I had always been proud of him.
He used to say everything he did was for our family.
For our future.
I stepped into the lobby with my heart beating quickly, holding the box of chocolates close to my chest.
That was when everything began to fall apart.
A middle-aged security guard stood at the reception desk. His badge read Silva.
“Good morning,” I said with a smile. “I’m here to visit my husband, Jorge Monteiro.”
The guard looked at me with an odd expression.
“Do you have identification, ma’am?”
The question surprised me, but I handed him my ID.
He studied it, then looked back at me.
“Elena Monteiro…” he read slowly. “You say you’re Mr. Monteiro’s wife?”
“Yes,” I replied. “We’ve been married for forty years.”
The man frowned.
“That can’t be right.”
A knot formed in my stomach.
“What do you mean?”
“I know Mr. Monteiro’s wife,” he said carefully. “She comes here almost every day.”
The air seemed to disappear from the room.
“There must be some mistake,” I murmured. “I’m talking about Jorge Monteiro, the finance director.”
The guard pointed toward the elevators.
“Look… here she comes.”
I turned slowly.
The elevator doors opened.
An elegant woman stepped out confidently. She looked about forty-five, with perfectly styled brown hair and a navy blue business dress.
Too similar to Jorge’s suits.
“Good morning, Mr. Silva,” she said casually.
“Good morning, Mrs. Monteiro.”
My heart stopped.
“I’m stepping out for lunch,” she continued. “Tell Jorge I’ll be back at two.”
“Of course, Mrs. Monteiro.”
She walked past me without even noticing I was there.
And at that moment, I knew something in my life had just broken.
