My name is Sophia Miller, thirty-two years old. I live with my husband in a small but cozy house in the suburbs of Seattle. My husband, Daniel Miller, is a fairly successful real estate agent. We have been married for almost seven years.

In the early years of our marriage, our life was calm and comfortable. Daniel was busy with work, while I worked as an accountant for a transportation company. We were not extremely wealthy, but we never had to worry about money. Every month, after paying all our expenses, we could still save a few thousand dollars in our joint account.

But about six months ago, things in our life started to change.

At first, I thought it was a good change.

Daniel suddenly began treating me unusually well.

Before, he used to come home late, eat dinner quickly, and then open his laptop to continue working. But recently, he started coming home much earlier. Sometimes, the moment he walked through the door, he would smile and say:

“Go relax. I’ll cook tonight.”

At first, I thought he was joking.

But Daniel actually went into the kitchen.

He cooked spaghetti with beef sauce, my favorite dish. He even bought a bottle of red wine that cost nearly $80 from the nearby supermarket.

We sat together at the dinner table under warm yellow light, listening to soft jazz music. Daniel kept pouring wine into my glass.

“You’ve been working too hard lately,” he said. “You should take better care of yourself.”

I looked at him, feeling both warm and slightly surprised.

Daniel had never really been a romantic person before.

Still, I thought… maybe after years of marriage he had simply realized that he needed to care more about his wife.

So I didn’t suspect anything.

Until last Friday night.

---

1

It was raining that evening.

I got home later than usual because I had to finish a financial report at work. By the time I opened the door, it was almost 7 p.m.

As soon as I stepped inside, I smelled grilled steak.

Daniel was standing in the kitchen wearing a gray apron.

He turned and smiled.

“You’re home?”

I hung my coat on the rack.

“You’re cooking again?”

Daniel shrugged.

“It’s Friday. We should celebrate a little.”

On the dining table were two plates, two wine glasses, and a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon that cost over $100.

I teased him.

“Since when are you this rich?”

Daniel laughed.

“I just want to make you happy.”

Dinner that night was truly delicious.

The steak was tender, and the sauce was perfect. Daniel kept pouring more wine for me.

The first glass.

Then the second.

By the third glass, my head began to feel slightly dizzy.

I have never been very good with alcohol.

Daniel looked at me and smiled.

“Are you drunk already?”

I leaned back in my chair.

“A little…”

He stood up.

“Let me take you upstairs.”

---

2

Daniel helped me walk up the stairs.

I leaned against his shoulder, pretending to stumble slightly.

The truth was… I wasn’t really drunk.

Just a little lightheaded.

But something about the situation suddenly felt strange.

When Daniel laid me on the bed, he didn’t seem worried the way he usually did.

He simply pulled the blanket over me and said,

“Go to sleep. I’ll clean the kitchen.”

I nodded slightly and closed my eyes.

But I didn’t sleep.

I lay there quietly, listening.

About fifteen minutes later, I heard Daniel walking downstairs.

Then the house fell silent.

I began to think maybe I was just being paranoid.

But then…

the doorbell rang softly.

My eyes opened immediately.

My heart started beating faster.

Who would come to my house at almost 10 p.m.?

I quietly sat up.

Then walked slowly out of the bedroom.

From the staircase, I looked down into the living room.

Daniel was opening the front door.

And standing outside was a woman.

---

3

She looked around twenty-eight or twenty-nine.

She had long brown hair and was wearing a long coat with high heels.

Daniel pulled her inside the house.

They spoke quietly, so I couldn’t hear clearly.

But what made me freeze was the way they looked at each other.

It was far too intimate.

Daniel placed his hand on her back.

She smiled softly.

My heart felt like it was being squeezed.

I stood on the staircase, gripping the railing tightly.

Daniel whispered,

“She’s asleep.”

The woman asked,

“Are you sure?”

Daniel smiled.

“I gave her almost half a bottle of wine.”

My entire body turned cold.

He… intentionally tried to make me drunk?

The woman stepped further into the living room.

“So how long do we have?”

Daniel glanced at his watch.

“At least two hours.”

Then he said something that nearly stopped my breathing.

“Let’s go upstairs to the bedroom.”

---

4

They began walking up the stairs.

I panicked.

If they came up here, they would definitely see me.

I quickly ran back into the bedroom, lay down on the bed, and closed my eyes just like before.

My heart was pounding so loudly I was afraid they could hear it.

A few seconds later…

The bedroom door opened.

I heard footsteps.

Daniel whispered,

“See? She’s sleeping.”

The woman chuckled softly.

“You’re really bold.”

I lay still, forcing my breathing to stay steady.

Every word they spoke felt like knives cutting into my ears.

Daniel closed the door.

Then he said,

“We just need to stay quiet.”

I didn’t dare open my eyes.

I could only hear them moving around the room.

Every second felt unbearably long.

---

5

About twelve minutes later, I couldn’t take it anymore.

I opened my eyes.

And sat up.

“Daniel.”

Both of them jumped in shock.

The woman stepped back immediately.

Daniel looked at me as if he had just seen a ghost.

“You… you’re awake?”

I stared directly into his eyes.

“You thought I was actually drunk?”

The room fell silent.

The woman stammered,

“I… I didn’t know he was married…”

I laughed coldly.

“Really?”

Daniel stepped closer.

“Sophia, listen to me—”

“I don’t want to.”

I stood up from the bed.

Pointing at the door, I said,

“You. Leave.”

The woman looked at Daniel.

Daniel said nothing.

She grabbed her purse and hurried out of the room.

Soon, only my husband and I remained.

---

6

Daniel sighed.

“Sophia… this isn’t what you think.”

I looked at him.

“You got me drunk.”

He stayed silent.

“And then you brought another woman into our bedroom.”

Daniel lowered his head.

My throat tightened.

Seven years of marriage.

And suddenly everything felt like a cruel joke.

I said quietly,

“You thought I would never find out?”

Daniel didn’t answer.

I looked around the familiar bedroom.

The bed.

The closet.

Our wedding photos on the wall.

Everything suddenly felt strange and distant.

I picked up my phone.

Daniel asked,

“What are you doing?”

Calmly, I replied,

“Calling a lawyer.”

That night, I realized something.

Sometimes, when someone suddenly becomes too kind to you…

it isn’t because they love you more.

It’s because they’re hiding something.