Marina gently folded the last shirt into Alexey’s suitcase. After so many years of marriage, packing for his business trips had become a quiet ritual she cherished, each item placed with care.

“Don’t forget your laptop charger,” she reminded him, zipping the suitcase shut.

Alexey glanced at his watch, visibly tense.

“Thanks, love. I’ve got to go—the taxi’s here.”

He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, grabbed his suitcase, and rushed to the door.

“Call me when you get there!” Marina called out.

“Will do!” he shouted back as the door clicked shut.

She moved to the window and watched as the car pulled away. His rushed goodbye struck her as unusual; their farewells were normally slower, more affectionate. Still, she shrugged it off—he was likely just anxious about the meeting ahead.

The apartment instantly felt empty and cold. To distract herself, Marina decided to visit the Meridian shopping mall and finally pick up a few things she’d been planning to buy.

A couple of hours later, laden with bags, she walked through the mall. She’d intended to have lunch at her favorite café on the third floor, but just then her phone rang—a colleague suggested meeting at the Almond restaurant on the second floor to try its new menu.

Marina agreed; the restaurant was right there, and she liked the atmosphere even if she rarely visited.

As she came up to the second floor, she could already make out the interior through Almond’s large windows. Then her feet seemed to glue themselves to the floor: at a window‑side table sat Alexey.

Opposite him was a young woman Marina had never seen. They leaned toward each other, chatting animatedly.

The woman laughed, lightly touching his hand, and in Alexey’s eyes Marina saw an expression she hadn’t seen in a long time.

Time froze. Her heart stopped, and her vision blurred. The man supposedly on a flight to Novosibirsk was lunching with another woman.

Her first impulse was to storm in and demand answers. Something—pride, maybe fear—held her back. Taking a deep breath, Marina slowly turned and walked away.

With trembling fingers she canceled lunch with her colleague and called her best friend.

“Lena, can you meet me? Right now,” she said, her voice shaking.

“What’s happened?” Lena asked, alarmed.

“I just saw Alexey with some woman in a restaurant. He’s supposed to be on a plane.”

“Where are you?”

“At Meridian.”

“Wait for me at the Aquarelle café on the first floor. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”

Marina sat in a corner, absent‑mindedly stirring her cooling tea. Questions raced through her mind. Who was the woman? How long had this been going on? Had Alexey ever gone on those trips? The midnight calls, the late nights at work, the new phone password…

“Marina!” Lena’s voice snapped her back. She sat down opposite and squeezed Marina’s hands.

“Tell me everything.”

Marina recounted the scene, trying to control her voice.

“I don’t know what to do, Lena. Part of me doesn’t even want to know the truth.”

“What if it isn’t what it looks like? There might be an explanation.”

Marina gave a bitter smile. “What explanation fits a man who lies about a business trip and lunches with another woman?”

“I don’t know,” Lena admitted. “But before you decide, maybe learn more first?”

“How? Ask him outright?”

Lena thought. “What if we just follow them? See where they go.”

Spying on her husband felt humiliating, but the uncertainty hurt worse. Marina nodded.

They took cover in the bookstore opposite the restaurant, pretending to browse. 40 minutes later Alexey and his companion emerged. The woman was an elegant brunette, around thirty, with a flawless figure.

“They’re heading out,” Lena whispered.

Keeping their distance, they followed. Outside, the woman got into a taxi. Alexey helped her in, they exchanged a quick handshake—nothing more—and the taxi pulled away. Alexey stayed on the lot, phoned someone, then took a cab himself.

“Let’s follow him,” Marina said.

Their taxi trailed Alexey’s to the Aquamarine business center—home to his company’s office. Inside, he was talking tensely with the receptionist before vanishing into his boss’s office.

“Maybe the trip was canceled last minute,” Lena suggested.

“Then who’s the woman? And why no call?”

They waited. 30 minutes later Alexey left with a folder and headed downstairs. Marina and Lena ducked behind a column, then raced for a taxi.

“Home,” Marina told the driver. She guessed right: Alexey’s cab dropped him at their building. Marina let Lena go and went up alone.

Alexey sat in the kitchen, staring at his laptop.

“Marina! You’re home?” He looked genuinely surprised.

“As you see,” she replied coolly. “Aren’t you supposed to be on a plane?”

He tensed. “The trip was canceled at the last minute. I was going to call, but everything was crazy.”

“So crazy you couldn’t send a text?”

“I’m sorry.” He lowered his eyes. Marina sat across from him.

“Who is she, Alexey?”

“Who?” He frowned.

“The woman you lunched with at Almond.”

He turned pale. “You were following me?”

“No. I saw you by chance.”

Silence stretched. At last he spoke: “It’s not what you think.”