Alex's demeanor from earlier was so natural, it was as if the previous incident had never occurred. So, I guess he's not upset anymore, right? Feeling relieved, I got up to wash the dishes.

I’ve never been fond of cooking, but I have an odd fascination with collecting beautiful plates and genuinely enjoy washing and organizing them. This is where Alex and I complement each other perfectly. Our interests align, and our daily routines balance each other out; we're the ideal couple. So, how could everything come to a halt over something so trivial?

With this thought, the earlier gloom completely lifted. Cheerfully, I tidied everything up and began unpacking the parcels, arranging our home little by little. The once neutral-toned space gained festive decorations, becoming lively and welcoming. I was thoroughly pleased and couldn’t resist snapping a few photos to share on Facebook. Almost immediately after I posted, someone liked it. Judging by the profile picture, it was someone familiar, but only virtually; we haven’t met face-to-face.

Two years ago, Alex took me to his alma mater for an anniversary event, and I ended up adding many people on WhatsApp. She must be one of them. I remember her distinctly because whenever I post, she’s usually the first to like it, as if she’s always on Facebook. Her posts are also quite distinctive.

She once shared that she and her ex were so compatible that after breaking up, they decided to remain casual friends with benefits. Anytime either wanted company, they’d reach out, regardless of the distance, and the other would promptly arrive. She mentioned once going on a business trip and casually sharing the hotel name; her ex drove overnight to see her. I found it fascinating and quietly kept tabs on their reunion saga.

However, her posts gradually became a bit too provocative for my taste, so I tweaked my settings to avoid seeing them. This reminded me of the packages Alex received today. Curiously, I disabled the block and clicked into her profile. Three hours ago, she shared:

"Tonight, I'm playing nurse, sweetheart."

"Feeling under the weather, need some TLC."

"Image."

Goosebumps ran down my skin, compelling me to retreat before freezing in place. I reopened the post and enlarged the image. The bottom left corner showed a blurred silhouette against a floor-to-ceiling window. The figure bore a striking resemblance to… Alex.

The enlarged image was so pixelated that it was impossible to discern any details. Even though the silhouette didn't reveal anything remarkable, the moment Alex's name crossed my mind, I was captivated as if under a spell. I couldn't resist; my hands shook as I continued scrolling down.

The most recent post was from three hours ago, with the previous one dating back ten days to the afternoon. I remembered that day clearly. Alex had taken a day off to be with me as I tried on Victorian-style dresses. The shop assistant cheekily remarked that Alex was smiling behind me, clearly enchanted.

Reflecting on this, I browsed through my photo album. I had taken numerous selfies that day, one of which included both of us. While I reveled in the joy of soon wearing a stunning gown and marrying the love of my life, Alex stood behind me, smiling at his phone.

My heart sank. Shortly afterward, he received a call. He explained that the intern at his company had made an error in their proposal, and he had to rush back to fix it. He hugged me apologetically, expressing regret repeatedly.

I never doubted him. Instead, I assured him that work was a priority. After I finished trying on other dresses, he resolved the issue and returned to pick me up. We then had dinner and watched a movie. Everything seemed normal, like any typical day.

I had no hint of what was amiss. My breath quickened as I continued scrolling down, feeling a surge of resentment. So many posts. There were more. The longest gap between posts was two weeks, while the most frequent was five times a week. But they were so long ago, and my memory isn't the best. Sometimes, I struggle to recall what I did or ate the previous day without dwelling on it. My mind was already a tangled mess.

I couldn't remember what Alex was doing at those corresponding times. Was he genuinely absent each time?

Suddenly, a clap of thunder jolted me back to reality. My hands trembled as I dialed Alex's number.

"Where are you?"

"At the door, darling."

In the next moment, the door swung open. A chilly breeze swept in.

"I saw the weather forecast predicting heavy rain and thunderstorms, so I hurried back," he said as he walked over, crouching in front of me and gently patting my head to comfort me. "No worries, I'm here now."

I had a deep-seated fear of thunderstorms. Once, while he was traveling for work, he checked the weather forecast for my area, noticed there'd be a storm at night, and returned to be with me, leaving again early the next morning. In the past, this always deeply moved me.

But this time, I couldn't help linking it to the posts on Facebook. Same trip abroad, same urgent return from afar.

"Wow, babe, you finished decorating? It looks amazing, really sets the mood," he remarked, admiring the room, his eyes suddenly getting teary. "I can't believe we’re finally getting married."

I interjected sharply, "It's late; go take a shower."

"Alright, sweetheart."

After he went into the bathroom, I picked up his phone.

Contacts and WhatsApp chats were all working fine. It seemed that Davis had indeed invited him out for drinks that evening. Just a few minutes ago, Davis was still checking in to make sure he'd gotten home safely, given the rain and the drinks. I went to browse Alex’s WhatsApp contacts but couldn't find the person from my social media circle, confirming they weren't friends.

Was I mistaken? When we first started dating, Alex had been upfront about his past relationships. He confessed that he had a previous girlfriend, but they clashed on numerous issues and fought constantly. In the end, she cheated and left with someone else. Whenever Alex spoke of her, his face showed clear disgust and anger. It seemed unlikely for Alex to reconnect with her. Was I just being paranoid?

I hesitated for a moment. Seeing Alex about to enter the room, I quickly put down my phone and pretended to be asleep on the bed. My mind was in a whirl, unsure how to confront him.

A moment later, Alex tiptoed into the room. He gently whispered, "Eleanor? Are you asleep?" Since I didn’t answer, he turned off the light, climbed into bed, and gently wrapped his arms around me. He murmured softly, "It's so wonderful. The day after tomorrow you'll be my wife. I love you so much. Goodnight."

I turned toward him and buried my head in his chest, silently crying. "I love you too. So very much." Maybe I was overthinking. We were about to get married; how could I doubt him? We were deeply in love. Once I stopped worrying, I quickly fell asleep.

The day before the wedding, Davis called again, suggesting a drink. I frowned, "Didn't you just hang out yesterday?"

"Well, it's because of old Jim. He couldn't get time off yesterday and only managed to arrive this afternoon," Davis explained.

Alex held me, sounding reluctant, "Come with me. Otherwise, I won't get to see you for over twelve hours."

I thought for a moment and declined. "It's a guys’ night out. I wouldn't enjoy it, and besides, I have stuff to take care of."

Eventually, he left reluctantly. After a while, I remembered that I had forgotten to give Alex the gifts I had prepared for them. With the busy day ahead tomorrow, I knew I’d forget once I got caught up. So, I had no choice but to drive over.

Half an hour later, I arrived at the private room where they were meeting. It was eerily quiet, not the lively atmosphere I had expected. Just as I was wondering if I had the wrong room, I heard Davis's irritated voice from inside. "I'll ask you again, where were you last night?"

Hearing that, I stopped abruptly.

"Alex, do yourself a favor—after you marry Eleanor, break things off with Lisa. Build a real life with Eleanor."

Suddenly, I felt my breath catch as if struck by lightning. Alex pressed his lips together but didn’t respond. Davis appeared agitated. "What are you thinking? If you can't move on, why break up in the first place?"

After a moment, Alex remained silent. The others, noticing this, tried to change the subject, "Hey, let's not dwell on this today. It's a celebration, right?"

"Yeah, but you keep playing with fire, eventually, you'll get burned. If you don't deal with it now, it'll explode later, and then it'll be too late!"

Alex lit a cigarette, his voice raspy. "Morgan and I have a physical connection, nothing else. But with Eleanor, it's the exact opposite."

He sighed. "Eleanor's amazing, but she's so clingy, can't fulfill my needs."

"You know how it is with guys, right? Who doesn’t have a side deal? I'm just sticking with one, it's more straightforward that way. Trust me, I know what I'm doing."

"I only meet Morgan for the physical part, no emotional attachment and no overnight stays. It won't affect my marriage with Eleanor."