“About what?” he asked, his attention now on her, sensing the change in the air.

Carly opened the laptop and turned it towards him. “About this.” With a press of the spacebar, the video started once again.

Josh’s eyes widened as he watched. His reaction shifted from confusion to shock, then quickly to defense. “Did you spy on me?” he accused, his voice rising.

“Is that all you’re concerned about?” Carly’s question was sharp, cutting through the room.

“My own wife spied on me. What did you expect?” Josh’s confusion was giving way to anger.

“Who is this? The girl in the video?” Carly pressed on, needing answers more than air.

“It’s my student, Marta. She needed help catching up on missed lectures,” Josh explained, his tone trying to convey normalcy.

“In our bedroom?” Carly’s disbelief hung heavy between them.

Josh shrugged in an attempt to dismiss her concerns. “I don’t see what’s so wrong about that.”

“You were in our bedroom with a young girl. And before that, I found someone else’s makeup bag under our bed,” Carly’s voice was a mix of hurt and accusation.

“Carly, what are you trying to say?” Josh seemed to be searching for an escape.

“Are you cheating on me, Josh?” The question was out, hanging in the air, undeniable.

“Would I tell you her name if I were cheating?” Josh tried to sound convincing, his gaze not quite meeting hers.

“I don’t know, Josh. I’ve never been cheated on before. I don’t know how cheaters behave. But everything points to that,” Carly’s voice was breaking, the pain evident.

“Carly, stop. You’re blowing this out of proportion,” Josh attempted to deflect, his patience wearing thin.

“Tell me the truth, Josh. Are you cheating on me?” Carly needed to hear it, one way or another.

Josh’s response was cold and calculated. “Even if I were, what would you do?”

Carly froze, his words slicing through her. “What? What does that mean? I would leave you, file for divorce.”

“And end up with a child in your arms, without a penny. Remember, the prenuptial agreement leaves you with almost nothing,” Josh’s words were like daggers.

“I’ll get everything in the case of cheating,” Carly countered, clinging to a sliver of hope.

“But here’s the thing, Carly. There’s no cheating. All you have is a video of Marta entering our bedroom. That’s not enough,” Josh was dismissive, confident.

“You’re cheating on me, Josh! And according to our agreement, you would be the one left with nothing,” Carly’s voice was a mix of anger and desperation.

Josh leaned in close, his voice a menacing whisper. “Try proving that. If I were you, I’d be very careful, or you’ll regret it.” With those words, he left the room, leaving Carly alone with her shattered world.

Carly covered her mouth with her hand, stifling the sobs that threatened to break free. She felt lost, caught in a nightmare she couldn’t wake up from. She needed proof, undeniable evidence of Josh’s infidelity, but she didn’t know how to find it. The video was damning, but Josh was right; it wasn’t enough. She needed more, something that would hold up in court and ensure she wouldn’t lose everything.

Carly’s heart pounded as she walked through the university’s sprawling campus where Josh worked. The morning sun cast long shadows between the buildings, and students moved around her in a blur of activity, their laughter and chatter a stark contrast to the turmoil inside her. She felt out of place, an intruder in a world that had remained hidden from her until now.

As she meandered through the corridors, her eyes searched each face, looking for the one that had haunted her from the video. Memories of happier times flashed in her mind, times when she and Josh were united, inseparable. Those memories now seemed like a distant dream, shattered by suspicion and betrayal.

Finally, she saw her – the girl from the video. She was standing with a group of students, laughing, carefree. Carly’s breath hitched in her throat. This young girl, too young for Josh, was the cause of her heartache.

Observing her from a distance, Carly felt a mix of emotions. Anger, jealousy, but also sadness. Sadness for what her marriage had become, sadness for the love she thought would last a lifetime.

With determined steps, Carly approached the group. As she got closer, the laughter and chatter around the girl seemed to fade away until all Carly could hear was the pounding of her heart. The girl noticed Carly approaching, and her smile faltered, sensing something was amiss.

The other students sensed the tension, and their conversation dwindled, their attention shifting between Carly and the girl. Carly felt their eyes on her, but she kept her focus on the girl who held the answers to the questions that tormented her day and night.

“Martha?” she called out, her voice firm despite the turmoil inside.

The girl turned, her expression guarded. “Yes, and who might you be?” Her tone was cool, and the discomfort was clear in her stance.

“We need to talk,” Carly stated, attempting to mask her anxiety with a veneer of calm.

“I don’t need to talk to you,” Martha replied, trying to dismiss Carly with a wave of her hand.

Ignoring the rebuff, Carly reached out, gently but firmly grasping Martha by the elbow, and steered her away from the group. “Hey, let me go! You have no right!” Martha protested, her voice a mix of anger and surprise.

Carly didn’t relent, guiding Martha to a secluded corner where their conversation couldn’t be overheard. “I’m Josh’s wife, and I know about your affair,” she said, her voice low but clear.

Martha’s face registered a flicker of confusion and defiance. “Ehh.. it’s not..”

“Don’t bother making excuses. But I need you to help me,” Carly cut in, her desperation making her voice quiver.

“What do you want?” Martha asked, her curiosity piqued despite her earlier resistance.

“I need you to tell me about your affair with Josh. Everything. And I’ll record it,” Carly said, pulling out a small voice recorder from her purse.

Martha stepped back, shaking her head. “I won’t do that.”

Carly’s heart sank, but she pressed on. “If you don’t help me, I’ll be left with nothing when we divorce.”

“Why should I care?” Martha’s voice was cold, her arms crossed defiantly.

“Please, it will be better for both of us if I’m no longer in the picture,” Carly pleaded, her voice softening.

“I can’t betray Josh. Besides, he told me he’s planning to divorce you so we can be together. He said he doesn’t love you anymore,” Martha blurted out, a mix of guilt and defiance in her eyes.

Carly felt a sting at those words, her heart aching. “He’s lying to you, Martha.”

“No, it’s true. We love each other and will be together,” Martha said, her voice firm, yet Carly could detect a sliver of doubt.

“Listen to me—” Carly started, but Martha cut her off.

“I’ve heard enough. I won’t help you take his money or ruin his life,” Martha declared before turning on her heel and walking away.