When Love Dies: A Spy's Escape

an told me. My life as an FBI agent was about to end, replaced b

aw it: Darwin's laptop, open, displaying a live video feed. My husband, shir

d the unique lines of his body, the watch I gave him for our anniversary. I stumble

ney. What's up?" His voice, so normal, so full of lies, broke something inside me.

al was a digital tombstone for our marriage. Each time I watched, disgust and pain gre

e the sky was green. But the woman who loved Darwin Mcintosh died on that off

pte

declared de

lat, leaving no room for emoti

you know it, will end. No contact with anyone from your p

and. The man I loved more than my own lif

my voice steady. I was a professional

under the table, were

saw potential in a rookie agent and shaped me. He knew what he was asking. "This organization is dangerous

For my country, I was ready. But saying goodbye to Darwin... that was a di

a wife who was still alive, living a new life under a

s a heavy weig

me. In one week, I would be dead. A strange feeling of relief settled in. Th

He was smiling his charismatic smile, accepting an award for "Entrepreneur of the Year." The

flooded t

n! And so

the luckiest

husband like D

ey knew what this lucky woman was about to do, the life she was abou

to hear his voice one last time before

y, planning a surprise dinner. I walked into our home office

e forgotten

een caught my eye. It was a live video feed.

s to the camera, but I knew every line of it. I knew the small, cre

man, pulling her close. Her name

ched, frozen, as he kissed her. The sounds they made w

to my mouth t

moved. It was him. Unquestionably him. The watch on

reached for my phone. I had to call

ontact photo-a picture of us

he call

the screen froze. He reached into his pocket, pulling

Hey, honey. What's up?" His voice was

mal, so full of lies, b

d onto the floor. I couldn't breathe. My hea

ver. I had instinctively hit record the moment I realized what I was seeing. The evidenc

isgust and pain grew, a poiso

nger. It felt like a brand, a mark of my foolishness. I twisted it off a

rs ago. A friend of his had cheated

incere. "If I ever broke your trust, Gregoria,

FBI agent, an expert in deception, ha

ing. I found him in the kitchen, humming as he made breakfast. T

e with that same perfect smile. He pulled m

eing embraced

m, to claw at him, to show him the vi

's words echoed in my head. Greg

dy had. The woman who loved Darwin Mcint

said, gesturing to a plate

ps in my pancakes," I

?" He forced a laugh. "Right, of course. I forgot.

e of the woman he was sleeping with

ed over me. He didn't kn

said, turning away from

. I needed to breathe air th

d, his voice laced with manufactu

face I once adored, and felt no

," I lied.

n on my shoulder. "Don't worry," he whispered into my ear.

om him, the w

he would be free to be with her. T

ike the beginning