Gemotions

The password, a common one, finally cracked. Inside, a digital vault. A mountain of cash she never knew existed. Eleanor’s breath hitched in her throat. She sank into the office chair, the world tilting precariously.

She remembered the tight budget, the constant penny-pinching, the shared sacrifices they’d made. He had never been open, always cagey about finances. Now it was all laid bare, revealing a cruel disparity.

She found him in the garden, meticulously pruning rose bushes. "John," she began, her voice shaking slightly, "Care to explain this?" He looked up, his face losing all color.