My husband always left for work in his shiny SUV, but then I saw him switching to a rusty old car halfway through the day. I couldn’t shake the feeling something was off, so I followed him. But I wasn’t prepared for where he went. We all think we know our spouses, don’t we? Even the little things like how they take their coffee, which side of the bed they prefer, and the way they hum off-key in the shower. After ten years of marriage, I thought I knew everything about Henry. His dreams, his fears, even the way his voice changed slightly when he was hiding something as trivial as eating the last cookie from the jar.

“No secrets between us,” he’d promised on our wedding day. “Not even a headache.” I remember laughing, thinking how lucky I was to have found someone so honest and so genuine. If only I’d known then that the man I married was living a lie so big it would shatter our entire world. It started like any other Tuesday a few months ago.

I was folding laundry, and matching tiny superhero socks that belonged to our six-year-old son, when my phone rang. Mrs. Diana? This is Jessica from Dr. Khan’s office. I’m calling to confirm your appointment for this afternoon.”

I balanced the phone between my ear and shoulder, continuing to fold. “That’s right, 2 p.m.” There was a pause, then: “Dr. Khan mentioned there’s a specific detail about your husband she’d like to discuss. She said it’s important.” My hands stilled on a half-folded t-shirt. “I’m sorry, what about my husband?” So, that afternoon, I left for the appointment. Dr. Khan’s waiting room was as pristine as ever, all chrome and glass and fashion magazines from last month.

I’d been coming here for Botox for years, watching the subtle signs of aging fade away under her skilled hands. But today, she didn’t lead me to the treatment room right away. Instead, she ushered me into her private office, gesturing for me to sit in a plush chair across from her desk. “Diana, I hope you don’t mind me asking, but… are you and Henry having financial troubles? Is everything alright? If you don’t mind me asking.”

I blinked, thrown by the question. “Financial troubles? No, not at all. Henry’s one of the top managers at my father’s company, Dr. Khan. We’re doing very well. Why would you ask that? “She leaned forward, lowering her voice although we were alone. “Well, I see him every day from my office window. He’s wearing these shabby clothes and drives off in an old Mustang that looks like it’s held together with duct tape and prayers.” I forced a laugh. “That can’t be right. Henry’s in meetings all day. He wouldn’t—”