My work trip was supposed to last until Friday, but after wrapping up early, I decided to surprise Daniel. I missed him, and the thought of a quiet evening together felt perfect. I didn’t tell him I was coming back—just hopped in a cab from the airport, eager to see his face when I walked through the door.
But I was the one who got the surprise.
The house smelled incredible. Garlic, rosemary, something rich and savory. Daniel rarely cooked unless it was a special occasion, and my stomach rumbled at the scent. Smiling, I stepped inside, expecting to find him setting the table for just the two of us.
Instead, I heard laughter.
A woman’s laughter.
My heart pounded as I walked toward the dining room. There, standing by the table, was Daniel—pouring wine for a woman I had never seen before.
She was gorgeous. Long, dark hair, perfectly manicured nails, wearing a dress that looked like it belonged in a high-end restaurant.
Daniel’s back was to me, but she saw me first. Her eyes widened. “Uh… Daniel?” she said, her voice uneasy.
He turned, still holding the wine bottle. The color drained from his face. “Sienna?! What are you doing here?”
I folded my arms, forcing myself to stay calm. “I live here. A better question is: What are you doing here? And who is she?”
The woman shifted uncomfortably, setting her glass down. “I should go.”
“Yes, you should,” I said sharply, not even looking at her. My focus was on Daniel.
He ran a hand through his hair. “Sienna, please, let me explain.”
“Oh, I’d love to hear this one,” I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Go ahead.”
He hesitated. “It’s not what it looks like.”
I let out a bitter laugh. “Really? Because it looks exactly like you’re having a romantic dinner with another woman.”
He exhaled. “She’s a colleague. I invited her over to discuss work.”
I glanced at the candlelit table, the wine, the fancy meal he never even bothered to cook for me. “Work, huh? Interesting. I don’t remember candlelight and filet mignon being part of your usual meetings.”
His jaw clenched. “It’s nothing, I swear.”
I stared at him for a long moment. Then, I picked up the bottle of wine and, without breaking eye contact, poured it straight into the pasta he had so lovingly prepared.
“Sienna!” he shouted.
I set the bottle down gently. “Oops. Looks like dinner’s ruined. Just like my trust.”
His so-called colleague had already grabbed her purse and rushed out the door. Good.
Daniel stepped toward me, but I held up a hand. “Save it. You had all the time in the world to be honest with me, and you chose to lie. Enjoy your dinner, Daniel. I suddenly lost my appetite.”
With that, I grabbed my suitcase, walked right back out the door, and checked into a hotel.
Because if he thought I was just going to sit there and accept being treated like a fool, he had another thing coming.
