Chapter 1 THE DISCOVERY

As she scrolled through her husband's phone, her heart sank with each passing message. They were supposed to be on the same page, building a life together. But the words on the screen told a different story.

The text message from her best friend, dated last week, made her blood run cold: "Can't wait to see you tonight."

She felt like she'd been punched in the gut. How could they do this to her? She thought about all the times she'd confided in her best friend, all the laughter they'd shared. And her husband...the man she'd promised to love and cherish. She read the message again, her mind racing with questions. What did it mean? Was this a one-time thing or something more? She couldn't shake the feeling that her whole world was about to come crashing down.

She was in denial and so looked for more clues. She scrolled through her husband's phone records, her eyes scanning for unfamiliar numbers or suspicious calls. That's when she saw it - a number she didn't recognize, with multiple calls and texts. Her mind racing, she jotted down the number, determined to uncover the truth.

She picked up her phone and dialed the unknown number, her heart pounding in her chest. After a few rings, a woman's voice answered.

"Hello?" the voice said, sounding cautious. "Who is this?" she asked, trying to keep her tone neutral. There was a pause before the woman responded, "Who's asking?"

She hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "I'm...my husband's wife," she said finally. The woman's tone changed from cautious to shocked. "Oh, I...I think we should talk in person."

"What's going on?" she pressed, her voice firm but controlled. "What do you know about my husband and my best friend?"

The woman hesitated, then spoke in a hushed tone, "I'm not sure I should be talking about this. But...I've seen them together. They're being careless, and I think you deserve to know." Her mind reeled with the implications. "What do you mean you've seen them together?" she asked.

The woman sighed. "Look, I'm just trying to do the right thing here. If you want to know more, we should meet in person. But be careful, okay? Your husband's not what he seems." "What do you mean he's not what he seems?" she asked, her grip on the phone tightening. The woman's voice dropped to a whisper. "I've seen the way he talks to her, the way he looks at her. He's been lying to you for a long time. And your best friend...she's not who you think she is either."

She felt a chill run down her spine. "What do you know about my best friend?" she pressed. The woman hesitated, then said, "Let's just say she's been playing both of you. Meet me at the coffee shop on Main Street tomorrow at 2 pm. I'll tell you everything I know."

She hesitated for a moment, weighing her options. "Okay, I'll meet you," she said finally. "But how will I know it's you?"

The woman's voice was cautious. "I'll be wearing a black jacket and sunglasses. Sit at the table by the window, and I'll find you." With that, the woman hung up, leaving her staring at her phone in confusion. She felt a mix of emotions: anger, hurt, and a determination to uncover the truth. The rest of the day passed in a blur as she waited anxiously for tomorrow's meeting. She couldn't shake the feeling that her whole life was about to change.

She arrived at the coffee shop 30 minutes early, choosing a table by the window as instructed. As she sipped on a coffee, she observed the other patrons, wondering if she'd recognize the mysterious woman. At 1:55 pm, a figure in a black jacket and sunglasses walked in, scanning the room. Their eyes met, and the woman nodded slightly before making her way over. "Thanks for coming," the woman said, taking a seat. She got straight to the point. "What do you know about my husband and best friend?" The woman hesitated, glancing around the coffee shop before pulling out a folder filled with photos and documents.

The woman leaned in, her voice low. "You're not just dealing with an affair. There's something more going on, something that could put you in danger. Your husband and best friend are involved with some powerful people, and they won't let you expose them without a fight." She felt a chill run down her spine. "What do you mean?" The woman hesitated before pulling out a photo. "Your husband isn't who you think he is. His real name isn't even John. He's been using a fake identity for years, and I think he's been hiding something huge." The woman handed her another photo, this one revealing a shocking truth. "This is him with his real family. He's been married before, and his wife is missing."

"Who is this?" she demanded, her eyes scanning the photo. "What's going on?" The woman's expression turned somber. "His real name is Alexander. He's been in witness protection for years, but I think he's been using that to his advantage. The people he's hiding from...they're not people you want to cross." She felt like her whole world was spinning. "Why are you telling me this?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

The woman's eyes locked onto hers. "Because I think you're in grave danger. You need to get out before it's too late."

Suddenly, the coffee shop door swung open, and a man walked in, his eyes scanning the room. The woman's gaze flicked to him, and she quickly gathered her things. "I have to go," she whispered. "Be careful."

With that, she was gone, leaving her staring after her in shock.

She quickly gathered her things and left the coffee shop, her mind racing with questions. As she walked down the street, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. She glanced over her shoulder, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. She decided to go to a nearby park to clear her head and process everything she'd just learned. As she sat on a bench, she pulled out her phone and began to research Alexander, the name the mysterious woman had mentioned. After some digging, she found a news article about a man named Alexander who had gone into witness protection several years ago. The article mentioned his wife, who had been presumed dead after a violent incident.