But not later—not after everything…

“Did you get through?” she asked, returning to the table.

“Not yet. Maybe she left her phone somewhere. Maybe she’s busy with work,” he said with a shrug, sipping from his glass.

“Busy, yeah… just not with work,” Lana said, looking him in the eyes.

Robert locked his piercing gaze onto hers.

“What are you trying to say?”

“Nothing. You’ll find out soon enough,” she replied quietly, turning to head back to her seat.

But he grabbed her hand and demanded,

“No, finish what you started.”

Lana hesitated. His firm tone and hint of jealousy shook her confidence.

“She’s my friend. I can’t,” she stammered.

“That doesn’t matter anymore. I won’t let it go until I know.”

“I don’t want to be a traitor.” What am I doing? What am I doing?!

“She won’t hear the truth from me. Say it,” Robert insisted.

Lana stood there, staring at him, unable to speak. He tightened his grip on her hand.

“She has someone. Someone powerful. He’s been supporting her all along. They meet in secret. Before him, there was someone else. And then another. And another. And sometimes… just guys for fun,” she said, then covered her face with both hands and began to tremble.

He stared at her for a moment—then simply stood up and walked away.

“Can I see your phone?” Robert asked. It was evening—they were lying in bed together, holding each other, in the apartment he had rented after being intimate.

“What for?” Victoria asked, surprised.

“You’re my girlfriend, aren’t you?” he said calmly, staring directly into her eyes.

She reached for her purse, which was on the bedside table, pulled out her phone, and handed it to him. He began to go through it. Opened her messages, scrolled through them—nothing special. Then photos—no men. Then contacts. Victoria rested one hand on his stomach, closed her eyes, and relaxed. Eventually, she drifted off to sleep.

He sighed in relief and thought of Lana, trying to understand her motives. Was it jealousy? Still, doubt gnawed at him. So, just to be sure, he installed tracking software on Victoria’s phone—something he had prepared in advance. He hid it well and deleted all traces. Now, without her knowing, he could track her location at any time—and confirm whether her best friend’s warning had been true. If Lana had lied, he would quit this job, no matter the prospects. He’d leave the company and get far away from this strange girl. And maybe… maybe he’d propose to Victoria. Why not? She had everything his heart and soul desired. Feeling a growing tenderness, Robert gently rolled her onto her back and began kissing her, chasing away her sleep.

Toward the weekend, Victoria told him she’d be working overtime, so they wouldn’t be able to meet. He looked at her for a long time, regret rising within him. Then he began remembering other times like this. Situations he hadn’t paid much attention to before. Could it really be true?

“Does the factory even work weekends, sweetheart?” Robert asked, trying to sound casual, though there was frustration in his voice.

Victoria was fixing her hair at the mirror. At his words, she turned and approached him, gently cupping his face in her hands.

“Honey, when there are orders, they run three shifts, no weekends.”

He nodded, not taking his eyes off her. Work, then—just work.

He waited for the weekend with both dread and anticipation. He couldn’t imagine how he’d survive the disappointment. Robert was on the edge of serious feelings—or maybe his heart had already been set ablaze. He still hadn’t confirmed anything, but he was already wracked with jealousy. Part of him wanted to delete that app from her phone and just live in blissful ignorance. But he sat there, doing nothing.