I could not bring myself to believe Melanie's accusations. Ever since Henry and I patched things up, he had been by my side every single day, never once straying.
We were in the honeymoon phase of our renewed love, and I refused to condemn him based on Melanie's biased account.
I needed to hear the truth about him and Melanie straight from his lips.

However, as I waited for the man who promised a quick return, he was nowhere to be found.
The only thing that came was his text.
[I'm sorry, Selena. I got tied up with something. Just hang tight at home for me.]
Meanwhile, Melanie sent a photo from an unknown number.
It was a snapshot of Henry's back, and her message was a punch to the gut.
[Selena, looks like I've beaten you again. Remember what you promised, and give my husband back!]

Tears spilled down my cheeks once more.
Was it all a sham? Were his efforts to win me back nothing but a charade?
I would not let him off the hook!
However, as I wiped away my tears and started to toss his things out, Henry burst in, panting hard.

He froze at the sight of his neatly packed bags by the door. "Selena, what's going on?"
I did not even pause, just shoved the bags at him and walked back inside.
He followed me, luggage in tow, sticking to me like a shadow. He trailed me all the way to the bedroom. As I went to slam the door, he wedged himself against it.
"Let it all out on me if you're mad, but please don't shut me out. It's killing me."
I could not hold back the tears or the rage any longer, and for the first time, I let him have it.
"Why are you coming to me? You should be with your wife! You've got a wife and kid already, so why are you messing with me?"
Henry froze, then as my words sank in, his expression turned grim.
"Selena, what kind of nonsense have you been listening to? There's no one else for me. No other wife, no other kids!"
I tossed the photo Melanie had sent me to him.
"You think you can still lie to me? You and Melanie tied the knot, she confessed that kid is yours, and the timing lines up. With all this proof, how can you still deny it?"
Henry stayed silent, poring over the chat history between Melanie and me. The more he read, the angrier he looked.
Finally, he spat out bitterly. "So, that's why you walked away from me. It was all Melanie's doing!"
He grabbed me, his voice desperate as he tried to clear things up.
"It's all lies. Melanie got herself pregnant from fooling around overseas, and she pleaded with me to cover for her. That marriage certificate is a fake. I could never marry anyone else!"
Henry locked eyes with me, his voice earnest.
"I'll own up to it. I did some stupid things to help an old friend, and Wren gave me a good talking-to. I was wrong to keep you hanging just because you cared about me. I swear, no more screw-ups from now on!"
He then clenched his jaw and pulled out his phone, dialing his underboss.
"Get Melanie here! I'm going to sort this out face to face!"
When they dragged Melanie in, she was all tears, trying to pull at Henry's heartstrings.
However, Henry was stone-faced as he tossed my phone into her lap.
"Melanie, I did you a favor once because of our history, but you repaid me with venom, spinning lies to tear Selena and I apart! You're just cruel!"
Melanie's face went pale as her secrets unraveled.
"Henry, my love for you is just too strong. I did everything I could just to be with you!" she exclaimed.