Another Mrs. Smith

After the initial shock had subsided, I repeated my name to myself—Grace—urging calmness. I couldn't afford to lose everything I had worked so hard for in a haze of confusion; I needed a clear and unequivocal answer.

I gathered the offensive item, reigning in my emotions with an iron will, clenching my fists as a reminder that I must not relinquish what I had fought so hard to build.

Taking a deep breath, I composed myself and took a taxi straight to the company I had helped grow.

Since ElevateBuild had relocated to Apex Tower, I had visited only once, shortly after the move, and it was George who showed me around. We had taken an entire floor—a testament to our achievements.

That day, he had held me in his arms by the panoramic windows of his office and said with deep emotion, "Thank you, my dear wife, for giving me the capital to set sail and live a life unlike any other. Believe me, it won't be long before I present this tower to you."

I half-laughed at the memory, realizing that now he was poised to tear it all apart.

Upon entering the building, the receptionist inquired about my destination and whom I was visiting. After I mentioned George Smith, she assessed me from head to toe with a professional demeanor and informed me, "I'm sorry, madam! Mr. Smith isn't in; he left with his wife."

My head reeled with the impact of her words. Despite my mental preparation for the visit, the response still jolted me. My grip tightened on my purse as I fought to control my emotions, my voice slightly shrill, "What did you say? Are you sure there isn't a mistake?"

She looked at me, a bit puzzled, and replied with certainty, "How could I be mistaken? You're asking about George Smith from ElevateBuild on the 10th floor, right? He definitely left early this morning with his wife."

Her confirmation caused me to sway. I wanted to ask her, "His wife? Which wife? And who then am I?" But I swallowed the words, biting down hard on my frustration as I turned and hurried out of Apex Tower.

I wanted to preserve my dignity, and I hoped it was just a mistake by the receptionist, which would also spare George any embarrassment.

To verify the receptionist's claim, I shakily dialed Xu Jin from the marketing department. Taking a deep breath and maintaining composure, I asked, "Xu, has Mr. Smith finished his meeting? I tried calling him, and it's urgent!"

Xu Jin, a senior executive, would certainly know. His confused response, "A meeting? Sister-in-law, no, there's no meeting today! Mr. Smith has gone out," left me with nothing more to say. I hung up.

In that moment, I felt an unprecedented sense of helplessness. The tension that had sustained me snapped, and my legs turned to cotton. My vitality escaped like air from a punctured balloon, leaving me deflated and shaking.

Clutching my phone, I trembled too much to even consider calling George to ask his whereabouts.

What was the point of asking?

It would only be met with another lie. I didn't know how to trust his words anymore.

I feared hearing his voice at that moment, not wanting to give him another chance to deceive me.

He had been brazenly coming and going from Apex Tower with another woman, leading everyone there to believe she was his wife.

It was clear that this woman had long been able to enter the building and my company, ElevateBuild, enjoying the privileges that should have been mine.

Standing aimlessly amid the bustling streets, I was unable to find any trace of him. He was like sand slipping through my fingers—the more I tried to hold on, the faster he slipped away.

I had to see for myself who this 'Mrs. Smith' was.

With that, I steadied my trembling legs and took a taxi home, stopping at the market to buy his favorite dishes and the jackfruit our daughter adored. I returned home to wait for him.