**The Crack**

The London morning light filtered through the blinds of their Notting Hill home, casting a warm glow over the room. Luiza sat on the couch, cradling a steaming cup of coffee in her hands, her eyes drifting over the familiar contours of their living room. The walls, once adorned with vibrant artwork, now seemed dull and lifeless. The air was heavy with the scent of freshly brewed coffee and the distant hum of the city. It was a scene she had played out countless times before, but today, something felt off. Her gaze drifted to Jack, who was busy in the kitchen, his back to her as he prepared breakfast for their one-year-old son, Lucas. The sound of sizzling bacon and the chatter of Lucas in his high chair created a sense of normalcy, but Luiza's intuition was nagging her. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but the sense of unease had been growing inside her for weeks. As she watched Jack, her mind wandered to the cryptic message she had received the night before. A simple text from an unknown number: "You deserve better." The words had echoed in her mind, refusing to be silenced. Who could have sent it, and what did they mean? Luiza's thoughts swirled with possibilities, none of them good. She tried to shake off the feeling of foreboding, telling herself it was just her imagination playing tricks on her. After all, they had a good life, a loving marriage, and a beautiful son. Jack was a rising star in the tennis world, and she was his rock, his partner in every sense of the word. But as she glanced at Jack, she noticed something that made her heart skip a beat. He was evasive, avoiding eye contact as he handed Lucas a bowl of oatmeal. The usual warmth and affection were missing, replaced by a tense, almost distant, air. Luiza's mind began to reel. What was going on? She thought they were happy, or at least, happy enough. They had their disagreements, like any couple, but they always found a way to work through them. The love they shared was strong, the bond between them tight. As they finished breakfast, Jack caught her eye, and for a moment, Luiza thought she saw something there, a flicker of guilt, perhaps, or regret. But it was gone in an instant, replaced by his usual charming smile. "Hey, beautiful," he said, "what's on your agenda for today?" Luiza forced a smile, trying to match his carefree tone. "Just the usual, I suppose. Lucas needs to go to his doctor's appointment this afternoon." Jack nodded, his eyes already drifting to his phone. "I'll try to make it, but I have a few calls to make first." As he turned away, Luiza felt the crack in their facade grow, just a little wider. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was very wrong, that their seemingly perfect life was about to shatter into a million pieces. The rest of the day passed in a blur, Luiza's mind consumed by the mysterious text and Jack's evasive behavior. She tried to focus on Lucas, on the mundane tasks of the day, but her thoughts kept drifting back to the one question that haunted her: what was Jack hiding? As the evening drew in, Luiza found herself growing more and more agitated. She couldn't take it anymore. "Jack, can we talk?" she asked, her voice low and urgent. He looked up from his phone, a hint of wariness in his eyes. "What's up?" Luiza took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest. "I got a message last night. It said 'You deserve better.' What do you know about it?" The room fell silent, the only sound the quiet hum of the refrigerator. Jack's eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, Luiza thought she saw a flash of fear. But it was quickly replaced by his usual calm, composed exterior. "I don't know anything about it, Luiza," he said, his voice smooth as silk. "Maybe it's just some spam or a wrong number." Luiza wasn't convinced. She knew that look, that tone. Jack was hiding something, and she was determined to find out what. But as she searched his eyes, she saw something there, a glimmer of guilt, perhaps, or regret. It was enough to make her wonder if their seemingly perfect life was about to come crashing down.