Chapter 3

3.

During the three days I remained in the hospital, Seraphina came to visit every day after work.

On the surface, nothing seemed to have changed.

But I knew that every night, in the early hours, she was meeting Caleb.

Caleb's social media was a play-by-play. They went to the beach to see the stars. They drove across town for late-night burgers.

Tonight, she told me she was working a double shift at the hospital.

Instead, she went to a hotel with Caleb.

In the video Caleb posted, I heard him ask her over and over if she loved him.

Just when I thought she would stay silent, I heard her let out a moan of affirmation.

My heart died in that moment.

The next morning, Seraphina arrived early with breakfast.

I looked at the logo on the bag. The place was over ten miles from the hospital.

But it was right next to the hotel where she had stayed with Caleb.

"That's a long drive for breakfast," I remarked.

She paused while unpacking the food.

"I had some free time this morning. I thought I'd get your favorite. Don't you like it?"

"Eat up. I have a meeting in my department."

Shortly after she left, the door opened again.

I looked up to see Caleb. I was calmer than I expected.

Before he could speak, I told him Seraphina wasn't there.

He smirked, looking triumphant.

"I know she isn't here."

"I'm just here to return her clothes."

Return her clothes?

I scoffed. If he wanted to return clothes, he wouldn't have brought them to me.

I looked at the jacket in his hand.

I grabbed it and tossed it aside.

"Thanks," I said flatly.

Caleb looked frustrated. He asked me if I wasn't curious why he had her jacket.

I went back to my breakfast.

"It's just a jacket. She probably just left it behind by accident."

He glared at me, annoyed.

"She was with me yesterday..."

He was interrupted when Seraphina walked back in.

"What are you doing here?"

Her face turned pale when she saw Caleb.

"I just came to bring your jacket back, Seraphina."

"Thanks for letting me borrow it yesterday."

Seraphina looked at him with irritation.

"You're done here. Get out."

Caleb looked hurt, but he turned and left.

As soon as the door closed, Seraphina began explaining frantically.

"Bennett, don't listen to a word he says. There's nothing between us. He didn't have a jacket when he was discharged, so I let him use mine."

"I had no idea he'd be creepy enough to bring it here."

I finished my last bite of porridge and looked at her.

"He didn't say much. Just that he was returning it."

A flash of regret crossed her eyes.

She probably realized she had over-explained. She looked guilty.

She muttered a quick "good" and stood there awkwardly.

Then, her phone rang. The screen displayed the name "Caleb."

She glanced at the phone and lied, saying there was an emergency in her department.

I listened to her lie with increasing skill and felt a pang of pity for myself.

I started drafting my own divorce papers.

When Seraphina returned later, her lips were swollen and red.

I looked away immediately.

She instinctively touched her mouth.

When she saw the divorce agreement on my screen, she panicked for a split second.

"Bennett, you're a corporate lawyer. Why are you looking at divorce papers?"

I brushed it off. "It's for a friend."

Before she could ask more, her "emergency" ringer went off.

"There's a patient in crisis. I have to go."

I watched her rush out and went back to my work.