WHEN HIS LOYALTY FELL TO 87%

I could see the loyalty score above everyone's head. Once it fell below 60%, that person would leave. The day Dad cheated, his score dropped from 69% to 23%.

The day my older sister ran away from home, hers was down to 7%. So whenever I dated someone, I could get out before I was abandoned. Then I met Ethan Morgan.

His loyalty score was always 100%. I thought I'd finally found true love. But on our daughter's third birthday, he broke his promise to be there.

When he came home late that night, the number above his head had changed to 87%. I stared at a score I'd never seen above him before and began planning to leave.

Chapter 1 I stared at the 87% loyalty score above Ethan's head. I thought there was something wrong with my eyes.

After all, we'd dated for five years and been married for another five. Ten whole years. His loyalty score had always been 100%. Ethan noticed me staring at the top of his head.

He smiled. “What are you looking at? You seem fascinated.” I snapped out of it and casually said it was nothing, but my chest felt tight.

Our daughter, Kitty, still had her birthday hat on. She was holding the boxed doll Ethan had bought her, her eyes crinkling with her smile. “Mommy, look!

This is my birthday present from Daddy!” I crouched and stroked her cheek. “It's beautiful!” Kitty sat on the rug and started opening the toy box.

The score above her head still read 100%. So there was nothing wrong with my eyes. The problem was Ethan.

A month ago, I'd arranged with him to celebrate our daughter's birthday together. He'd readily agreed. I'd reminded him again a week ago. He'd missed her birthday last year.

He had to make up for it this time. Again, he'd said yes. Even last night, before bed, Kitty had taken his hand and reminded him not to be late the next day.

He'd gently brushed her nose with his finger and promised he wouldn't be.

Then, a little after six that evening, Ethan had suddenly texted that something had come up at work and he couldn't make it. Something had come up? What could it possibly be?

Did he really have to handle it himself? But I didn't dare ask. All I could do was tell him to come home as early as he could. And Ethan had kept his word about that.

Just after eight, he'd knocked on our door. He'd brought my favorite milk tea and some durian, along with the Barbie set he'd promised Kitty.

He'd acted as though nothing had changed. First, he'd kissed my forehead. Then he'd handed Kitty her gift, picked her up, and kissed her too.

If it hadn't been for the changed score above his head, I really would have believed he'd been working late. Ethan said he was a little tired.

He took off his jacket, tossed it on the couch, and got up to take a shower. I picked up his suit jacket and spotted a long hair on the collar. My hair was short.

That strand wasn't mine. I looked toward the bathroom. The door was closed, and I could hear the shower running inside. I thought it was time to pack my things and leave.

The next day, nothing changed. I got up early as usual and made breakfast for the three of us.

I laid out Ethan's clothes for the day at the foot of the bed, then woke our daughter, got her dressed, and helped her wash up.

At eleven that morning, I made lunch and drove to Ethan's office. He was a vice president at the company.

He always brought our daughter and me to the annual company party, so most of the employees knew me. When they saw me carrying the lunch container, they smiled and greeted me.

Chapter 2 The elevator took me to the eleventh floor. I greeted the receptionist and headed for Ethan's office.

When I pushed the door open, a young woman fresh out of college was sitting in his desk chair. She had a youthful face, and her long hair hung down her back.

Ethan had one hand braced behind her and was pointing at the computer screen with the other. At the sound of the door, they both looked up.

My eyes went to the number above Ethan's head. Only three hours had passed. His score had already fallen from last night's 87% to 79%.

He paused at the sight of me, then smiled. “What brings you here?” He sounded pleasantly surprised. “Who's this?” I looked at the young woman. “Oh, this is Trinity Cross, Monica Mitchell's assistant.” Monica was Ethan's administrative assistant, a highly capable woman of thirtyfive. “Monica took time off to go home for her wedding,” he explained. “She won't be back until next week, so Trinity's filling in for her.

She's just graduated and doesn't have much experience. I'm showing her how things work. She's also why I had to work late yesterday.

She got a set of figures wrong.” His tone was breezy, as though getting the figures wrong hardly mattered. The young woman looked at me a little timidly. “Mrs.

Morgan.” Ethan noticed the container in my hand. “You brought lunch, too?” He called to Trinity. “Come eat first!

My wife's a great cook!” He said it so naturally that before I'd even had time to react, Trinity had gotten up and sat down beside him.

Whenever I brought Ethan lunch, I packed enough for two and stayed to eat with him at the office. Even Monica had only once eaten a lunch I'd brought.

I thought he meant for all three of us to share.

Instead, he handed the chopsticks straight to Trinity with an easy, familiar gesture. “Go ahead,” he said casually. “We've got to get back to it after we eat!” Trinity took the chopsticks and thanked him.

Not once did he ask whether I'd eaten. I sat across from Ethan, watching the two of them eat. I had a strange feeling I couldn't quite name. Trinity picked up a shrimp.

Her eyes lit up at the first bite. “This is so good! You're a lucky man, Mr. Morgan.

What a wonderful wife you have!” Ethan was smiling proudly, yet that one compliment from Trinity made the score above his head drop another two points. 77%.

At last, I understood that feeling in my chest. They chatted as they ate, treating me as though I weren't there.

When they'd finished and both set down their chopsticks, Ethan said, “Abby, you can clean this up and head home.

I've still got work to do.” I stared at him with something like a smile. “Ethan, I haven't had lunch.” Ethan froze. So did Trinity.

He soon realized that the two portions had been for him and me. He'd given mine to Trinity. Trinity panicked at once, fumbling for an explanation. “I'm sorry, Mrs. Morgan.

I—I didn't know! Let me buy you something else. What would you like?” I lowered my head and began clearing the leftovers from the desk. “No need,” I said evenly.

Trinity was so upset that her eyes went red. “Mrs. Morgan, I really didn't mean to. Mr. Morgan told me to eat, so I did! I…” Ethan watched me clear the desk with my head bowed.

Chapter 3 Then he looked at Trinity's pitiful expression and finally spoke. “All right, this isn't your fault. I forgot!” Then he said to me, “But you're partly to blame, too.

Why didn't you say something?

If you'd told me you hadn't eaten, I wouldn't have let Trinity have it!” He paused, took out his phone, and transferred me $75. “I've sent you some money.

When you head downstairs, just find a restaurant and get yourself something to eat.” Without a word, I put the insulated lunch container back together, snapped the lid shut, and stood. “Fine.” I turned to leave, but Ethan caught my wrist.

His voice was low and apologetic. “I really didn't mean to do that today.” “I know,” I said. His grip on my hand slowly loosened.

I went downstairs and tossed the lunch container straight into a trash can. Then I drove to the mall. I wasn't sure whether I wanted to get back at Ethan or just blow off steam.

I ordered enough food to cover the table and ate to my heart's content. Afterward, I did some shopping before picking Kitty up from preschool.

Then I took her back to the mall and had another huge meal. Ethan called to ask why we weren't home.

I told him we were out eating. “Why didn't you wait for me?” he asked, sounding hurt. “You didn't wait for me at lunch,” I said sarcastically. That left him with nothing to say.

He fell silent, disgruntled. All that overeating at lunch and dinner caught up with me that night. My stomach was a mess.

I made at least ten trips to the bathroom, and by the end, I couldn't even get out of bed.

Ethan filled a hotwater bottle for me, helped me sit up, and gave me my medicine. “Honestly, you know you have a sensitive stomach.

Why would you eat spicy hot pot?” I wanted to argue, but I didn't have the strength. I'd barely swallowed the medicine when my stomach churned and I threw it all back up.

Ethan gently patted my back, his face full of concern. “No, this has to be gastroenteritis.

You need to go to the hospital.” He called his mother and asked her to come watch Kitty, then carried me straight to the car and drove me to the emergency room.

After a series of tests, the diagnosis was indeed gastroenteritis. I had an IV put in my hand and took medicine for the diarrhea, then drifted into a groggy sleep.

When I woke, it was already two thirty. The IV had been removed, but Ethan wasn't beside me. I opened our chat and sent him a message. [Where are you?] No reply. I called him.

It took three calls before he answered, and even then, his voice was very low. “Abby, what's wrong?” “Where are you?

Did you go home?” He was silent for a moment before answering. “Trinity called and said there was someone outside her door. I was worried, so I came to check on her.

She was too scared to go to sleep. I've finally managed to get her to sleep.

Did you need something?” Hearing him ask, “Did you need something?” made me so angry I almost laughed. “Ethan, you're my husband.

You're off soothing another woman to sleep, and you're asking if I need something?” He sounded resigned. “Abby, she works for me. Isn't it my job to look after her?

Besides, I waited until your IV was finished before I came over!” “Ethan, I'm still lying in a hospital bed.

Instead of looking after me, you went to look after a woman who works for you? Doesn't she have any other friends?

Does she need a married man to take care of her?” Chapter 4 Ethan grew impatient. “Abigail Conway, when did you get so petty? Trinity's just out of college.

She's in an unfamiliar city where she hardly knows anyone. If something happens, who else can she turn to?” He sighed. “Look, I'll get you a cab. Go home first.

I'll come back once she's sound asleep.” He hung up impatiently. I gripped my phone, feeling cold inside. By the time my cab got me home, it was three thirty.

Hearing the door open, my motherinlaw tiptoed out of the spare bedroom. She looked puzzled to see me alone. “Where's Ethan?” “Oh.

He's gone to look after a woman from work.” “What?” She looked stunned. I ignored her wideeyed stare and went straight to my room to sleep. Ethan came home early the next morning.

He looked worn out, with dark circles under his eyes. Apparently he'd spent the whole night taking care of her.

When he saw his mother and me having breakfast at the table, he rubbed his nose guiltily. “Trinity kept saying she was too scared to sleep last night. She insisted I stay with her.

I didn't have a choice.” “Oh,” I said softly. “Then remember to stay with her tonight, too.” “Abigail! What are you talking about?” His voice rose in anger. I glanced up at him.

After he'd spent the night in her company, his score had dropped below 70%. It was down to 67%. I lowered my eyes and said nothing more. His mother left after breakfast.

Ethan went to the bedroom to change and glanced at me when he came out. “I was wrong last night. Once I've helped Trinity move, I'll stay out of her business.” I didn't answer.

After Ethan left, I looked at Kitty. “Do you want to come away with Mommy?” At three, she didn't understand what I meant, but she still nodded. “Wherever you go, Mommy, I'll go too!” “Good!” I went to the bedroom and started packing my things and my daughter's.

Then I bought plane tickets back to Seabrook Cove. Before leaving, I put the marital settlement agreement on the coffee table.

As I closed the door, I took one last look at the home I'd lived in for five years. I'd thought I'd never have to leave again. But even Ethan had failed to stay true to me.

At lunchtime, Ethan sent me a WhatsApp message