“Oh, just work stuff,” she replied a bit too quickly. “You know how clients can be.”
He hated himself for even thinking it, but the thought that she might be cheating on him started to gnaw at his mind. “Maybe she’s only staying because of the money,” he thought bitterly. “Maybe all those promises were just empty words. Or maybe I’m just overthinking. But why does this feel so off?”
One sleepless night, as he stared at the ceiling above their bed, he remembered Angelina having a hushed conversation with someone in the garden just outside their bedroom. An idea came to him – a way to confirm his suspicions without directly confronting her.
The next morning, Stuart called Wonderz Furniture, a local company, and ordered a ceiling mirror to be installed above his bed.
When the workers arrived, Angelina raised an eyebrow. “A mirror on the ceiling? What’s this about?”
Stuart said casually, “I want to see how much I’m changing as I lie here.”
“Stuart,” she said softly, touching his cheek, “You don’t need to monitor yourself like this. You’re still as handsome as ever.”
“Please, Angel,” he replied, using her old nickname, “I need this. For my peace of mind.”
She seemed to accept his answer, but Stuart knew the real reason. The mirror was angled just right to reflect the front yard visible through their bedroom window.
One evening, Angelina called to say she was on her way home from work and would be taking a taxi. Stuart thanked her, pretending not to notice the nervousness in her voice.
An hour later, he heard the sound of tires approaching outside. Glancing at the mirror, his heart seemed to stop.