The next day, I pretended like everything was normal. When Andrew went to clean up, I picked up his camera. He rarely let me near it, likely because it was pricey, but I hadn’t considered other reasons. As a photographer, he had a lot of images stored on it.

I kept flipping through them until a striking photo stopped me in my tracks. A stunning woman in a skimpy outfit was sticking her tongue out playfully at the camera. Her face matched the woman from Andrew’s posts online. My hands started to tremble.

The next image was of Andrew giving the woman a peck on the cheek, both beaming at the camera like a couple in love.

I quickly took pictures of these images with my phone. Just as I was about to put the camera back, Andrew emerged from the bathroom with a scowl and swiftly took the camera from me.

"I’ve asked you not to touch my camera," he snapped. "You don’t get it. If you drop it, how would I explain that to my clients?"

Looking at Andrew’s furious expression, I felt a sense of unfamiliarity. When did he become so short-tempered with me?

"I noticed it was dusty and wanted to clean it for you," I replied. "I won’t touch it again."

Andrew remained silent, packing the camera away with a brooding look.

Initially, I thought Andrew was worried I’d damage the camera. The truth was, he feared I’d see his photos with another woman. He wouldn’t let me near his camera, yet she had free rein to use it for taking close-up shots.

I stood there, frozen. Andrew must have sensed something was off and, after securing the camera, came over to console me with an embrace.

"Sweetheart, I was too quick to snap earlier. You know how important it is for my work. If it gets dusty, I’ll take care of it myself."

"Tomorrow’s Saturday. I’ll whip up some ravioli for you."

I nodded, not wanting to spar with him.

The next day, after dinner, Andrew was busy editing photos on his computer. As evening rolled in, his phone buzzed unexpectedly. He glanced at the screen and, with a calm demeanor, took the call into the bathroom. Moments later, he reappeared, swiftly changing into different clothes, a subtle smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Seeing my curious glance, he pressed his lips together in an attempt to stifle his laughter.

"Hey, hon, a client's just called in with a last-minute gig, and I might be gone for a couple of days."

"That urgent? We were about to have dinner."

"Yeah, their usual photographer backed out last minute, and a friend suggested me. I'll grab a bite to eat when I'm out."

"Alright, take care, love."

While this wasn't the first time something like this had happened, it had never been quite this rushed before. Outwardly, I maintained my usual demeanor, but internally, I decided I would tail him later. Andrew came over and kissed my forehead.

"For you and our home, pushing myself a bit more is worth it."

"Don't stay up waiting for me tonight. I probably won't be back. Make sure to eat properly and ease my worries."

A wave of nausea hit me. How had I missed his acting talents all this time? After Andrew left, I couldn't help but feel sick. Scenes from our years together played like a movie reel in my mind. The Andrew I knew seemed like a different person now, not matching the man standing before me.

I discreetly followed Andrew Holmes as he left the house. Instead of heading to the airport, he drove to a quiet apartment complex in the suburbs. Keeping a safe distance, I trailed behind him as the evening air filled with the sound of crickets chirping. Once he turned his car into a small courtyard, I parked mine at the entrance, careful not to make any noise, and continued to shadow him on foot.

Andrew knocked gently on the door twice. It opened to reveal a girl dressed provocatively as a Playboy bunny. Her beauty seemed almost otherworldly, her fair skin glowing slightly under the dim streetlights. Her eyes sparkled with a hint of irritation, her lips forming a slight pout.

"Finally, you're here, Andrew. I've been waiting forever."

The streetlights cast a dim glow, obscuring her features slightly, but her silhouette was unmistakable. She was the woman from the blurry photos on Andrew's secret Instagram account.

"Are you really that eager?" Andrew teased her with a playful smirk. "Did you bring me out here just to see this outfit?"

The girl clung to his arm, her tone playful: "You did say you liked it when I was daring."

"How do I look? Surely, I'm more stunning than the one you have at home."

Andrew embraced her willingly, his hands exploring her figure: "She's nothing compared to you. How could someone so ordinary ever compete?"

The girl seemed pleased, wrapping her arms around his neck. They kissed passionately at the doorstep, their sounds echoing embarrassingly through the courtyard.

Eventually, she leaned against Andrew's shoulder, breathing softly as he guided her inside and closed the door behind them.

I stood there beneath the building all night. It wasn't until the early hours, when the lights in their room finally went out, that I drove back home.