One cuff open.
She laughed softly.
“I didn’t need a video.”
She picked up his car key.
“Your car is coming home with me.”
“What?”
“You can find another way.”
“That’s my car.”
“Both names are on it.”
He stared.
She looked toward the Husband.
“May I leave?”
The Husband nodded.
“Of course.”
She walked out.
Her husband followed.
She turned in the doorway.
“No.”
He stopped.
“I don’t want you in the car.”
Then she left.
The man stood frozen.
The Husband pointed toward the sidewalk.
“You heard her.”
The man looked at him with hatred.
The Husband did not care.
He walked outside.
The second Betrayed Wife faced her husband.
Unlike the first, she was crying now.
“How many times?”
He shook his head.
“Please.”
“How many?”
“It was a mistake.”
The Wife interrupted.
“This wasn’t—”
The Second Betrayed Wife turned.
“I told you not to speak.”
The Wife’s mouth closed.
The man said:
“Tonight.”
His wife laughed bitterly.
“Only tonight?”
“Yes.”
The Husband looked toward the overnight bag still visible at the top of the stairs.
The Second Betrayed Wife noticed his expression.
She followed his gaze.
“What’s upstairs?”
Nobody answered.
She walked toward the stairs.
Her husband blocked her.
“Don’t.”
That told her everything.
She stepped back.
“Oh.”
He reached for her.
She slapped his hand away.
“No.”
Then removed a small object from her purse.
House key.
She placed it in his palm.
“You are not coming home tonight.”
He whispered:
“Where am I supposed to go?”
She stared at him.
Then laughed.
The Wife looked uncomfortable.
The Betrayed Wife said:
“Apparently you know several options.”
She turned and left.
The second man stood holding the house key.
The Husband opened the front door wider.
The message was obvious.
He left.
Then only the Fiancée’s confrontation remained.
She had said almost nothing.
She stared at her partner.
He looked worse under that silence than the other men had under shouting.
Finally he said:
“I can explain.”
She nodded.
“Good.”
Hope appeared on his face.
“Explain why our wedding is in six weeks.”
His expression collapsed.
The Wife looked toward the Husband.
He almost felt embarrassed for all of them.
The Fiancée continued:
“My dress is hanging in my mother’s guest room.”
She held up her hand.
“Our invitations are mailed.”