“Kids? Ugh, having kids with her sounds like a nightmare. She’s such a prude.”
“Totally,” Jessica chimed in. “I remember in college she was always such a goody-two-shoes. Homework on time, never partied. Boring as hell.”
“But she has a great condo,” Jason concluded. “And that’s what matters.”
They sat in silence for a moment. Then Jessica turned to him, putting a hand on his knee.
“Hey, can we start seeing each other normally soon? Without all the sneaking around?”
“Of course. As soon as the divorce papers are filed, we move in together. Maybe we’ll even get married, if you want.”
“I do,” she smiled. “I’ve wanted to be your wife for a long time. A real wife, not that idiot out there celebrating.”
Jason laughed and hugged her. They kissed again—long and greedy.
Sarah watched the screen, feeling something inside her rip apart. Tears streamed down her cheeks, but she didn’t wipe them away. She couldn’t move. Couldn’t speak. Couldn’t think. Inside, there was a void—black and cold.
“I have to get back before Emily starts looking for me,” Jessica said on the screen, checking her reflection in a compact mirror.
“Go ahead. I’ll come out in a couple of minutes so we aren’t seen together.”
“Okay.” Jessica pecked him on the lips. “Love you.”
“Love you too.”
She left. Jason stayed alone, checked his phone, fixed his tie in the reflection of a metal cabinet, and walked out. The door closed. The screen showed an empty room.
Robert hit pause. The silence in the office was deafening. Sarah sat motionless, staring at the frozen image. Tears dripped onto her jeans.
“I am so sorry,” the manager said quietly. “I know this is horrific. But I thought… you had to see it. Otherwise, this… this man would continue to deceive you.”
Sarah was silent. The words were stuck in her throat. She tried to process what she had just seen. Jason didn’t love her. He never loved her. It was all a lie from the beginning. The bookstore, the dates, the proposal—all a performance. He played the role of the loving man to get his name on her property deed. And Jessica? Her friend. Or rather, the person she thought was a friend. They were laughing at her, planning how to rob her and dump her.
“Mrs. Miller?” Robert asked. “Can I get you some water?”
She slowly raised her eyes to him. His face was full of pity.
“Thank you,” she croaked, taking the glass he offered. The water was cold and shocked her system.
“Can I have a copy?” she asked. “On a flash drive?”..
