My husband came home and said, “I’m in love with another woman, but I still love you, so I’ll just live in both houses” — I thought he was joking until he began packing, so I taught him a lesson he never expected from me.

 

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

 

“He said you knew.

 

Then he gave me two hundred pounds and told me my work was finished.”

 

Graham leaned closer.

 

“Ruth, do you still have the payment?”

 

“I kept the envelope.

 

He wrote ‘confidential household services’ across it.”

 

“Would you give a statement?”

 

Her breathing changed.

 

“I have two children.

 

I don’t want

trouble.”

 

“Neither do I,” I said.

 

“But my son could lose his home.”

 

Ruth was silent for several seconds.

 

“Meet me tomorrow,” she said.

 

“There’s something else in the photograph.”

 

That evening, Callum arrived to collect more clothes.

 

Elena stood in the hallway beside me, her arms folded.

 

“What is she doing here again?” he asked.

 

“Learning how many lies fit inside one marriage,” I said.

 

“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”