On the third day of my business trip, I idly opened my boyfriend’s private Instagram account. He had posted something new just a few seconds earlier. **“Biggest regret in life might be meeting the girl you want to take care of forever, right before you’re supposed to get married.”** The caption was paired with a candid shot of a young woman in a floral sundress. Her name is Lily. She’s my boyfriend’s classmate from his undergrad days. Sweet, innocent, and ten years younger than me. 01 I stared at the screen, my mind going blank for a second. My boss, sitting next to me, nudged my elbow. “Daydreaming again? Pay attention, the clients are talking. Go over the proposal one more time; you’re presenting in five. You got this.” I quickly shoved my phone back in my purse and gave him a thumbs-up. “Don’t worry. I’m gonna nail this.” After the meeting, my boss told me to grab a quick lunch. We were heading to the manufacturing plant for a site inspection in half an hour. I pulled out my phone to order something on DoorDash and saw the Instagram icon. I couldn’t resist. I tapped it open again. The post was gone. Just then, my best friend Megan called. “Dude, finally,” she said, her voice a dramatic rush. “You are not going to believe what I just saw.” “Your PhD-candidate boyfriend was at the grocery store with some young girl. They bought two huge bags of groceries, laughing and joking the whole time.” “I followed them. Subtly, of course. They went into your apartment building.” “Oh my god, he’s taking another woman into the condo you guys just bought together!” “Chloe, this is huge. Why are you so quiet?” I rubbed my forehead, a bitter smile on my face. “Meg, I’d love to say something, but you haven’t exactly taken a breath.” “Hold on, I took pictures. Sending them now.” My phone buzzed. A series of photos popped up. The angles were terrible—clearly spy shots—but the faces were crystal clear. The man, with his rimless glasses and handsome, scholarly look, was my boyfriend of eight years, Leo. And the girl… she was petite, radiating a youthful sweetness. Her name is Lily. A fellow student from his alma mater, from the same small town he grew up in. A senior at the local university now. “Did you see them?” Megan demanded. “Yeah,” I said. “That’s it?! Just ‘yeah’?!” My laugh was hollow. “What do you want me to say?” I could practically hear her cracking her knuckles over the phone. “You should be flying back here right now to key her car and make that asshole walk home in his boxers!” I massaged my throbbing temples. “First, I’m in the middle of a business trip. If this deal closes, I get a promotion. I can’t just leave.” “Second, we don’t know for sure if anything is actually happening. I could fly back and find nothing.” “And finally, even if they are sleeping together, so what? I go back and we have a huge, messy fight. Megan, breaking off an engagement isn’t like a normal breakup. It’s exhausting. This whole mess with him might make me cry, but my job just got me a big enough bonus for a new designer bag. You tell me which one’s a better investment.” Megan sighed. “I get it. I do. I just hate this for you. You’ve been with him for so long, supported him through two grad school applications, through his entire PhD program. You were cooking him special ‘brain food’ meals every single day while he was studying for his comprehensive exams. If he dares to cheat on you, I will personally ruin him.” “I know you’ve always got my back,” I said, forcing a smile into my voice. “I’ll bring you back something nice.” After we hung up, I just stood there. My nose started to burn, and I felt tears welling up. I squeezed my phone, forcing them back down. After a few minutes of deep breathing, I put on a smile, pulled out my phone, and ordered a salad. I needed to eat. I had a long afternoon ahead of me. 02 The trip was a huge success. We landed a major contract, and just like my boss promised, I was promoted to Director of Sales for the West Coast. Three days later, we flew back to San Francisco. As a reward, my boss gave me two days off and offered to have his driver take me home. I smiled and told him not to worry about it; my boyfriend was coming to pick me up. I stood at the arrivals curb with my oversized suitcase and called Leo three times. I sent five texts. No answer. The early March rain was cold, like icy needles against my skin. Defeated, I hailed a cab. I punched in the code to our condo and was hit by the rich aroma of a home-cooked meal. There were already four dishes on the dining table. Leo, wearing an apron, was at the stove. And on our new white sofa, a stranger—a man in his fifties—was asleep. He looked tired, his hair graying. A lit cigarette was perched between his fingers. A long column of ash broke off and fell onto our brand-new white shag rug. I slammed the door shut, startling him awake. He sat up, stubbed out the cigarette in an ashtray, and rubbed his eyes. He glanced at the wedding portrait on the wall, then at me. “You must be…” The man stood up, smiling. “You’re Leo’s girlfriend, Chloe, right?” Leo heard the commotion and came out of the kitchen, spatula in hand. He looked surprised to see me. “You’re back already?” He walked over, completely naturally, and pulled my suitcase inside. “This is Lily’s dad,” he explained. He pulled a spare pair of men’s slippers from the shoe cabinet and placed them at my feet. “Lily’s mom is in the hospital right now, just a couple of blocks from here. Lily and her dad are taking shifts staying with her, so I told them they could crash here for a few days.” “I see,” I said flatly. Leo had to get back to the stove, so he rushed back to the kitchen. I wheeled my suitcase into the master bedroom. The heat lamp in our en-suite bathroom was on, and I could hear the shower running. The sound was like a punch to the gut. The water shut off. A moment later, the door opened. A young woman in cotton pajamas walked out, toweling her wet hair. Her face was fair and dewy, like a jasmine flower after a winter rain. It was Lily. She saw me and froze. “Ch-Chloe? I thought you were on a business trip.” Just like Leo. The exact same words. My eyes fell to her feet. She was wearing my pink, bunny-ear slippers. Lily shifted uncomfortably, taking a step back. “I don’t know if Leo told you, but my mom’s in the hospital. I couldn’t really shower there, so… I just borrowed your bathroom.” Just then, Leo’s voice called from the other room. “Dinner’s ready!” 03 There were four dishes and a soup on the table, a full-on home-cooked meal. All made by Leo. In eight years, he had never cooked a proper meal. The best he could manage was instant noodles. I had no idea he had this in him. The atmosphere at the table was painfully awkward. Lily and her father exchanged nervous glances and ate in silence. Leo put a piece of braised short rib on my plate. “How was the trip?” “Good,” I said. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming back today? I would have picked you up.” “I called,” I said, chewing slowly. “You didn’t answer.” He paused. “Oh, right. My phone was charging in the other room. I was in the kitchen, I must not have heard it.” Another suffocating silence. Lily’s dad finally broke it with a cheerful, forced laugh. “Chloe, you’re a lucky woman. A guy like Leo, smart, thoughtful, and he can cook? They don’t make ‘em like that anymore.” I pulled out my phone and opened the HotelTonight app. “Sir, I’ve booked you a hotel. It’s very convenient, just a few minutes from the hospital.” The man slowly put down his chopsticks and turned his head away. Leo nudged my arm. “Her mom is getting out in a few days. Her dad is going through a tough time. It’s just for a little while.” I held up my phone. “I solved his tough time. He can stay at the hotel.” Leo’s face flushed with anger. “Do you have to make such a big deal out of this?” I looked him straight in the eye. “Do I? This is our condo, Leo. The place we’re supposed to get married in. We spent a year renovating it, another six months letting it air out. I’ve lived here for less than two weeks. My slippers aren’t even broken in yet, and you’re moving strangers in without even asking me?” He clenched his fists. “They’re not strangers! They’re from my hometown. Lily is my friend.” At that, Lily, who had been silent this whole time, put down her chopsticks. “I’m so sorry, Chloe.” Her eyes were red. She stood up and pulled on her father’s arm. “We shouldn’t have stayed here without asking you first. We’re very sorry.” She gave me a deep, formal bow. Her father sighed and bowed as well. The slump of his shoulders screamed of shame and humiliation. “We’re sorry, Chloe.” For a moment, my resolve softened. Was I being too harsh? Lily wiped a tear from her eye, her voice choked. “We’re so sorry for the trouble. My mom is still at the hospital… We’ll leave now.” Leo jumped up to stop them. “Lily, don’t cry. Chloe doesn’t mean it. She’s not kicking you out.” The last of my sympathy vanished. “Yes, I am. I don’t like strangers staying in my home.” Lily looked at me, then pulled her father toward the door to get their things. A few minutes later, they were ready to leave, suitcases in hand. Leo was still hovering, trying to apologize. “It’s still raining. Wait, let me grab a jacket for you. I’ll drive you. Just wait for me in the garage.” 04 After seeing them into the elevator, Leo came back into the condo for his car keys. He stood in the entryway, staring at me. I sat at the table, looking at the four dishes and soup, my expression calm. But under the table, my hands wouldn’t stop shaking. “Chloe, when did you become so heartless?” he demanded. “If you’re mad, be mad at me. Why did you have to humiliate them like that? Her dad is a taxi driver, a good, honest man. He was trying to hide it, but I saw him crying. You were so arrogant.” I let out a cold laugh. “Don’t you dare try to guilt-trip me. If they had asked me beforehand, I might have said yes. But this is on you. You made a decision behind my back, and now you have to live with the consequences.” He was cornered, and it made him angrier. “Lily is so shy and sweet. She would never have the guts to ask you. Besides, it’s not a big deal.” Shy? Sweet? I remember about four months ago, it was around 11 PM, and Leo and I were about to get intimate. I had just gotten out of the shower. He looked at me with this awkward, apologetic expression and said he wasn’t in the mood, that he couldn’t… perform. He asked if we could just try another time. What was I going to do, force him? Half an hour later, I pretended to be asleep. He quietly slipped out of bed and went to his study. I heard him get on a video call. It was with Lily. “Which problem are you stuck on?” he asked her. “This one,” she said in this super sweet, girly voice. “I feel like I just can’t get my head around it. Oh no, I’m totally going to bomb the math section of the GRE.” “It’s okay,” he said, his voice incredibly gentle. “We’ll work through it step by step.” “Is Chloe asleep?” she asked. “I hope I’m not bothering you guys, asking for help so late.” “Not at all,” he said quickly. “She has a crazy work schedule. She was out like a light hours ago.” As he was explaining the problem, I saw him discreetly take a few screenshots of her on his screen. … I had tried to rationalize it back then. Eight years is a long time. People say there’s a seven-year itch. He’s only human. I could allow him a moment of weakness, a small crush. As long as he respected our relationship, as long as he stayed on the right side of the line, as long as he still loved me, I could let it go. But he kept pushing that line, further and further, until now, I couldn’t pretend anymore. Just look at the way he was looking at me now. Pure, cold indifference. 05 There was nothing left to say. Leo shot me one last glare, grabbed his keys, and stormed out. The apartment was finally quiet. I looked at the cold food on the table and let out a small, choked laugh. And then the laughter turned to sobs. I hadn’t had a single drink, but my head was spinning. I called Megan. “Hey—” I managed to get one word out before I broke down completely. “What’s wrong? Chloe, don’t cry,” she said, her voice instantly alert. “You’re home, aren’t you? Did you catch them? Did that bastard really cheat on you?” “Hold on,” she said. “I’m coming over right now.” “Don’t,” I managed to say. I told her everything that had happened. She listened patiently. “That son of a bitch!” she finally exploded. “He’s the one who screwed up, and he has the nerve to call *you* arrogant? What a scumbag.” “Do you think,” I said, my voice thick with tears, “that all men just want someone younger?” “No,” she said firmly. “It means he’s a shallow asshole who doesn’t deserve a smart, successful woman like you.” I curled up in the chair and was quiet for a long time. “You know, I always just thought he was the typical nerdy, logical type. Too rational to be romantic.” “Two years ago, when I had the miscarriage… he made me chicken soup. He burned his hand doing it.” “I knew he just bought it pre-made from the grocery store, but I was still so touched.” “Then he had to go to a conference out of state. He asked me if I’d be okay by myself.” “I told him I was feeling better, that I’d be fine.” “So he ordered me a pizza on his phone, and he left.” “And then tonight… seeing him cook that whole meal, watching him chase after that girl…” “I realized it then. It’s not that the nerdy, logical guy doesn't know how to be romantic. It’s just that his romance isn't for me.” … I heard Megan light a cigarette and exhale slowly. “From the way you describe it, I don’t think they’ve slept together yet. Chloe, what are you going to do?” What was I going to do? I used to think that we would get married, and that would be that. Every couple has problems. And eight years… you don’t just throw that away. But now… the difference between being loved and not being loved was so painfully obvious. I couldn’t bear the thought of him sleeping next to me, making love to me, while thinking of another woman. “Megan,” I said quietly. “I don’t think I want to marry him anymore.” “Are you sure?” she asked, her voice gentle. Just then, my phone vibrated. A new message. It was from Leo. 06 **“Chloe, I’ve been thinking a lot. I can’t accept your arrogance and the way you treat people. Lily and her dad were my guests. The way you treated them was really a reflection of how you see me. I think we need to seriously consider if our values are even compatible.”** I read the text and laughed. A moment later, my phone rang. It was him. I told Megan I’d call her back and answered. “Hello, Chloe. It’s me.” “Lily is sitting right here next to me. She’s been crying this whole time. The phone is on speaker. I need you to apologize to her. Right now.” “If you refuse to apologize, then I think we need to seriously reconsider whether we should be getting married.” I paused for a beat, a cold smile spreading across my face. “Fine,” I said. “Then let’s not get married.”
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