Reading his text, I collapsed, feeling utterly deflated.

Trapped in that tight, dark space, I could barely move my fingers, let alone muster the energy to call for help.

Jack was my last hope, yet he responded with indifference to my desperate calls.

I took deep breaths, forcing myself to stay composed, and managed to dial 911.

After making the call, I slumped against the wall, fixated on his unchanging message.

Then my phone pinged.

It was a status update from Lily.

I mustered the last of my strength to check it and saw her selfie.

And Jack's watch was peeking out in the corner—the one I'd gifted him for our anniversary.

Her caption: "A call away for my boss, lucky to have you~," with a tag to Jack, again.

Jack had commented below, "Chicken," with a tone of affection.

Perhaps it was the brush with death, but I felt a sudden calm wash over me. Without any drama, I blocked Lily's social profile which I had well-searched.

The rescue team was far more reliable than Jack.

They got to the stuck elevator in no time, freeing me after hours of confinement and escorting me home.

The house was empty and devoid of life.

I washed off the grime and exhaustion and quickly drifted off to sleep.

Oddly, I found myself relieved without Jack nearby.

I was jolted awake by a slamming door. There stood Jack, fuming, demanding an explanation, "What's with all the calls? You think scaring me into thinking something's happened is funny?"

Confused, I stared at him, unable to comprehend his rage.

I hadn't even brought up his overnight escapade with another woman, yet he was the one losing his cool.

"Can you be a little more sensible? Stop spamming my phone, alright?"

He opened his phone to show me but accidentally revealed his chat with Lily.

Despite being his wife, it was her conversation that was pinned at the top.

I feigned ignorance, merely grunted, and rolled over to continue sleeping.

Perhaps feeling guilty about pinning Lily's chat or regretful for not picking me up, he just quietly tucked in the covers and left the room.

I didn't ask where he was going; I had lost interest long ago.

Despite the unrest, I didn't wake to my alarm.

But a panic about the pile of work waiting for me at the office woke me up.

I hurried to the office, barely managing to get through the morning rush when Sarah, concerned, remarked, "Jen, you look flushed!"

It dawned on me then—I was sick.

The stress from the previous day, compounded by my recent hospital stay, had culminated in a fever.

Surrounded by caring colleagues, I forced a smile and retreated to my desk to rest.

As I weighed whether to call in sick, a message from Jack popped up.

"Did you go to work today?"

Annoyed, I realized I had never found Jack so irritating.

Was he expecting me to stay at his tail and watch him flirt with his assistant?

Before I could muster a reply, he messaged again.

"Why didn't you wake me? I nearly missed my alarm!"

Staring at the screen, I remembered all the times I tried to rouse him, only to be dismissed. Yet, he'd soften for Lily's calls.

Confronting him always led to his impatient retort, "She's just my assistant, it's normal that she'd call and wake me up. Stop being so paranoid!"

Now, giving him a taste of his own medicine with Lily's care, he was puzzled by my absence.

How laughable.

I tossed my phone aside and immersed myself in work.

I'd come to realize it was better to depend on myself than on any man.

Just before quitting time, I checked my phone to find a message from Jack, showing a dinner reservation screenshot. [7 PM, don't stand me up.]

It was the rooftop restaurant I had longed to visit.

I had nagged him to celebrate our anniversary there, but he always brushed it off.

"Why there? We can celebrate anywhere."

"You know how tough it is to book? I don't have time to waste."

I had been there, but to catch him red-handed.

No one knew the panic I felt seeing Lily tag that location at that time.

Rushing there, I found Jack, who had promised to be with me, comfortably seated with her.

Before I could react, Lily gently started, "Hey Jen, don't be mad at Jack. He's just showing me the ropes since I got promoted today..."

Jack, ever the gentleman, chimed in, "It's all above board here. Why are you acting like you caught us in the act?"

What could I do?

I watched them, looking every bit the loving couple, in the restaurant I had dreamed about. What else could I do?

Thinking back, my heart sank, but I still went along with Jack's plan.

Sadly, I waited all evening, but he never appeared.

Faced with the waiter's inquiry, I silently ordered a meal for one and ate alone.

Time passed, and just as I got home, Jack arrived shortly after.

"Jen, let me explain," he started.

I listened as he recounted why he missed our dinner.

Again, it was Lily.

She had accidentally burned herself with hot water during a meeting.

Jack had rushed her to the hospital and then made sure she got home safely.

By the time he thought to look for me, I had left the restaurant.

He spoke of Lily with such innocence and care, his words dripping with fondness.

Only I knew what she was calculating.

The subtle hints online, and the discrepancies in our marriage, all pointed to Lily's scheming.

"Babe, you're not upset, right?" he paused, gauging my reaction.

Seeing no immediate response, Jack pressed on, watching me intently.

"Nope, just listening. Oh, and didn't Lily wreck the computer? Weren't you furious about that?"

I asked because when Lily first started at the company, she was green and clumsy, constantly bungling things.

Jack would come home complaining about her, always on the brink of firing her.

Yet, within six months, his annoyance turned to indulgence.

He even took the blame for her mistakes at work.

My question confirmed for him that I was upset.

"If you're mad, just say it! Why beat around the bush? It's exhausting trying to guess what's on your mind!"

I sighed, unsure how to explain that I really wasn't angry.

I was just curious.

Besides, whenever I got mad, it was never this quiet—I always caused a scene.

Jack still didn't understand me.

I chuckled, shaking my head, feeling no need to explain further.

"I'm really not mad, I'm off to bed."

He wrapped his arms around me, whispering seductively, "Jen... how about tonight..."

"Too wiped out, maybe some other time."

I wriggled free from his embrace and closed the bedroom door behind me.

My fatigue quickly swept me into sleep, oblivious to Jack leaving the house.