Monica’s eyes lit up slightly. Oh. How long will you be gone? Just a few days.
Maybe a week. Okay, Monica said already looking back at her phone. She didn’t ask where he was going or what the deal was about.
She didn’t seem to care. Desmond felt a sharp pain in his chest. Once upon a time Monica would have been worried about him traveling.
She would have packed his suitcase and kissed him goodbye and told him to call her every night. Now she just said, okay without even looking at him. I’ll be driving myself, Desmond added.
Jason needs time off for a family emergency. This time Monica did look up. You’re driving yourself? That’s unusual.
It’s fine. I like driving sometimes. Gives me time to think.
Monica shrugged. Whatever you want. Then she stood up, leaving her food half-eaten.
I’m going shopping with Sarah today. I’ll need some money. Of course she would.
She always needed money. Desmond pulled out his wallet and handed her his credit card without a word. Monica took it, kissed him quickly on the cheek.
A kiss that felt cold and empty, and walked away already texting someone on her phone. Desmond sat alone at the breakfast table, surrounded by luxury and elegance, feeling more lonely than he had ever felt in his entire life. That afternoon, Desmond did something he had been avoiding.
He went to his company office to prepare for his death. He called his lawyer, Mr. Harrison, a serious man with sharp eyes and a reputation for being completely trustworthy. Mr. Harrison, I need to update my will, Desmond said, sitting across from him in the lawyer’s office.
Mr. Harrison pulled out some papers. Of course, Mr. Adams. What changes would you like to make? If something happens to me, if I die, I want everything to be frozen for 60 days before anyone can access it.
No money. No property. Nothing.
For two months, everything stays exactly as it is. Mr. Harrison frowned. That’s unusual.
May I ask why? Desmond had prepared for this question. I want to make sure that if something happens to me, it’s clearly an accident and not something else. I want the police to have time to investigate thoroughly.
Mr. Harrison’s frown deepened. Mr. Adams, are you in some kind of danger? Just being careful, Desmond said with a calm smile. You know how business is.
There are people who would benefit from my death. I want to make sure my wife is protected and that nothing suspicious happens to my estate. This seemed to Mr. Harrison.
Very wise. I’ll draw up the papers immediately. Two hours later, Desmond signed the new will.
Now if he died, Monica couldn’t touch any of his money or property for 60 days. It would give him time to watch her to see what she would do to gather evidence. It would also protect him if Monica really was planning something terrible.
That evening, Desmond came home to find Monica getting ready for a party. She wore a tight red dress that sparkled under the lights and diamond earrings that he had bought her for their anniversary last year. Where are you going? Desmond asked.
Sarah’s birthday party. I told you about it last week. Monica looked at him in the mirror while putting on lipstick.
You said you didn’t want to come. Desmond didn’t remember her telling him about any party, but it didn’t matter now. What time will you be back? Late.
Don’t wait up. Monica grabbed her purse and walked past him without a goodbye kiss. Desmond watched her leave, hearing the sound of her high heels clicking down the stairs, then the front door closing, then her car driving away.
He was alone in the big house. Desmond went to his office and opened his laptop. The security camera footage was right there showing every room in the house.
He could see the empty living room, the quiet kitchen, the bedroom they shared. Soon, very soon, he would be watching these cameras from his secret apartment, seeing everything Monica did when she thought no one was watching. His phone buzzed.
It was a text from Grace. Are you ready for Friday? Desmond typed back, as ready as I’ll ever be. Grace replied, it’s going to be okay, brother.
We’ll find out the truth. But what if the truth was worse than he imagined? What if Monica really was planning to hurt him? What if that message, once he’s gone, we’ll have everything to ourselves, meant exactly what it sounded like? Desmond looked at his wedding ring. Gold.
Simple. Inside it was engraved, forever yours. In two days he would leave this ring in a burned car, and the world would think Desmond Adams was dead.
And then he would finally see who his wife really was. Friday morning arrived with bright sunshine. It was a beautiful day, the kind of day where nothing bad should happen.
But today Desmond Adams would die. At least that’s what everyone would believe. Desmond woke up early, his heart beating fast.
He looked at Monica sleeping beside him. She looked peaceful, innocent. Part of him wanted to wake her up, tell her everything, ask her to just be honest with him.
But he couldn’t. He had come too far. He needed to see this through.
Desmond got out of bed quietly and took a shower. He dressed in simple clothes, jeans and a blue shirt. He packed a small bag with just a few things.
Some clothes, his laptop and a phone that Monica didn’t know about. When he came downstairs Monica was in the kitchen, surprisingly awake. She was making coffee wearing a silk nightgown.
You’re leaving early, she said not looking at him. Want to beat the traffic, Desmond replied. Monica turned around and looked at him.
For a moment, just a brief moment, something soft appeared in her eyes. Something that looked almost like concern. Drive safely, she said.
Those were the last words his wife would say to him before he died. I will, Desmond promised. Then he did something he hadn’t done in months.
He walked over to her and hugged her tightly. Monica seemed surprised. She stood stiff for a second, then slowly put her arms around him.
I love you Monica, Desmond whispered into her hair. He meant it. Despite everything, despite all his doubts and suspicions, part of him still loved the woman he had married.
I love you too, Monica said back. But her voice sounded empty. Like she was reading lines from a script.
Desmond pulled away grabbed his bag and walked to the door. He turned back one last time to look at his wife. She was already back on her phone scrolling the moment already forgotten.
Desmond got into his car, a black luxury sedan, and drove away from the mansion. As the house disappeared in his rearview mirror, he wondered if he would ever come back. Would he ever live there again? Would Monica even want him back after all this? He drove for two hours heading toward the remote highway where they had planned everything.
The road was empty. No other cars. No cameras.
Just trees and open sky. Finally he saw Dr. Paul’s car parked on the side of the road. Behind it was a tow truck driven by Marcus, Dr. Paul’s cousin, who had agreed to help without asking too many questions.
Desmond pulled over and got out. Ready? Dr. Paul asked. He looked nervous.
Ready, Desmond said even though his hands were shaking. For the next hour they worked quickly. Marcus used the tow truck to position Desmond’s car near a tree, making it look like it had crashed.
They broke the windshield carefully. They dented the front of the car. Then came the hardest part.
Desmond took off his wedding ring, the ring he had worn every single day for seven years, and placed it on the driver’s seat. The ring that said, forever yours inside. Dr. Paul placed some of his own medical equipment in the car to make it look like someone had been there.
Then he set up special smoke machines that would create thick black smoke without actually burning anything dangerous. Once we start the smoke you need to leave immediately, Dr. Paul warned. I’ll call the police in exactly ten minutes.
By the time they arrive, you need to be far away from here. Desmond nodded. His throat felt tight.
This was really happening. Marcus set off the smoke machines. Thick, black smoke began pouring out of the car, making it look like it was on fire.
Go. Now. Dr. Paul shouted…
