I had always believed that Clark was a responsible and reliable man, someone I could entrust my life to without hesitation. Yet, as the cold realization settled in, it felt as though reality had delivered a resounding slap to my face, leaving my skin stinging and my heart hollow.
The man I thought I knew—someone who had been by my side through years of struggle—had another side to him. He wasn't just lying; he was teaching others how to deceive, finding girls on the side and manipulating me without the slightest trace of remorse. His lies came effortlessly, smooth and natural, as if they were part of his very being.
People don't suddenly become rotten. They were rotten to begin with.
When we got home, Clark's usual considerate nature was on full display. He bent down and gently helped me take off my shoes, his fingers brushing against my ankles with what once would have felt like tenderness. But now, it felt hollow—forced, like an actor playing a role he had perfected over time.
"You must be tired. Go sit down," he said, flashing me a gentle smile before heading into the bathroom. Moments later, the sound of running water filled the air, accompanied by the clinking of metal against porcelain as he adjusted the water temperature.
Steam soon wafted out of the bathroom door, carrying the faint scent of lavender bath salts. Clark emerged a moment later, wiping his damp hands on a towel. "I've drawn a bath for you," he said warmly. "It's just the right temperature. Go relax."
I nodded wordlessly and walked into the bathroom. The warmth of the bathwater enveloped me as I lowered myself in, but it failed to ease the tension knotted in my chest. Staring at the ripples in the water, I tried to reconcile the Clark I knew with the man I had seen in those messages. Everything he did now seemed calculated, each kind gesture laced with insincerity.
***
After my bath, Clark pulled me into his arms, wrapping me in his familiar embrace. His hand moved gently up and down my back in a soothing rhythm, as if trying to lull me into peace. I closed my eyes and feigned sleep, but every muscle in my body remained tense, my mind racing with unanswered questions and unresolved emotions.
Half an hour later, Clark called my name softly, his voice a mere whisper in the quiet room. When I didn't respond, he withdrew his hand and shifted slightly beside me. I kept my breathing steady, pretending to remain asleep. Through the faint slits of my barely opened eyes, I saw him reach for his phone.
The screen lit up, revealing the familiar home interface. He tapped a button to turn off the screen, then paused for a brief second before entering a password: 012550. This time, when the phone unlocked, a different interface appeared—sleeker, darker and unnervingly organized.
I quickly closed my eyes fully, not daring to watch any further. A knot formed in my throat as hot tears welled up, sliding silently down my cheeks. My heart felt as if it were being squeezed by an invisible hand, each beat heavy with betrayal.
From Clark's side, faint chuckles occasionally broke the silence. He was messaging someone and whatever the topic, it was clearly entertaining him. His muffled laughter contrasted sharply with the stillness of the room, only deepening the cold void inside me.
The heart of the man lying next to me was darker than the pitch-black night outside.
When Clark finally drifted off to sleep, his breathing deep and rhythmic, I opened my eyes and lay still for a moment, gathering the courage to move. His phone lay beside him, the screen dark once more. I inhaled sharply, steeling myself and carefully reached out, fingers trembling slightly as I picked it up.
Cradling the phone against my chest, I tiptoed to the bathroom, closing the door quietly behind me. The soft click of the latch echoed in the silent apartment and I leaned against the cool tiled wall, clutching the phone as if it were a ticking bomb.
Taking a deep breath, I entered the password again: 012550. The alternate interface greeted me once more and I began scrolling through his messages. Each conversation was like a stab to my already bleeding heart.
One particular thread caught my attention—a chat with someone labeled "J."
[Clark: Done?]
[J: Nope. Too bad you weren't here. These girls are something else.]
[Clark: Couldn't risk getting caught.]
[J: I'm telling you, just end it with her. You've already gotten everything you wanted.]
[Clark: Yeah, I need to come up with the perfect way to get out.]
[J: Any ideas yet?]
[Clark: Yep, find a guy to sleep with her. With her personality, she won't be able to handle it. She'll leave on her own then.]
[J: Haha, how about I do it?]
[Clark: Whatever. Tomorrow, I'll find an excuse to get her to meet us at the karaoke bar.]
I covered my mouth to stifle a cry, but tears poured down uncontrollably, hot and unrelenting. Five years. Five years of love, five years of trust, five years of my life—reduced to nothing but a twisted game in his eyes. He had shown no mercy, no regret.
For what felt like an eternity, I sat there in silence, tears streaming down my face. Eventually, I wiped them away, though the pain in my chest remained, sharp and unforgiving. If he didn't want to end things peacefully, then I didn't need to hold back either.
***
I didn't wake up until noon the next day. The sun outside was bright, but its warmth failed to penetrate the cold atmosphere that lingered in the room. Clark had already left for work, leaving behind a carefully prepared breakfast on the table, complete with a handwritten note: [Baby, don't forget to eat when you wake up.]
I stared at the neatly arranged food and the note with its familiar handwriting. The sight only fueled my disgust. I picked up the entire tray and dumped everything straight into the trash without a second thought.
Sitting down in front of my computer, I opened the company's financial records. Despite Clark always claiming that I was the chairwoman, the one with power, I knew the truth. Almost all the company's assets were under his name. Worse still, we no longer had clear transfer records for the initial funds I had invested.
I thought back to my mother's inheritance. Before she passed away, she had left me a significant sum of money but only allowed me to access a tenth of it, ensuring I had enough to live well until I turned thirty. That remaining portion was the only lifeline I had left now.
