with me?"

My nails dug into my palms, drawing blood. The pain was sharp, but it was nothing compared to the agony ripping through my chest. I felt like I was drowning in plain sight.

Grant hesitated, his gaze briefly flicking towards his car, then back to Chelsey' s tear-stained face. He nodded slowly. "Okay, baby. Just one last time. I' ll stay. But this is the absolute last time I choose you over… over everything else."

My blood ran cold. How many "last times" had there been? How many more would there be? A wave of pure, unadulterated fury surged through me. My legs moved before my mind registered the command.

I stormed towards them, my eyes locked on Grant. I raised my hand. And I slapped him. Hard. The sound echoed in the sudden silence.

"Divorce," I spat, my voice shaking with rage, my gaze sweeping from Grant' s stunned face to Chelsey' s shocked one. "We' re getting a divorce."