An Unexpected Decision

I glanced at the clock.

Two in the afternoon.

Suddenly, the rest of the day stretched open before me, free and quiet. An idea came to mind almost instantly.

Why not visit her?

Segovia was only a couple of hours away if traffic wasn’t bad.

I could surprise her with her favorite homemade stew and bring a basket filled with fresh fruit.

Just imagining her reaction made me smile.

Driving Toward a Surprise

I reached for my phone and called my driver, José.

But then I remembered he had called earlier saying he was feeling sick.

So instead, I grabbed the keys to my red Mercedes and decided to drive myself.

As I left Madrid behind, I pictured Laura’s face lighting up the moment she saw me walk into the hospital room.

I even planned to call Ricardo afterward to tell him about the visit.

I could already imagine him praising me for being such a thoughtful wife.

The thought made me smile during the entire drive.

The VIP Room

At exactly five in the afternoon, I arrived at the parking lot of an elegant private hospital in Segovia.

The building looked more like a luxury hotel than a medical facility—quiet, spotless, and expensive.

Laura had told me she was staying in VIP Suite 305.

VIP.

The word echoed strangely in my mind as I stepped out of the car.

Something about it felt… unexpected.

But I pushed the thought away and walked toward the entrance, holding the basket of fruit tightly in my hands.

I had no idea that behind that hospital door, something awaited me that would completely change the way I saw my marriage.

My husband said he was “on a business trip,” but when I went to the hospital to visit my sick friend, I suddenly heard his voice behind the door… and what I heard chilled me to the bone.

That alone made me hesitate. Laura didn’t work. How could she afford a room like that? But my optimism quickly dispelled my suspicions. Perhaps she had savings. And if not, it didn’t matter. I would pay.

With the fruit basket in my hand, I walked through aisles that smelled of antiseptic, although everything looked immaculate and expensive. My footsteps echoed on the marble.