The Art Show That Exposed His Secret Affair

That night, I had a deep and restful sleep.

I didn't wake up until noon the next day.

As I walked into the living room, I noticed the master bedroom door was slightly ajar, but Jonas Peterson was nowhere to be seen.

There was a note on the dining table:

"I had planned to go to the restaurant with you yesterday, but got delayed at the art gallery."

"I'll come home early tonight to celebrate our anniversary. Can you forgive me?"

Next to the note was a small photograph of Jonas and me holding hands. He had printed it in a smaller size and placed it conspicuously, as if trying to display a detached form of affection.

I tore it to pieces and tossed both the note and the photo in the trash.

During our early dating years, Jonas struggled with severe OCD but tried hard to overcome his challenges.

While other couples strolled around campus hand in hand, Jonas and I would walk with a string between us, maintaining at least a foot and a half of distance.

I sensed his genuine fear of close contact and never pushed him into anything uncomfortable. Even our first kiss was separated by a pane of glass.

Then, Jonas's ears turned red, tears in his eyes as he apologized, "Madison, once I overcome this, you’ll be the first person I truly hold."

Instead of frustration, I was filled with affection for this quirky boy. No matter how long it took, I was committed to standing by him.

Lost in these memories, I was jolted back to reality by the ring of a number I didn’t recognize.

Leaning back in the chair, I answered the call to hear a familiar voice:

"Madison, I'll be joining the international office next month. It's been six months since we last met. How about catching up for drinks in a few days?"

I recognized it as April Martinez, a former colleague from my previous job. We had worked in the same department and become quite close.

Back then, I left my job to take care of Jonas, sacrificing my social life to ensure he felt secure.

During our chat, April mentioned she was heading to a newly listed company offering better opportunities.

"Madison, once I leave the country, who knows when we'll see each other again? I reserved a table for dinner, and you absolutely have to come!"

I cleared my throat and hesitantly asked, "Could you check if there are any job openings there? I might just head overseas with you."

After a brief pause, I heard a squeal of surprise.

"You're kidding, right? You really want to go abroad?"

I confirmed with enthusiasm, and April was thrilled.

"Absolutely, with your skills, top companies would be thrilled to have you."

"Hang tight, I'll finish up here, and we can discuss it in person!"