An Ordinary Afternoon Turned Strange
One afternoon, while I was watering the plants on our balcony, I noticed something unusual. My husband was walking up the stairs, but instead of coming from work, he came out of the apartment directly below ours.
At first, I brushed it off. Maybe he was visiting a friend or checking on a business contact.
But a few days later, I saw him again—coming out at the exact same time. This time he carried a bag of groceries, his face lit up with a joy and tenderness I hadn’t seen directed toward me in a long time. A knot of unease formed inside me.
The Truth Slowly Surfaces
I couldn’t ignore it anymore. I asked the concierge about that apartment. He hesitated but eventually admitted:
“Mr. Rodrigo often goes to 904… a young woman has been renting it for years.”
My heart sank. Apartment 904 was right under our home. For four years, while I walked above it day and night, something had been happening just beneath my feet.
The Doorbell Test
That evening, I decided to find out the truth myself. I carried a package and rang the bell at 904, pretending it was delivered to the wrong door.
A young woman opened. She looked startled when she saw me. And behind her, on the couch, sat Rodrigo. His familiar sandals were neatly placed on the floor.
My world crumbled in an instant. He leapt up nervously, stammering:
“Isabel… let me explain…”
I met his eyes, trembling but resolute:
“Explain? For four years, you’ve lived like this down here! Was I truly your wife… or just the cover for everything you were hiding?”
The room fell silent. The young woman bowed her head. Rodrigo, drenched in sweat, couldn’t even look at me.
The Final Breaking Point
I went back upstairs and slammed the door shut, as if cutting the last chain that tied me to him. That night, he didn’t dare come home. The phone kept ringing, but I refused to pick up.
The next morning, while I was packing, my mother-in-law, Doña Carmen, arrived with a stern face.
“Do you really want to make a scene? Men sometimes make mistakes. Rodrigo loves you and the children. He only bought that apartment to keep things quiet. If you bring this out, the family will laugh at us.”
I choked back my tears and asked:
“So you knew?”
She lowered her eyes and whispered:
“For four years. I told him to stop, but he didn’t listen. A wise woman knows how to close her eyes to protect her home.”
I laughed bitterly. Everyone had known. My husband, my mother-in-law… everyone but me.
The Last Conversation
That evening, Rodrigo sat across from me. He knelt down, took my hands, and pleaded:
“Forgive me. I’ll end it with her. I’ll sell the apartment. Think of the children, think of our family. Please, give me another chance.”
I looked into the eyes I once trusted and saw only empty promises. My voice was calm, but final:
“Don’t worry. I’ll let you go. But prepare for the court. I’ll fight for the children and for what belongs to me. You won’t walk away so easily.”
Those words marked the end. Rodrigo froze, Doña Carmen was speechless.
They had never imagined that the quiet, patient woman they thought they knew could end everything with one decisive choice.