A Saint's Disguise

Chapter Three: The Names He Hid

"What the hell girl" Sofia said over the phone. I had waited for Jack to leave before I called, not because I was afraid, but because I had to be smart. I was startled when I saw him appear at the doorway again just as she picked up and I hung up the phone, he smiled and gestured that he forgot something. Then as he left, he paused at the doorway to say "bye darling,I love you" before disappearing again.

"Liar" I said so softly that i'm sure even the walls couldn't hear me. I slipped into my slippers and padded down the hallway, went straight into my bedroom and locked the door. Then I took out my phone and dialed Sofia's number again.

She picked up on the second ring.

"Joyce?" Sofia's voice was still thick with sleep. "What's going on today? You've never called this early before."

I leaned against my dressing table. "I need you".

There was a pause. Then her voice changed, "Are you okay?"

I exhaled slowly. "I saw jack".

"Joyce, what do you mean you saw jack?" She said gently.

I paused and swallowed, "I saw him with another woman."

Sofia's voice exploded through the phone.

"What?!!!"

"Sofia, lower your voice" I hissed.

“No,” she snapped. “No, Joyce, I’m not lowering my voice. You’re telling me your husband, your holy, perfect husband, cheated on you? That's unbelievable girl, you're probably mistaken.”

"He didn't just cheat,I walked into our bedroom and he was with her...in my bed." I said, my words barely making it out of my throat. Sofia inhaled sharply " No. no,no no".

I could hear her moving, the sound of sheets, like she’d sat up in bed.

“Joyce,” she said, voice shaking with rage, “tell me, did you confront him?”

I leaned my hip against the dresser, calm. “I didn’t.”

“What?”

“They didn’t see me.”

Sofia made a strangled sound. “Joyce...why would you.. ”

“Because I wanted to leave with my dignity intact,” I cut in. “And because I wanted to know how deep it goes...I need to know.”

Sofia’s silence this time was different.

Then she said, deadly calm, “Who was she?”

My fingers tightened around my phone.

“Victoria.”

The line went dead quiet.

Sofia didn’t speak for a full three seconds.

Then she whispered, “victoria? His best friend.. Victoria?”

“The one and the same.”

“Oh, Joyce…” Her voice broke like she was the one betrayed.

I stared at the blankly at the window.

“Do you know what’s worse?” I said quietly.

“What?”

“He kissed me last night.”

Sofia sucked in a breath. “After… after her?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, that filthy bastard. How could he be so shameless ?”

I didn’t answer. Because if I opened my mouth, something in me might finally crack.

Sofia’s voice turned sharp again. “Okay. Listen to me. I think you need evidence.”

I gave a small humorless laugh. “I have eyes.”

“Joyce,” she snapped. “Not for your heart. For the world.” That made me pause.

“For the world,” I repeated.

“Yes,” Sofia said. “Men like Jack don’t fall from grace because of feelings. They fall because of proof. Screenshots. Messages. Dates. Names.”

I stared at the phone in my hand.

Sofia continued, voice urgent. “Check his phone. His email. His bank transactions. Everything. If he’s cheating on you with his best friend, Joyce, I promise you it’s not the first time.” My stomach tightened, i didn’t want to believe it. But something colder in me already did. “His phone is always on him,” I said. Sofia snorted. “Then wait until he sleeps. And Joyce?”

“Yes?”

“Don’t be sentimental.”

My lips curved slightly. “I won’t.”

“Good,” she said. “Because if you’re going to destroy him, you need to do it properly. But I need to ask you something and I need you to be very honest with me and with yourself. Do you really want to destroy him?”

I was quiet for a moment. Then I asked, “Sofia… if you were me… what would you do?”

Sofia didn’t hesitate. “I’d ruin him,” she said. “And I’d make him watch.” My smile widened, faint and dark. “Okay,” I said. “I’ll call you later.”

“Joyce,” Sofia said quickly. “Promise me something.”

“What?”

“Promise me you won’t do anything stupid. No confronting him alone. No screaming. No breaking things.”

I glanced toward the staircase, where my husband slept peacefully.

“I won’t,” I said softly. “I’m not stupid.”

Sofia exhaled. “Good. I love you.”

“I know.”

I ended the call.

And for the first time since last night, I felt something settle in my chest.

Purpose.

Jack’s phone was on the nightstand when he returned later that evening. Face down like always. I stood beside the bed, staring at him. His breathing was slow and even. He looked… perfect. I picked up his phone.It was still warm from his hand, I held it in mine and waited. Then I pressed the side button and the screen lit up. Locked of course. I stared at the keypad thinking of his passcode, then I smiled.

Because Jack had always been predictable.

I typed in the first code I could think of.

Our wedding anniversary, The phone unlocked. I let out a slow breath. “Still stupid,” I whispered.

Jack stirred in his sleep, turning his head.

I froze. He mumbled something, then settled again. I turned away from the bed and walked into the bathroom, closing the door quietly behind me. The light stayed off.

I sat on the edge of the tub, phone in hand.

And I started digging. His messages were clean. Too clean. No flirty texts. No obvious “I miss you” lines.

Just normal conversations. How’s your day?

Did you eat? I frowned.

Jack had always been careful, but this was….

Shocking to say the least. I opened his call logs. Nothing.“You’re smarter than I thought,” I murmured. Then I remembered Sofia’s words. "Men like Jack don’t fall from grace because of feelings. They fall because of proof". I opened his contacts. And that’s when I saw it.