My husband cheated with a employee

Three days before the wedding, my fianc, Benjamin White, accompanied me for my final wedding gown fitting.

As he adjusted the corset ties, he suddenly spoke up.

You know, your figure isn't exactly runway-ready. Strapless gowns don't really flatter you.

My smile froze. I asked him casually.

So who does it look good on?

He avoided my gaze, answering awkwardly.

"Well... models, I guess."

"Which model?" I stared at him.

His hands trembled slightly on the ties, then he laughed it off, trying to sound casual.

"Who else? The consultant helping you, Chloe."

Something felt off when I asked Benjamin to help me with the corset ties.

He was usually hopeless with neckties, yet now he expertly tied a perfect French bow.

Then, almost absently, he said:

"You know, Elaine, your figure isn't really model material. Strapless isn't your best look."

My heart dropped like a stone. I asked him,

"So who does it look good on?"

His warm breath hit my neck. I felt him tense up, suddenly nervous.

"Well... models, I guess."

"Which model?"

I stared straight into his eyes through the mirror.

His breath hitched for a second. His hands shook on the silk ribbon, but then he forced another casual laugh.

"What other model? The new girl at the boutique, Chloe. Saw her when I glanced in during your fitting last time. Seems pretty young."

"Really?"

I forced a smile, a heavy lump forming in my chest.

I remembered Chloe. Very pale skin, hard to tell her age.

Looking down at the perfect bow Benjamin had tied, a sharp pain stabbed through my heart.

"When did you learn to tie a bow like that?"

"What bow?"

Benjamin looked down instinctively, then tried to play it cool.

"Oh, just looked it up online. Tutorials."

"Is that so?"

I smiled faintly.

"But I remember you used to say you hated it when girls acted cutesy. Now you're actively searching for bow-tying tutorials?"

The air froze for a moment.

Benjamin reached around and hugged me from behind.

"It's because I'm marrying you! You have so many dresses. Figured I should learn to help you out."

His voice was gentle, considerate, as always. But I never wore dresses that needed bows.

My heart kept sinking. I grabbed his hand and pushed him away. My fingers brushed against a small bump under his sleeve.

Pushing the sleeve up, I saw a pink sticker.

"What's this?"

I looked up at him.

Benjamin froze, then snatched his hand back like it was precious.

Only then did he seem to register my question. He forced another casual laugh.

"Oh, just a kid at work messing around. Stickers. Not important."

"Right?"

I murmured it, but inside, a tsunami was raging.

He was a terrible liar.

He said he learned the bow for me, forgetting I owned nothing requiring one.

He said the sticker was nothing, yet I saw the subtle relief when I dropped the subject.

Tears suddenly pricked my eyes. I made an excuse about changing and pushed him out. Then, I secretly unlocked his phone.

The passcode was still my birthday. The lock screen was our engagement photo, taken just last week.

His pinned chats were me and family.

His social media showed nothing unusual.

Maybe it really was all in my head.

I took a deep breath, ready to put the phone down and stop overthinking.

Then, an Alipay notification popped up.

"Coming over tonight? I'll wear the strapless gown for you."

I stared for a few seconds, then tapped into the chat.

Their messages weren't frequent, but each one felt like a physical blow.

[Is your wife home? I miss you.]

[The moon's beautiful tonight. Bought that lingerie you like.]

[Fighting with the wife again? Brides-to-be are so unreasonable.]

...

Benjamin's replies were simple.

[Yeah.][She's not.][Wait for me.]

That [Wait for me]was sent last Friday at 6 PM.

That was the night we were supposed to finalize our wedding invitations together..

I ended up doing them all alone, finishing at 9 PM. He never came home.

Seeing these messages made me sick.

Then, I noticed the girl's profile picture.

A photo of interlocked fingers. On the man's hand, the ring finger bore the wedding band Benjamin and I had chosen together.

He promised me he'd never take it off, no matter what.

He hadn't.

Even while cheating on me.

A knock sounded on the fitting room door.

"Elaine? You done?"

"Is my phone in there?"

My heart hammered. I frantically closed the app and placed the phone back where I found it.

"Just a sec! Coming out!"

Changed back into my clothes, Benjamin retrieved his phone.

He didn't notice anything wrong and suggested driving us to dinner.

He was in a great mood during the drive.

He played my favorite music. The photo tucked into the passenger sun visor was from our honeymoon phase.

No one would guess this seemingly attentive man was cheating on his fiance.

I couldn't understand it either.

Why?

Why cheat? Was I not good enough?

When he worked late, I left the porch light on all night.

His stomach was sensitive, so I woke at 5 AM daily to prepare special meals and remind him to take his medicine.

He liked excitement. Even though I'm naturally shy, I clumsily tried to learn how to be seductive in bed for him.

Though he usually just stifled a laugh.

Or was it that he didn't love me enough?

Eight years together. From campus sweethearts to the altar.

I remembered how his hands shook holding the love letter the day he confessed.

I remembered him crying himself sick over the phone when he couldn't get a flight home to see me during his year abroad.

And earlier this year, when I was misdiagnosed with cancer.

Benjamin didn't say much, but at 2 AM, I found him sobbing uncontrollably on the balcony.

He'd even secretly made a will, telling friends,

"If Elaine doesn't make it, I'll go with her."

That was only four months ago.

But two days until our wedding.

And he chose now to cheat.

With a girl who'd helped us pick out the wedding gown.

My eyes stung. I took a deep breath, ready to confront Benjamin.

I turned and saw him smiling at his phone.

The screen wasn't fully covered. I saw her profile picture.

I decided it was time to meet this Chloe.

The next day was the final wedding rehearsal.

I specifically called the bridal boutique, requesting Chloe attend.

In the hotel's bridal suite, I saw her for the second time.

The first time was at the boutique. She was just one of the assistants in the background. I only remembered her pale skin.

This time, in the hotel, as my fianc's mistress.

Knowing she was meeting me, she'd dressed up.

Overly curly hair, a makeup attempt at innocence that missed the mark, and a top that left little to the imagination.

But what caught my eye was the gold necklace around her neck.

Not expensive, but the exact style Benjamin had promised to buy me.

A week ago, I'd found the receipt in his pocket.

Benjamin had been holding me close, but seeing her, his grip tightened painfully on my shoulder.

"You must be Chloe?"

I pushed him away and greeted her myself.

"I'm Benjamin's fiance. He mentioned you have great experience wearing gowns, so I asked for you specifically."

"Hope that's not a problem?"

The girl looked nervous, shrinking back, saying it was fine.

But her eyes kept darting past me to Benjamin, laden with a secret understanding.

He caught her look and pulled me aside, his voice tight.

"Elaine, stop this. I said the wrong thing yesterday. Don't drag innocent people into it."

Chloe paled, playing the scared victim perfectly.

"M-Miss Reed, I'm just an employee. I don't know anything."

Oh, she knew nothing.

Feeling the ache in my shoulder from Benjamin's grip, I gave a light laugh.

"You've both misunderstood. I just want the wedding to be perfect."

I excused myself to use the restroom and left the suite.

Chloe threw down the veil she was holding and flung herself into Benjamin's arms.

"Ben, you scared me! Did I do okay?"

Benjamin chuckled lowly, tilting her chin up.

"You were perfect, Chloe."

"But next time, maybe avoid Elaine? If she finds out... I couldn't handle the fallout."

Chloe bit her lip, pouting.

"Fine."

She tugged at her neckline, revealing lace.

"Ben, tomorrow you're getting married... love me one more time! Just like last night... Wearing Miss Reed's gown... it was so exciting..."

Their intimate whispers, captured perfectly by the discreet camera I'd planted, were all recorded.

I remembered the first snow senior year, him holding my hand walking under the trees.

He'd said:

"Elaine, I'll always be with you."

I remembered the proposal. He was so nervous he dropped to both knees, making me laugh.

And the first gown fitting.

Out of twenty styles, he only liked the strapless one.

Said I'd be the most beautiful bride in the world wearing it.

The sweeter the memory, the deeper the wound.

Fine.

I told myself.

It ends tomorrow. At our wedding.

The third day. My wedding to Benjamin White.

"Elaine, I finally made it to this day."

Everyone was celebrating our union.

Benjamin's parents gathered around my parents, promising:

"We'll love Elaine as our own daughter."

"Benjamin will treat her right, never let her down! Right, Ben?"

"Yeah, I will."

Benjamin nodded solemnly, his hand trembling as he held mine.

Only when the limo reached the hotel and I spotted Chloe among the guests did he freeze.

But the shock vanished instantly.

Especially when he brushed past Chloe.

His fingers lightly grazed hers.

The hand wearing our wedding band.

"What's wrong?" He turned to me.

"Miss Vance is here too. For the bouquet toss, let's invite her up, okay?" I asked pointedly.

Benjamin paused, his eyes drowning in fake affection.

"Okay. Whatever you want, sweetheart."

The ceremony began.

Chloe sat in the front row, gazing at Benjamin with a mix of longing and resentment.

Benjamin played the devoted groom, but his occasional glances towards her held an intimacy only they understood.

Suddenly, I saw Chloe tug at her neckline.

Revealing a small tattoo.

Benjamin's initials.

"Bathroom," she mouthed at him.

His eyes narrowed. He let go of my hand.

"Elaine, I really need the restroom. Can we just..."

"Stop the music, please!"

"Everyone, today is my wedding to Benjamin White. But first, I'd like to show you a video."