Bruno is quiet for a long moment. "What do you think is going on?"
I don't want to say it out loud. Because saying it makes it real, makes it something I have to confront instead of just a suspicion I can keep contained in my own mind.
But I can't keep it inside anymore. The thought has been eating at me for days.
"I think there's someone else."
"Someone else," Bruno repeats. "You think she's cheating on you?"
"I don't know. Maybe." I turn to face him, needing to see his reaction. "Think about it logically. She removes all her stuff from my place like she's preparing to leave, creating distance between us. She won't tell me where she is or what she's doing with her time. She's distant, checked out, barely engaged with any aspect of this wedding or our relationship."
"Or she could just be tired of your controlling behavior—"
"What about the swingers resort?" I continue, the words spilling out now that I've started. "She suggested a swingersresort for our honeymoon. Who does that? What woman suggests that to her husband?"
"Someone with unconventional ideas?"
"Or someone who's comfortable with that lifestyle. Someone who's done it before, who's experienced in those situations." I'm spiraling now but I can't stop myself. "And the sex toys she bought. She went to that sex shop and purchased all those things, was apparently very comfortable doing it. The woman at the store was 'so helpful,' according to her. How many times has she been to a place like that?"
"Boss, you're reading way too much into this.”
"Am I? Alexei said he was interested in her at the poker game. Said if I changed my mind about marrying her, he'd be happy to pursue her himself." I stop, forcing myself to breathe. "Any man would be interested in her, Bruno. She's beautiful, intelligent, comes from a good family. Any man in our world would want her."
"But she's engaged to you. The arrangement is set."
"Is she though? Because from where I'm standing, it looks like she's preparing an exit strategy. Like she's slowly extracting herself from this arrangement."
Bruno leans forward, his expression serious. "Have you considered that maybe you're the one who's scared? That you're looking for reasons to doubt her because you actually care about her, and caring about someone makes you vulnerable?"
"I'm not scared. I'm being realistic about the situation."
"You're being paranoid and letting it cloud your judgment."
"Then explain her behavior to me. Give me another explanation that makes sense for why she's suddenly so completely different."
"I can't explain it. But jumping straight to 'she's cheating' seems extreme, even for you."
Maybe it is extreme. Maybe I'm letting my imagination run wild with scenarios that have no basis in reality. But what else makes sense given the evidence?
"She won't even answer my calls anymore," I say quietly, the admission feeling like weakness. "She reads my texts—I know she does—and just doesn't respond. Who does that to their fiancé weeks before the wedding?"
"Someone who needs space? Someone who's processing something?"
"Or someone who's too busy talking to someone else instead."
I pick up my phone from the desk, staring at the dark screen like it might suddenly light up with answers. I could call her right now. Demand answers. Confront her directly.
But what would I even say? "Are you cheating on me?" Like some desperate, insecure fool who can't control his own woman?
No. I won't give her that satisfaction.
But I can't stop thinking about it, can't stop the scenarios from playing out in my mind. There's someone else. There has to be someone else. It’s the only thing that makes sense.
No woman changes this dramatically, this completely, without a reason. Without someone influencing that change. She was chaos and energy and driving me insane with her constant presence in my life and my space.
Now she's distant and cold and barely acknowledging my existence.
Something changed between then and now.
