Chasing After You

“Happy Anniversary!” Claire squealed with excitement as she gave her husband, Julian a hug. However it wasn't up to a minute when he slightly pushed her away and cleared his throat. “Yeah. I have to get to work or I'll be late” Julian spoke in a detached tone and quickly looked at his watch ignoring the painful look on his wife's face. Claire was in awe; he didn't even bother to wish her back. “I'm off” Julian didn't bother to spare any last glance at Claire as he exited the house. That morning, as she went about her usual routine, Claire's thoughts kept drifting back to Julian. It was their anniversary and he was acting cold to her. She couldn’t focus, couldn’t shake the nagging suspicion that something was off. She tried to push it aside, but it was like a dark cloud hovering over her, refusing to dissipate. As she was tidying up the living room, her phone buzzed on the coffee table. She picked it up and saw a text from Julian: *Running late again tonight. Don’t wait up.* Claire stared at the message, her heart sinking. The knot in her chest tightened into a painful ache. She couldn’t ignore it anymore—something was definitely wrong. She walked into the kitchen, grabbing a glass of water to steady herself. As she took a sip, her eyes fell on Julian’s phone, left carelessly on the counter. She thought he must have forgotten to take it with him in his rush this morning but then realized he had just texted her so did that mean he had two phones? For a moment, Claire just stood there, her heart pounding. She had never been one to invade his privacy, but the gnawing suspicion was too strong to ignore. With trembling hands, she picked up the phone and unlocked it. She knew his passcode—it was their wedding anniversary. The screen lit up, and she scrolled through his messages, her breath catching in her throat. Most were from work, as expected, but then she saw it—a string of texts from an unfamiliar number, filled with casual intimacy that sent chills down her spine. *Can’t wait to see you tonight.* *Last night was amazing. I miss you already.* Claire's hands shook as she clicked on the contact. The name was saved with only a letter ‘A’ but the messages were clear enough. Her mind raced, her heart pounding in her chest. She felt sick, the world spinning around her. Suddenly, the doorbell rang, snapping her out of her daze. She quickly put the phone down, her heart racing as she went to answer the door. It was a delivery—a bouquet of flowers. Confused, she signed for them and took them inside. As she unwrapped the flowers, a card fell out. She picked it up, her hands trembling as she read the words: *Thinking of you. Can’t wait to see you again. Love, April* “April?!” The flowers weren’t for her. They were meant for Julian and they were sent by her one and only best friend April. Claire stared at the card, her mind numb with shock. The truth she had been trying to ignore was now undeniable. Julian was cheating on her with her best friend. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she sank to the floor, the bouquet slipping from her hands. The flowers scattered around her, their bright colors mocking her pain. The life she had built with Julian, the trust they had shared, was unraveling before her eyes. And as the reality of his betrayal sank in, Claire knew that nothing would ever be the same again. She didn't know what to do as she sat on the floor crying her eyes out. Should she confront April? Or should she go confront Julian at his office? Claire had noticed Julian had suddenly switched up on her one day with his usual excuses of last-minute meetings and urgent deadlines and his sudden lack of affection for her. She has thought she was just overthinking it and he was simply stressed and adjusting to his new job but that wasn't it. And April? Why didn't she realize it sooner after Julian and April suddenly grew close when in the past they kept a distance. Claire couldn't sit on the floor bawling her eyes out anymore. She had made up her mind that she was going to confront Julian. So, she picked up her car keys and drove to his office. --- When Claire arrived at the floor where James’s office was located, she hesitated for a brief moment, staring at the frosted glass door. She could see the blurred silhouettes of people moving inside, and her stomach churned. Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open and walked in. The receptionist at the desk looked up, surprised. “Mrs. Black, I wasn’t expecting you. Do you have an appointment with Mr. Black?” Claire forced a smile. “No, I don’t. But I need to see him right away.” The receptionist faltered, glancing toward Julian's office. “He’s in a meeting right now, but—” “I won’t take long,” Claire said, her voice firmer than she felt. Before the receptionist could respond, Claire walked past her and headed straight for Julian’s office. As she approached the door, Claire could hear muffled voices from inside—Julian’s low, familiar tone and a woman’s soft laughter. Her heart dropped, but she didn’t stop. With a swift, determined motion, she pushed the door open. The scene that greeted her was like a punch to the gut. Julian was sitting on the edge of his desk, his tie loosened, his sleeves rolled up. He was smiling—smiling in a way that Claire hadn’t seen in months. And standing close, too close, was April, her best friend . The woman from the text messages. The woman who had sent him flowers. The woman she had trusted with her whole heart who betrayed her. April had her hand on James’s arm, her posture casual and intimate, as if they were the only two people in the world. They both turned to look at Claire as she entered, their expressions shifting from surprise to something much darker. “Claire” Julian said, his smile vanishing. “I’m glad you're here. I'm guessing you found my other phone” His tone was nonchalant like he was expecting her. Could it be he wanted her to see it all? “Julian -” “I'll get straight to the point. Let's get a divorce”