The pain was a physical weight in my chest, a cold constriction in my throat. But as I sat there, staring at the digital betrayal, the hurt began to crystallize into a terrifyingly calm clarity. I didn’t scream, and I didn’t cry. Instead, I pulled my laptop toward me and opened the travel folder that held the blueprints of their luxury.
I began with the airline. With a few clicks, I accessed the first-class reservations. Since the tickets were booked under my corporate account and paid for with my primary card, I had total control. I didn’t cancel them—that would be too quick. Instead, I downgraded the return flights to basic economy, non-refundable and without baggage allowance. Then, I turned my attention to the villa.
