The phone rang, and as soon as the call connected, Emma couldnt hold back. Sophie, I need to talk to you. Somethings wrong. Sophie, who had always been Emmas pillar of support, didnt waste any time. Im on my way, she said. It didnt take long for Sophie to arrive, her steps echoing through the hallway as she made her way into the living room. Emma was sitting on the couch, her phone in hand, her face pale and strained. What happened? Sophie asked, concerned. Whats going on? Emma told her everythingabout the strange scent she had smelled on Davids shirt, the same shirt he had left behind when he rushed out earlier. Sophie listened carefully, her expression serious, but she wasnt entirely convinced. Maybe youre just overthinking it, Sophie suggested, sitting down beside her. I mean, Davids a busy man. He has a lot of meetings, a lot of clients. Maybe he just brushed up against someone by accident, or maybe the perfume transferred when he was at the airport. Emma nodded slowly but didnt feel reassured. Sophies words didnt sit right with her. There was something about the whole situation that felt off. She wasnt sure why, but the nagging doubt in her mind wouldnt let go. What if… what if Im not just imagining things? Emma murmured, looking at the floor. Sophie shook her head. No, dont start thinking like that. Youve been married for two years now. I can see the love between you two. Youve always been so happy together. Trust him, Emma. Hes not the kind of person to cheat on you. Hes not that kind of man. Emma bit her lip, trying to suppress the turmoil within her. Sophies words, meant to comfort her, only made her feel more uncertain. She couldnt ignore the feeling in her gut, the feeling that something wasnt right. She looked at Sophie and sighed. You know how it started, though. You know that we werent supposed to be together. I wasnt his first choice, Sophie. Sophies face softened, and she reached out to gently hold Emmas hand. So what? Hes not a child, Emma. No one forced him to marry you. Youre the one he chose. The wedding vows… that was his choice. And honestly, I see how he looks at you. He loves you. I can tell, just by the way he looks at you. Emma stayed silent, unsure whether to trust her instincts or Sophies comforting words. She wasnt sure whether to believe that everything was fine or that something was truly wrong. But Sophies presence, her insistence that Emma believe in her husband, helped to calm herjust a little. Sophie leaned back on the couch, tossing a cushion at Emma. Youre being dramatic, Emma. Maybe its just some old lady who spritzed her perfume too close to David at the airport. You know how people are. Emma caught the cushion, rolling her eyes. Old lady? Soph, it smelled like ROSES, not mothballs. Fine, maybe it was a young, extremely polite lady who bumped into him. You think hes out there juggling secret perfumes while running a billion-dollar company? Come on. Sophie grinned, nudging Emma with her elbow. Emma tried to stifle a laugh but failed. Okay, fine, when you put it like that, I do sound ridiculous. Exactly! Sophie said, clapping her hands. Now, lets talk about more important things. Like why your fridge has no ice cream. How are we supposed to have a crisis without ice cream? Emma chuckled, the weight in her chest lifting slightly. A crisis? Youre impossible, you know that? Someones gotta be, with you moping around. Sophie winked. Just as Emma thought she might be able to forget about it, her phone lit up with a new text message. She picked it up, half-expecting it to be something trivial, but as soon as she saw the sender, her heart dropped. Anonymous. She opened the message, her fingers trembling. Sophie immediately noticed something was off. Emmas smile had vanished, replaced by a vacant, pale expression as her phone lit up beside her. Emma? Sophie asked, her voice cautious. When Emma didnt respond, Sophie picked up the phone herself. Below it was a photo of David standing at the entrance of a hotel, his face unmistakable. Beside him was a woman clinging to his arm, her posture intimate. Sophies breath caught. She glanced at Emma, who looked frozen in place. Emma… Sophies voice was soft but heavy with worry. The truth in the photo didnt need explaining. It said everything.