The moment my eyes landed on the delicate gold bracelet wrapped around Stephanie’s wrist, my breath caught in my throat. I knew that bracelet. I had spent weeks searching for it, convinced it was lost forever. But now, it was right there—on the wrist of the nurse taking care of me.
Life had been good before I ended up in the hospital. Toby and I had been married for three years, living a happy, stable life. He worked in finance, and I worked as a consultant at a clothing store. We weren’t rich, but we had enough to live comfortably.
Most nights, Toby would come home exhausted. He was always too tired to ask about my day, but I never complained. I understood that he was working hard for our future.
One evening, as we sat on the couch, I held his hand and whispered, “I can’t wait until we have our own place.”
Toby sighed, nodding. “Yeah. I just need a little more time to save up. You know how expensive houses are right now.”
“I know,” I said with a smile. “But when we finally get it, I want a big kitchen. And a backyard.”
“For a dog?” he teased.
“For a baby,” I corrected, grinning.
His expression softened, and he pressed a kiss to my forehead. “We’ll get there.”
I believed him.
When he left for a work trip that Friday, I didn’t think much of it. His job required travel, and I was used to it. I figured I’d use the weekend to deep clean the apartment.
I had no idea that decision would land me in the hospital.
I was dusting the top shelf of the hallway closet when the ladder wobbled beneath me.
For a split second, I was weightless. And then I was falling.
The impact was immediate—a sharp, searing pain shot through my right leg. I gasped, vision blurring, and struggled to move.
Gritting my teeth, I reached for my phone, barely managing to dial 911.
Minutes later, paramedics arrived. The pain was unbearable as they lifted me onto the stretcher. I could barely keep my eyes open as they wheeled me into the ambulance.
At the hospital, the X-ray confirmed what I feared—a broken leg.
“You’ll need to stay here for a few days,” the doctor informed me. “We need to monitor the swelling before we can send you home.”
The moment he left, I grabbed my phone and called Toby.
He answered immediately. “Kate? Hey! How’s my beautiful wife doing?”
“Toby…” I whispered, voice shaky. “I… I broke my leg.”
His tone shifted from playful to panicked. “What? How? What happened?”
I exhaled shakily. “I fell off a ladder while cleaning.”
“Jesus, Kate,” I heard rustling on the other end. “I’m coming home. I’ll cut my trip short.”
“No, you don’t have to—”
“Don’t even argue. I should be there with you.”
Tears pricked my eyes. “Okay.”
Just as I hung up, the door opened. A nurse walked in.
“You must be Kate,” she said warmly. “I’m Stephanie. I’ll be looking after you while you’re here.”
“Nice to meet you,” I murmured, forcing a smile through my discomfort.
Stephanie was kind. She checked on me regularly, adjusted my pillows, and even sneaked me better food when I complained about hospital meals.
“Do you have kids?” she asked one evening.
“Not yet,” I admitted. “We want to buy a house first.”
She nodded. “That’s smart. Kids are expensive.”
“What about you?” I asked.
She smiled. “There’s someone. We’re dating. Nothing serious yet, but he’s been spoiling me lately.”
I laughed. “That’s sweet. It’s nice when someone makes you feel special.”
Then, the next day, I saw the bracelet.
It was a delicate gold chain with a small heart charm—just like the one my grandmother had given me.
The same bracelet I had lost a month ago.
At first, I thought it was a coincidence. But then I saw it up close.
The tiny engraving on the back of the charm. A smiley face.
My grandmother had requested that engraving just for me.
A chill ran down my spine.
“That’s a beautiful bracelet,” I said, forcing a smile. “Where did you get it?”
Stephanie glanced down and grinned. “My boyfriend gave it to me.”
I felt lightheaded. “That’s sweet,” I said carefully. “When did he give it to you?”
“A month ago,” she replied casually.
The exact time I lost mine.
My stomach dropped.
Toby had taken it.
And he had given it to her.
I needed proof.
Heart racing, I reached for my phone. I scrolled until I found a photo of Toby and me on our anniversary.
I turned the screen to Stephanie.
“Is this your boyfriend?” I asked.
She glanced at the photo. Her smile faded.
“How do you know him?” she asked, confused.
I swallowed. “Because that’s my husband.”
Silence.
Stephanie’s face paled.
“Wh-what do you mean? Your husband?” she stammered.
“I mean that Toby is not just your boyfriend,” I said. “He’s my husband. And that bracelet? It was mine before he stole it and gave it to you.”
Stephanie stepped back, arms crossed. “That… that can’t be true. He wouldn’t do that to me.”
I almost laughed. “Of course, he did.”
Her breathing grew uneven as she processed everything. Then, her expression hardened.
“I can’t believe this,” she muttered. “I trusted him.”
I met her gaze.
“If you’re willing to help me,” I said, “we can make him confess when he comes tonight.”
She hesitated. Then nodded.
“Alright. I’ll do it.”
She slipped off the bracelet and handed it to me. “It’s yours.”
That evening, Toby arrived, frantic.
“Kate, baby, I got here as soon as I could!” he rushed to my bedside.
Before I could respond, the door opened.
Two police officers walked in.
Stephanie followed.
“What’s going on?” Toby asked, looking confused.
Stephanie pointed at my bracelet. “She says you stole that from her and gave it to me.”
Toby’s eyes widened. “What?”
One officer looked at me. “Ma’am, is it true?”
Before I could answer, Stephanie’s voice cut in.
“No! It’s not true! I don’t know why she thinks her husband is interested in me!”
I froze.
She had betrayed me.
But before I could react, Toby sighed heavily.
“Alright… I did it.”
I snapped my head toward him.
“I stole the bracelet,” he admitted.
The officers exchanged glances. “Do you want to press charges?”
I stared at Toby.
“No,” I said. “But I’m not staying in this marriage either.”
Toby left that night.
Our divorce was finalized soon after.
Leaving wasn’t easy. But I couldn’t stay with someone who had betrayed me so deeply.
