[Music] a few weeks ago on a typical Thursday morning I found myself in the middle of our busy routine getting our two kids ready for school at 7:30 the chaos was briefly interrupted by the loud ringing of the phone I became curious wondering who could be calling at such an early hour the caller ID showed an unfamiliar code which piqued my interest even more Hello I'm answered cautiously holding the phone to my ear to my surprise it was Claire my wife on the other end of the line I couldn't help but wonder why she was calling when we had just spoken the night before CLA works for a small marketing firm and her call immediately grabbed my attention I take care of our children and work from home while she's always on the Move working at a printing company in the center of our town despite our different schedules it worked well for us and we managed to make a decent living we live live in a cozy Suburban house with four bedrooms and a swimming pool and we fortunate to have a wide circle of friends however Claire told me that the previous night when she went to the hotel lobby to get a newspaper her purse was stolen please cancel our credit cards immediately and request new ones urgently I've already informed Joy my boss about this and she'll arrange for New American Express company cards to be sent to me overnight so I can have them before I leave tomorrow she's also going to transfer some money to help me through this my wife said sounding worried you're usually very cautious with your belongings can you clarify what occurred regrettably I was a bit absent-minded and left my purse at the cashier's counter while I went to grab some more reading material when I returned it was nowhere to be found the cashier mentioned she was occupied with another customer and didn't notice anything unusual my driver's license was in there too but the hotel dispatched staff to check the nearby dumpsters I hope they located otherwise I might have to rely on a taxi for today's meeting don't worry I'll handle the credit cards promptly I apologize for my oversight dear hopefully apart from about $1200 in my wallet we won't face any additional expenses we can replace the other cards gradually fortunately most of my makeup is still in the room so I'll be prepared for the morning presentation how are the kids I missed the times when we were all together let me recount what occurred around 6 weeks ago thankfully I successfully canel the credit cards before any unauthorized charges were made however the wallet containing my driver's license and other non-credit card items had yet to be recovered so I pushed that concern aside life continued as usual but I have something important to share today I came across a statement from Claire's Fidelity account where she manages a separate investment fund from The Inheritance she received after her parents tragic accident a few years ago I've always always respected her privacy concerning this account but while searching for our home insurance policy I stumbled upon a folder containing monthly statements from her personal account I recalled that the inheritance amounted to around $350,000 following her parents passing and I couldn't help but wonder how much it had grown to my pleasant surprise it had expanded to over $400,000 while going through the statement I noticed a withdrawal of $3,000 from the money market account about 6 weeks ago my curiosity was peaked regarding how she had utilized that money so I decided to delve deeper into her money market account to my astonishment I discovered that she had written a substantial check to a local jewelry store just a couple of days after losing her purse in the same city I couldn't help but wonder what she had purchased at that jewelry store she hadn't mentioned buying anything for me and I hadn't heard her discuss acquiring jewelry for anyone else although she has a brother I couldn't comprehend why he would require a $3,000 gift after some contemplation I decided to turn to the computer and visit the jewelry storees website I jotted down their phone number for further inquiry I picked up the phone and dialed the jewelry stores number a woman introduced herself as a store representative and inquired how she could be of assistance after providing my name and specifying the transaction I wished to in about I explained that we had encountered an issue with the purchase and were wondering if there was a store warranty in place she proceeded to search for the transaction in her computer and then inquired about the nature of the problem with the Rings I found myself momentarily puzzled wondering what kind of rings she could have bought fortunately the woman on the phone swiftly clarified oh I remember this purchase when she visited our store she was visibly distressed and mentioned that her wedding and engagement rings had been stolen she wanted to replace them which proved to be quite a challenging task while we were searching for suitable options to meet her needs she used the company's credit card as collateral and later sent us a check to cover the cost now that you've mentioned the issue with the Rings I'd like to assure you that our store provides a 90-day warranty for such situations is it possible that the diamond setting has become loose this is perplexing because she spoke of replacing the wedding and engagement rings but never indicated that she had lost them only mentioning the theft of her purse it took me some time to process this new information listen I conveyed to the woman on the phone I need to have a discussion about this with my wife before making any further decisions I'll get back to you later with that I bid her farewell while she appeared somewhat puzzled my own bewilderment was far more overpowering it was becoming increasingly apparent that the Rings should have been inside her her purse when it was stolen but why would she carry them in her purse if she had no intention of concealing her marital status from others to the best of my knowledge there were no professional constraints related to revealing one's marital status however if she wanted to appear unmarried in specific social circumstances disconcerting thoughts began to circulate in my mind suggesting that she might have contemplated engaging in an extramarital affair while away from home the mere notion of it made my stomach churn we had been married for 11 years and were blessed with two wonderful children Jeremy age s and Melissa age six I believed we had a Flawless marriage and a picture perfect family our personal life seemed gratifying to me or at least that's what I had believed she traveled once a month staying for two or three nights in distant cities if she harbored intentions of such actions she might have seen it as a discreet opportunity it seemed that losing the Rings had deeply troubled her leading her to opt for for Replacements that closely resembled The Originals I had purchased those rings with my modest earnings so they were not extravagant and crafting a near replica wasn't too costly she could have reported the loss to the insurance company but I probably would have found out if her purse was genuinely stolen at the hotel she should have reported it I couldn't help but wonder what she claimed as missing I decided to locate the hotel's contact number and made the call I asked about any records related to the theft of my wife's surprisingly they confirmed having a written account of the incident I requested a copy to be fax to me and I received it shortly the report was composed and signed by Clare herself in the statement Clare mentioned that her purse was stolen while she was dancing in the hall she had left her purse at the booth where she was seated and upon her return it had vanished remarkably CLA explicitly noted her hesitation to involve the police as I absorbed this information my thoughts r raced overwhelmed by the implications of what I had uncovered she had deceived me not only by concealing the truth about the stolen rings but also by inventing a story about shoplifting while there could be an alternative explanation my mind couldn't come up with anything other than the unsettling thoughts swirling in my head it became clear that I needed to uncover the significance of losing those Rings or else they would persistently occupy my thoughts and drive me to Madness one thing was increasingly evident those Rings were inside her purse when she was dancing with an unknown man several weeks had elapsed since the incident and she was about to embark on another trip in a few days I realized I needed to gather more details about the schedule for her upcoming trip I wanted to comprehend what she typically did in the evenings outside our home if she was involved with other men perhaps losing the Rings had served as a wakeup call prompting her to reassess her behavior I knew that if I discovered her infidelity it would like spell the end of our marriage though I dreaded considering how it might impact our children she was undoubtedly a great mother but I couldn't bear the thought of her having custody of the kids especially with her frequent business trips my mind raced Desperately Seeking any potential Clues to shed light on her faithfulness what other information might hint at her actions during her trips did she engage in unprotected encounters or insist on using contraceptives I assumed she would opt for protection because she wouldn't want to risk bringing home infections or the possibility of an unwanted pregnancy after all I had a vasectomy after the birth of our second child rendering pregnancy impossible she couldn't rely on the men she met having protection so she must have had her own Supply one question remained where did she keep them it was unlikely she stored them at our house or in the car so the office seemed the most likely place she probably carried them with her on business trips I knew she transported her workpapers laptop and presentation materials in a large briefcase she kept in her office but if she had an early morning flight she'd bring her bag home the night before then pack it in a suitcase for the airport this detail was crucial I needed to find an opportunity to search the briefcase before her departure I hoped her next trip involved an early morning flight I made a deliberate choice to remain calm and composed not displaying any signs that something was a Miss as it happened when the kids returned from school I was occupied with various tasks and had little time to dwell on my suspicions nonetheless the Spector of her infidelity continued to linger in the back of my mind when CLA returned from work I found myself in a bit of a mess while preparing dinner I accidentally spilled a dish of beans creating a mess on the floor the resulting chaos of cleaning up and managing the kids activities left me looking somewhat disheveled fortunately she didn't seem to notice any unusual behavior from me at that moment after the commotion settled and everything was cleaned up I greeted her with a kiss on the cheek we sat down at the table as we normally did to enjoy dinner and engage in our typical chitchat given our usual routine I didn't expect her to have any growing suspicions about her upcoming trip so you're heading out on another trip in a couple of days I asked yes she replied with little enthusiasm it's the same old routine I'm not looking forward to it my curiosity prompted me to dig deeper if you don't enjoy it have you considered applying for a different role you've been with the company for quite some time and have a good understanding of various aspects of its operations I think you could adapt to almost any position she mentioned her desire to gain more experience before transitioning to a desk job however I gently appealed to her conscience regarding the kids and I really miss you when you're not home I added hoping to evoke a sense of of guilt I know I'm sorry she responded sympathetically I miss all of you too seeking more details I continued so where exactly are you headed this time will you be leaving in the morning giving us a chance to spend some time together before your departure I held her gaze mindful that our children could hear us despite trying to appear normal my anxiety was evident as my stomach rumbled making it difficult to eat she seemed to think everything was fine as her reaction mirrored mine I wondered if she had stomach issues but it turned out she was eating without much enjoyment perhaps my suspicions were unfounded but the urge to search her briefcase still lingered as it could potentially provide insight into her loyalty I'm only going to Denton so I'll be leaving tomorrow morning at 7:30 she mentioned I need something to keep me going until I return on Friday she added playfully giving me a wink I responded in a similar playful manner trying to maintain a sense of normaly to my surprise she blushed in response her comment about bringing her briefcase home the night before her trip suggested she wouldn't be stopping at the office before heading to the airport given her seemingly genuine attitude about the upcoming trip in front of our children and me one might assume that either she hadn't been involved in any infidelity during her travels or she had become skilled at concealing such Behavior I hope to uncover the truth when I examined the contents of her briefcase on the evening before her planned trip CLA returned home in High Spirits she parked her car next to mine in the garage as usual and appeared visibly excited this left me wondering if her excitement was due to our conversation or if there was another reason behind it upon entering the house she didn't bring her briefcase with her assuming it was still in the car I was busy preparing dinner so we sat down at the table she casually asked if I could retrieve her suitcase from the garage after we finished eating certainly I replied trying not to show any signs of Suspicion are you all set for your trip she asked trying to reassure me oh yes it's a routine trip my briefcase is in the car ready for the journey I'll pack an overnight bag with the essentials in an effort to maintain a sense of normaly I inquired do you have any plans while you're away no the kids and I will stick to our usual daily routine during the week maybe we can plan something familyfriendly for the weekend she replied showing enthusiasm for the idea sounds like a plan I responded genuinely after we finished dinner she kindly helped me clear the table in the kitchen and loaded the dishwasher once we were done she headed to the bedroom to pack her things while I made my way to the garage to retrieve her suitcase upon inspecting the car I didn't find the briefcase inside leading me to believe it was securely placed in the trunk expecting this I had already devised a plan to access it later in the evening when I returned to the bedroom with her suitcase I casually asked do you know where the car keys are my tire seems to be slowly losing air if I take it to the station Jerry can fix it right away for a brief moment she appeared puzzled but then reached for her purse handing me the car keys she proposed an alternative saying couldn't you just use the spare tire it's meant for emergencies taking a Resolute stance I responded Yes the spare tire is for emergencies but we have enough time to properly fix this I think that's the best course of action I hurried back to the garage before she could change her mind swiftly I drove her car out of the garage and headed to The Junction Station owned by my friend Jerry from school pulling up in front of one of the service Bays I honked my horn to get his attention Jerry noticed me and opened the bay door allowing me to drive in before closing it behind me what's going on buddy Jerry asked curiously I replied my tire was supposed to be fixed here but I needed a little time to check something else sensing that I might have some issues at home he asked trouble at home buddy maybe I admitted reluctantly opening the trunk and retrieving cla's briefcase placing it on a nearby workbench I unlocked it Jerry realizing a customer needed him simply said well I've got a customer so take your time my friend nodding to Jerry he returned to the small shop attached to his station I began to search the briefcase meticulously ensuring that I didn't disturb anything my hands explored the pockets on the lid unnecessarily and to my shock I discovered a package that Drw my attention when I removed it my heart sank as I realized it was an open package of contraceptives with about three pieces missing my worst fears were confirmed I carefully placed the package back where I found it and closed the briefcase once more I stashed it in the trunk and secured it just as Jerry returned did you find what you were looking for what going on he asked with evident curiosity I'm afraid so I replied my voice tinged with a mix of disappointment and sadness mind if I stay here a bit longer perhaps you could check the tire pressure while I pretend to have resolved the issue Jerry gave me a curious look but complied without saying a word he truly was a loyal friend while he attended to the tire pressure I drove out of the bay and pulled up at a gas station I filled the tank with fuel unsure of when I would do that for her again my thoughts were filled with gratitude toward Jerry for his understanding as I made my way back home as I pulled into the garage a sense of Darkness seemed to envelop my thoughts and panic began to intensify fueled by anger and frustration it was difficult to grasp how she could betray our marriage our children and me in such a manner amid the receding emotions I shifted my focus to planning my next steps to to secure custody of our children I needed concrete evidence of her infidelity and misconduct despite her shortcomings as a partner I acknowledged her role as a good mother the children deserved a maternal figure in their lives while visitation rights would likely be granted My ultimate goal was to gain full legal custody she will have to explain the reasons behind our divorce to her brother and friends as I entered the house I called out from the bedroom saying everything's set it was just minor issue with a nail okay thanks she replied still avoiding eye contact seeking Solace I went to the kitchen for a beer and then settled in the family room with the kids who were absorbed in watching a TV show about 30 minutes later Claire joined us in the room and sat beside me on the couch by then my emotions had settled but a deep sadness washed over me as I realized our once happy family was soon to be a thing of the past to my surprise CLA moved closer and snuggled up to me whispering in my ear she asked are you ready for tonight after taking a sip of beer I replied I think so but I have a stomach ache Clare sympathetically responded oh that's too bad honey holding on to me Clare softly said I love you and I instinctively put my arm around her shoulders grappling with mixed feelings despite her betrayal there was still a hint of affection from her I couldn't help but wonder why she did it was it for excitement or a need for more connection than I could provide I might never fully understand but what was clear was the damage to my trust in her we put the kids to bed together and as she kissed our little angels good night I couldn't help but look at her knowing that by morning she would be gone their young minds were already accustomed to her frequent travels so their unease was minimal that night we made love but it lacked the usual passion sensing my distress CLA asked anxiously is your stomach still bothering you dear I nodded and replied yes but I can handle it desperately hoping she would choose our love and marriage over the upcoming trip I asked do you really need to go on this trip deep down I wished it were all just a nightmare that would vanish she sighed and replied apologetically I'm sorry honey but this trip is necessary I'll do my best to wrap things up and return home as soon as I can I'm really looking forward to the weekend with all of you with a heavy heart I sighed and said okay honey it's time to get some sleep you have to get up early for your flight I'll take a quick shower now so I won't have to worry about it in the morning okay I replied while she stepped into the shower an Impulse led me to inspect her suitcase to see what she had packed though the clothes on top seemed businesslike I was surprised to find upon closer examination a selection of her most seductive lingerie and a small black cocktail dress in which she always always looked irresistible respecting her personal space I carefully returned everything to its place closed the suitcase and went back to bed I couldn't sleep that night and when I heard CLA stirring around 5: in the morning I remained in bed choosing not to bid her farewell as was our custom I felt a mix of weariness and sadness bending down to give me a kiss on the cheek before leaving she inquired still not feeling well honey I simply nodded struggling to express the turmoil within me with the sound of the garage door closing I finally got out of bed and made my way to the shower I knew the day ahead would be filled with challenges after seeing the kids off to school and having breakfast I turned to the phone book to search for a private detective services in the Yellow Pages my main criteria were to locate an agency with a nationwide presence preferably in the city Claire was heading to I reached out to several agencies and eventually found one with a branch in her destination area I set up a meeting with them for the same morning hoping they could provide the necessary information next on my agenda was finding a divorce attorney a friend had recommended a specific lawyer so I found his contact details and gave him a call I arranged an appointment for the afternoon hoping this lawyer could guide me through the challenging process we were about to face when I arrived at the private investigator's office I discussed my concerns and arranged for CLA to be surveilled on the evening she was away I provided them with a photo of CLA and details of her travel route to Aid in their identification they assured me they would gather photos and compile a report on her activities as soon as her business day concluded to ensure seamless communication they agreed to send information via email to their Denton office and promised to provide a comprehensive report by Monday morning satisfied with their commitment I made a substantial upfront payment as a prepayment for their services they informed me they might not be able to capture photographs but they would strive to provide as many incriminating photos as possible I agreed that it would suffice my afternoon meeting with the lawyer proceeded as anticipated he explained that in our state divorce follows a no fault principle meaning there's no need to assign blame however given that I am the primary caregiver for our children it's likely I will be granted custody it was crucial for for me to understand that CLA would receive substantial visitation rights for our children furthermore our property would be divided equally with both sides getting an even split of 50% alimony wouldn't be necessary due to our similar incomes but since I would have custody of the children Clare would be obligated to pay alimony as for the inheritance she obtained it held no significance to me and she needed to retain it for herself my top priority was the well-being of our children I instructed the lawyer to prepare the necessary documents to be delivered to CLA on Monday citing irreconcilable differences I also asked her to agreed to vacate our house immediately upon our divorce the lawyer confirmed that as the children's Guardian I had the authority to make this request it was decided that once the children reached 18 we would sell the house and the proceeds would be divided between us leaving the lawyer's office I felt a sense of contentment realizing that life would move forward for me and the children while CLA would have to face the consequences of her betrayal at that moment I didn't take immediate action concerning our finances insurance or other legal matters I assumed I'd have sufficient time to address these issues after serving her with divorce papers given her inheritance I believed she wouldn't have to be concerned about her share of our joint savings when it was time for school to conclude I headed home to catch the bus on Friday afternoon when CLA returned I kindly offered to take care of her laundry but she politely declined insisting she would handle it later I couldn't help but grin recognizing how playfully mischievous I had been deep down I fully comprehended why she preferred to manage the laundry herself it was crucial for her to keep her extramarital Affairs concealed at all costs later as we lay in bed CLA expressed worry about my ongoing stomach issues and suggested I see a doctor this has been persisting for too long she emphasized I playfully responded to CLA letting her know that I intended to try a new medication recommended by a friend to address my persistent stomach problems I expressed optimism that this would resolve the issue and bring her back to me soon when we embraced she whispered that she missed me greatly on Monday as the kids left for school and CLA headed to work I received a call from the detective agency informing me that they had a report ready I told them I'd be there shortly and within 30 minutes I was sitting down with the office manager discussing the details the office manager informed me that a report with attached photos had been faxed from Denton that morning he admitted he hadn't had time to read the entire report but upon a quick scan and a glance at the photos it seemed highly incriminating I took a copy of the report and started reading its contents the subject of the report was identified as Clare Barton according to the report records the surveillance of the woman began at 5:17 p. m. on Wednesday June 16th in the lobby of the Denton Marriott Hotel her identity was confirmed by comparing a photo obtained from the merville office upon closer examination of the report it turned out that she was wearing a company badge further confirming her identity moreover the report detailed the movements of the subject and noted she was carrying a briefcase when she entered the elevator a staff member accompanied her and verified her arrival at room 414 at 523 p.
m. it's important to note that the report emphasized that the subject was alone at that time Additionally the report included a photograph labeled exhibit 1A showing the subject dressed professionally before entering the room when looking at the photo it was clear she still wore Rings evidently the photo was taken discreetly using a mobile phone the report stated that the agents had rented a room across from the subject's room at 6:31 p. m.
they received a signal that the subject had left her room and was heading for the elevator a minute later at 6:32 p. m. the subject exited the elevator and entered the lobby the report noted she was dressed as described in example 1B upon examining example 1B it became evident that CLA was wearing a small black cocktail dress paired with high heel shoes she was also adorned with a necklace I had given her for our 10th anniversary celebration however what stood out the most was the absence of wedding rings on her left hand the photo showed clearly that she wasn't wearing them the report mentioned that the staff had rented a room across from hers a minute later at 6:32 p.
m. the subject exited the elevator and entered the lobby the report noted she was dressed as described in example 1B upon example fing example 1B it was clear that Claire was wearing a small black cocktail dress paired with high heeled shoes she was also adorned with a necklace I had given her for our 10th anniversary celebration however what stood out the most was the absence of wedding rings on her left hand the photo clearly showed she wasn't wearing them the photo identified as exhibit 1D displays Claire and a man in a tight Embrace engaged in a passionate kiss while seated in a booth the the intensity of their connection was clearly visible in the picture at 8:51 p. m.
the report noted that both individuals left the restaurant they then took the elevator and ascended to cla's floor another photo labeled exhibit 1e captures the moment when Clare and the man entered her room specifically room 414 in this image Clare appears slightly intoxicated but undeniably pleased with the evening's events at 11:13 p. m. the man exited cla's room and left the building the report included the license plate number of a car registered to Alexander B Tate residing at 1424 aelia Drve in Denton notably Alexander B Tate was married and had two young children as I delved further into the report's details it became evident that Clare repeated her actions the following night with another man the report bore the signature of an investigator from Denton this Revelation filled me with deep anxiety and resentment it became clear that my wife was leading a promiscuous life while she was away from home I couldn't come to terms with her actions it was a betrayal that exceeded my worst expectations even the fact that Claire had lost her wedding rings didn't stop her from being careless after settling the bill with the private detective I thanked them and left I made sure to take two additional copies of the report which were recorded on a CD to keep them safe once I got back home I wasted no time and immediately called my divorce attorney I asked about the status of the divorce papers and the attorney confirmed they were ready for filing without hesitation I instructed them to initiate the filing process and specifically requested that the papers be served to her publicly at her workplace the following day the attorney assured me that this could be done smoothly and asked for her workplace address which I promptly provided my intentions were clear I aimed to humiliate her during the legal proceedings handing her the divorce papers at her workplace not only satisfied my desire for Revenge but also served as a form of justice for her actions that night there was no love between us Claire seemed to sense that something was wrong perhaps suspecting that I had discovered something unsettling though she didn't directly voice her concerns she expressed hope for my quick recovery interestingly she also appeared somewhat reserved but I chose not to comment on it and simply ignored it the next morning I woke up early after a night of little sleep I immersed myself in work on the computer until I heard the children waking up and then I went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast after the meal I said goodbye to CLA when she left for work she approached me for a hug and a kiss but I responded with a half playful Embrace encouraging her to leave quickly at that moment I sensed she might have had an inkling of what awaited her as I closed the door behind her tears welled up in her eyes and she whispered I love you after her departure profound sadness washed over me and I felt an urge to release my tears yet I quickly composed myself as the children required my attention and I needed to prepare them for the school bus around 10:45 a.
m.