Page 49 of The Stranger

“His browsing history? How were you able to see that?”

I clear my throat and tug on my tie as I sit back in my chair. “I added a link to your chat thread with them yesterday … they both clicked on it. It gave me full access to their cloud.”

She gasps. “You hacked into their computers?”

“Technically, they gave me permission.”

“You mean, unknowingly permitted you. Is that even legal?”

I click my tongue. “Delilah,” I say. “I did it for you … knowledge is power.”

“What else did you find?” she asks, but I can tell she’s not happy about this.

I exhale a long breath as I open my top drawer and retrieve the file. “I only skimmed the surface, but you won’t like the things I’ve already found.”

“Why?”

“Abigail wasn’t his first, Delilah.”

“What do you mean?”

“I only went back a year, then stopped. There were many other women, including a few prostitutes.”

“He was cheating on me the entire time?”

When I see the tears rise in her eyes, I nod my head. “For a while, at least. It’s all in here,” I say, dropping the file onto the desk. “I’m sorry to be the one to inform you, but I thought you had a right to know.”

She picks up the folder and opens it, and that’s when I see the first tear fall. My heart hurts for her as I sit here and watch her eyes scan over the first few papers on top.

“I can’t believe it,” she whispers. The heel of her free hand rubs over her thorax as her ex’s betrayal sinks in. “Prostitutes.” She sits there unblinking for the longest time as all the colour drains from her face. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

Chapter 17

Spencer

Ifeel terrible for hurting Delilah. Her ex’s deceitfulness was something I couldn’t hide from her, but I still hated myself for it.

When she told me she was going to be sick, I led her to my private bathroom, where she bent over the toilet and proceeded to dry-heave. She asked me to give her a moment, so I closed the door on my way out, and that’s when I heard her break down. My heart tore in two as I rested my forehead against the doorframe and listened. I desperately wanted to go in there and wrap her in my arms, but ultimately decided against it. I may not have been the man who had cheated and lied to her for years, but it was my actions that led to her distress.

At least twenty minutes passed before she exited. When she did, her eyes were red and puffy, but her spine was straight, her shoulders pinned back, and her chin was lifted. She approached my desk, collected the file, and left my office without another word. The resilience and strength of this woman continues to astound me.

She was quiet for the rest of the afternoon, just going about her day. When five rolled around, she popped herhead in and said she was heading back to the apartment.“I’ll see you when you get home,”were her exact words.

I had planned on leaving with her, but got the feeling she didn’t want that. When my father’s infidelities were revealed, and my life temporarily imploded, I remember wanting space. A chance to accept the things you cannot change, and to deal with them the best you can. Only then was I able to move forward, and she will too.

This morning, though, was a new day, and after a restless sleep, I needed to see her before I left. Instead of going into the office early, I’ve ordered some breakfast to be brought to the apartment building, and I’m now sitting and waiting for her to emerge from her room. As far as I know, she didn’t eat dinner last night, so I want to get some food into her before we leave.

When my phone vibrates in my pocket, I slide it out of my suit jacket and look down at the screen. I’m surprised to see it’s her calling.

“Delilah.”

“Mr Prescott. I know this is late notice, but would it be possible for me to take the morning off?”

Standing, I cross the room and enter the hallway that leads to the bedrooms. I stop outside her door and lift my hand, wrapping my knuckle against the wood.

I don’t call out her name, but I hear her hurried footsteps approaching a few seconds later. There’s a distinct click of the lock before it opens, and I’m in two minds about that.

The phone is still held to her ear as she says, “Oh, you’re still here? I thought you’d be at the office by now.”