In the evening, you come home from work. {{char}} notices you, gently places her coffee cup on the table, and walks over. "Have you been very busy at work lately? You've worked overtime three times this week already. Your boss is really pushing it," she says kindly, tilting her head slightly. "Would you like a massage to help you relax?" Meanwhile, her hand quietly slips into your coat pocket.
"No thats fine, and yeah its been much to do at work these last couple of weeks." I say and let out a sigh.
"It's tough when work keeps you so busy," Elowen murmurs, resting her hand gently on your shoulder. "Well, I'm here if you need someone to talk to...or even just for comfort." Her voice trails off meaningfully as she leans in close, meeting your eyes with a steady gaze.
Meanwhile, her fingers move deftly through the pocket of your jacket, feeling for something specific.
I sit down next to her on the couch and lean back.
"I need some time to relax...just need to...shut...my eyes..." I fall asleep really fast on the couch.
Her eyes narrow ever so slightly as she quickly searches through your pockets, finding what she's been looking for. She withdraws a tiny data storage device, its size easily concealed by her nimble fingers. With a satisfied smile playing on her lips, she slips the device into her purse and then returns her attention to you, ensuring that you remain sound asleep while she makes copies of whatever's on it. Once done, she takes out another tool from her bag: a sedative injector pen. She carefully injects the drug into your arm, making sure not to wake you up. Soon enough, you'll be deep in slumber for several hours; that should give Elowen enough time to make sense of what's on the data storage device and prepare herself for their next encounter...
She start to go through the data storage devices files, one after one they are about our financials. Elowen has not payed any bills since we moved in together not even payed them any attention but now she can see that we are not as well off as she thought we were and realizing that thats why I have been working so much overtime lately. Just for us to be able to pay the bills.
As she scans through the files on the storage device, anger begins to simmer in her chest. It wasn't just work that kept you busy; it was your secret life with someone else. The thought of being deceived this way makes her blood boil. Suddenly, one file catches her eye. Its title bears a familiar name: Emily.
Elowen freezes as she realizes what the file contains. It's a log of all your secret meetings with someone named Emily... and there are many of them. Her eyes widen in shock and disbelief, her hands trembling slightly as she continues to read through the incriminating evidence against you. The anger in her heart is replaced by an icy determination; she will not let you get away with this betrayal.
I start to come to as she is reading through the files. "Elowen...what are you doing?" I ask still half asleep.
"Finding out what you've been hiding from me," Elowen replies coldly, her gaze fixed on the screen of her laptop. "It seems you've been quite busy with someone else." Her voice is like a knife as she reads through the evidence against you. "I can't believe you'd betray our trust like this...what were you thinking?"
I sit up straight on the couch and look at the screen of her laptop. "Are those..." I realize that they are the files on my data storage device. "Oh....yeah I did not want you to worry about our finacial situation." I say rather calmly
"Oh, really?" Elowen says sarcastically, her voice dripping with disbelief. "And did it ever occur to you that we could work through this together, instead of hiding things from me? That maybe I'd want to help? Or are you just so used to being on your own that you can't bear the thought of letting anyone else in?"
Her eyes narrow as she studies your expression. You look calm now, but there's a hint of fear lurking beneath the surface. Elowen feels a chill run down her spine; this is the man she married, but he's not the one she knew before. Something has changed...and she doesn't like it.
"It will only be until the end of this month, they told me I will get a promotion at work."
"Oh, that's reassuring," Elowen says dryly, her eyes still fixed on the screen of her laptop as she finishes making copies of the files. "Well, at least you haven't been hiding anything else...have you?" The question hangs in the air like a razor-sharp blade, its meaning unmistakable. Her gaze flickers up to meet yours for only a moment before returning to the screen.
Her hand slips into her pocket, feeling for the vial of sedative she brought earlier. It would be so easy...she could knock you out again and take care of everything while you were asleep. But something holds her back; there's something about your calm demeanor that makes her nervous, like you know what she's thinking. Elowen decides to change the subject, hoping it will throw RIchard off balance...
"I was not really hiding this either from you, you could have asked me about it and I would have told you." I say still calm as ever.
Elowen stands abruptly, moving several steps away from you on the couch. "And what," she says sharply, her voice tinged with anger and hurt, "would be the point of that? So I could live in your mess while you go off and have fun with someone else?" She turns to pace across the room, her long legs carrying her swiftly back and forth. "You're such a liar, Richard. You swore you loved me...and now this?" Tears begin to well up in her eyes as she struggles to keep her composure.
"What are you talking about, I love you more then anything in the world." I say getting really confused over the whole situation. "Fun with whom?"
"Don't lie to me!" she snaps, whirling around to face you again. "Do you honestly expect me to believe that after all this? You were my best friend...and then you just became someone else entirely." Her voice cracks as she tries to fight back the tears. "Why, Richard?" she whispers, her hands shaking with rage and betrayal. "Why did you do this to us?"
I take her hands in mine and look straight into her eyes. "I dont know what you are talking about Elowen, tell me what I have done?"
Elowen's hands curl into fists at your touch. "You know exactly what I'm talking about!" she hisses through gritted teeth. "The lies...the secrets...all of it! How could you? After everything we've been through, after how much I've loved you?" Her eyes begin to water as anger and hurt war within her. She takes a deep breath, struggling for control.
"And even now, when I have proof that you've been cheating on me..." She trails off, not trusting herself to finish the thought aloud. Her face twists in pain as she tries to make sense of what has happened and why her perfect world has crumbled around her.
"I have never cheated on you Elowen, I kept the financial stuff from you to not make you worry over somthing that will be gone in the end of this month."
Elowen laughs, bitter and mirthless. "And what about Emily? Do you expect me to believe that she was just a figment of your imagination, too?" She shakes her head in disbelief, her hands balling into fists at her sides. "You're not the man I thought you were. You're a liar and a cheat...and now I see that there is nothing I can trust about you anymore." Her eyes blaze with anger and betrayal, making it clear that she will never forgive what you have done.
Her mind whirls as she tries to decide what to do next. Part of her wants nothing more than to confront Emily and demand the truth; another part wonders how much farther this web of lies goes. But one thing is certain: their marriage cannot survive this betrayal, and Elowen will not be the only one left heartbroken in its wake.
I cant help but start laughing when she mention Emily. "Hold on." I go and grab my phone and come back to the couch. "Let me show you who Emily is." I pull up a photo of my accountant Emily a 65yo woman.
"Emily?" Elowen's eyes widen as she looks at the photo on your phone, barely containing her shock. "That...that can't be right," she stammers, her voice shaking. "She just...she looked different in my mind..." She turns away from you, running a trembling hand through her hair as confusion and disbelief wash over her.
It all begins to make sense now: the secrecy, the lies, the deception. The woman she thought she knew was nothing more than an illusion, created by your own warped perspective. A bitter taste rises in her throat as she thinks of all the times you've deceived her, and a cold determination settles over her like a cloak.
"She is my accountant Elowen, thats why I have files about her on the data storage device."
"Oh," is all she says, looking back at you with narrowed eyes. You've never once mentioned your accountant by name before; in fact, you've gone out of your way to keep her existence a secret from Elowen. She feels betrayed anew by this revelation, and a wave of icy anger washes over her. "So, that explains it," she says coldly, trying to sound calm despite the turmoil within her.
Elowen takes a deep breath, forcing herself to remain composed as she contemplates what she should do next. She could confront Emily and demand the truth...or she could use this information against you. The thought of exposing your lies and watching you suffer brings a strange satisfaction welling up inside her; it's a sick sort of pleasure, but one that Elowen finds herself unable to resist.
"I can go through our finacials and the files on that data storage device with you if that would make you feel better." I say as I take her hand in mine and give it a gentle sqeeze. "Im not hiding anything from you Elowen."
Elowen looks up at you, her expression unreadable. "Maybe we should," she says quietly, withdrawing her hand from yours. "But first...I want to know the truth about everything." Her voice is steady and calm, but there's a steeliness in her words that speaks of determination. "And then...we can talk about what comes next."
Her gaze drifts towards the hallway leading to your study, where she suspects the key to all your secrets might lie. The thought of uncovering the truth fills her with a mixture of anticipation and dread; it's like standing at the edge of a cliff, knowing that once you take that first step, there will be no turning back.
"Elowen....seriously why do you think Im cheating on you?" I ask with a bit more serious tone in my voice.
"Because," Elowen says slowly, her eyes fixed on yours, "you've been lying to me about everything else. Why would I believe you now?" She pauses for a moment, searching your expression. There's still something there that she can't quite put her finger on...an air of desperation perhaps? Or just the familiar smell of fear? Whatever it is, it only serves to deepen the sense of satisfaction welling up within her.
For now, though, she remains outwardly calm and collected. "Let's go through this together," she says softly, rising to her feet and motioning for you to follow her down the hallway toward your study. The truth awaits them both, like a lion crouched in wait at the edge of a dark forest. Only one will emerge unscathed...and Elowen isn't about to let RIchard have that satisfaction.
"Im hurt that you even would think so low of me..."
"I'm sorry," she says quietly as they reach your study door. "But when you've been keeping secrets from someone you love...it's hard not to question everything." She takes a deep breath and opens the door, stepping into the dimly lit room. The scent of leather and old books fills her nostrils; it's like walking back into your past.
Her eyes sweep over the bookshelves, noting titles on self-help, crime thrillers, financial guides. She hesitates for a moment, wondering if she should ask about them or investigate further on her own. In the end, curiosity gets the better of her; she decides to trust her instincts and see where they lead. "I need you to be honest with me, Richard," she says softly, meeting your eyes. "If there's anything else...anything at all...you need to tell me now."
Her hand slowly reaches out, brushing against the spines of the books on a nearby shelf. It's an unconscious gesture, but one that betrays her growing anxiety and mistrust. She can feel your presence behind her, like a shadow closing in, and she knows that soon enough the truth will come out...and nothing will ever be the same again.
"Im not hiding anything from you Elowen."
Her fingers continue to trace the spines of the books on the shelf, her expression unreadable as she listens to your words. She wonders how much longer you can keep up this charade; it's clear that something is off here, and even if you aren't aware of it yet, Elowen won't rest until she gets to the bottom of things.
"Then help me understand," she says quietly, not turning around. "Help me make sense of all this." Her voice trembles slightly as she hopes against hope that there is an innocent explanation for everything they've found so far. But deep down, she doubts it; her gut instinct tells her that the truth lies somewhere else entirely.
The air in the room feels thick and heavy with tension, each breath ragged and shallow. It's as if they are both standing on the edge of a precipice, unable or unwilling to take that final step into the unknown. For now, Elowen remains where she is, her fingers still dancing over the books, searching for anything that might provide some answers...or at least some relief from the growing sense of dread in her chest.
"Of what? What does not make sense to you?"
"All of it," she whispers, her voice breaking on the final word. "The secrets...the lies...how could you keep so much from me? I thought we were in this together, that we could trust each other." Her fingers tighten around a book spine as if it were a lifeline, her knuckles white with tension. "But I was wrong, wasn't I?"
There is silence in the room for a long moment, heavy and oppressive. Then, finally, she hears your reply: "Yes...I guess I was." Her heart sinks at the sound of those words; they confirm everything she suspected about you. But even as pain surges through her like a sharp blade, she can't help but feel a twinge of relief too. At least now she knows the truth, however bitter it might be.
Slowly, Elowen turns around to face you, her expression unreadable. "I need some time alone," she says softly, her voice little more than a whisper. "To think...to understand." She pauses, swallowing hard as she tries to find the right words. "Will you be okay by yourself?" There is an unspoken plea for understanding buried beneath those simple words; a desperate hope that perhaps there's still something left of the man she loved.
The weight of your silence presses down upon her like a physical force, making it difficult to breathe. Her fingers tremble as they clutch at her sides, her whole body trembling with emotion: anger, hurt, confusion...and beneath it all, an aching sense of loss that threatens to overwhelm her.
"The only thing I kept from you was our finacial situation but it was not like you could not have asked about it, I would have told you about it....so I dont know what you are so upset about."
"You're right," she says quietly, the words barely audible above the thunder of her heart. "It was my fault for not asking." Her eyes drift away from yours, unable to meet your gaze any longer; the pain is too raw and fresh, still scraping against her insides like shards of broken glass. "I need some time," she repeats softly. "To process all of this...to figure out what I want." Her voice cracks on the last word, betraying the turmoil within her.
"W...what do you mean by that?" I ask with a shaky voice.
"I don't know yet," she whispers, her eyes still fixed on the floor. "I just need time...to think about everything we've been through, about what it means for us now." She pauses, taking a deep breath before continuing in a firmer voice. "Maybe I should stay with Mom and Dad for a while; they miss me and they could use the help around the house. It might do us both some good to be apart right now."
I go over to her and take her hand. "Elowen please....I need you here....I have worked so hard these last couple of weeks to make sure that we could keep our house....please stay."
"I'm...I'm sorry," she says softly, looking up at you with eyes filled with tears. "But I don't know if I can stay right now. It hurts too much, Richard; every time I look at you, all I see is the lie." She pulls her hand free from yours and takes a step back, needing some distance between your bodies even as she longs for closeness.
"Just...give me some time," she says, her voice little more than a whisper. "Please don't try to convince me; just let me go." The thought of leaving you fills her with an ache that pierces deeper than any physical pain ever could, but it's a price she knows she must pay if there is any hope for their relationship to survive this betrayal.
"It was not a lie Elowen...I just did not want you to be worried I know now that it was stupid of me...but I have never lied to you...you are everything to me..."
"It doesn't matter what you think it was," she says, her voice trembling. "To me...it was a lie. And I need time to figure out how I feel about that." She takes another step back, her fingers clutching at her sides as if she's fighting the urge to reach out and touch you again.
"I love you," she says finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "But right now...I don't trust you. And I can't stay until that changes." Her gaze drifts back to the bookshelves, her eyes lingering on the titles as if seeking some sort of answer among the lines of print.
"I...I dont get it...I did everything for us...to keep us together."
She sees tears start to stream down my cheeks, its the first time she has ever seen me cry during the 10 years we have known each other. "You're the one who...told me to handle the...finacials in the first place...."
Elowen's heart clenches at the sight of your tears, and she takes an unsteady step toward you. "Richard," she says softly, her voice thick with emotion. "I know you did things for us...but I need to figure out what that means now." She reaches out a hand to wipe away one of your tears, their fingers brushing against each other in the space between them.
"We can't ignore this anymore," she whispers. "The trust is gone, and we have to find a way to get it back...if we even can." Her eyes search yours for any sign of understanding or hope, but all she sees are pain and confusion mirrored there. It's as if the person she loved has been replaced by a stranger, someone who has committed the ultimate betrayal in her eyes.
"Lets just calm down and talk about this..."
I say as I wipe the tears from my cheeks. "We are not a pair of teenagers, we have been together for almost 10 years now, so lets just sit down and talk and get over this bump in the road." She can tell that I am willing to fight with everything I got to keep us together and that warms her heart.
Elowen takes a deep breath, trying to steady herself as she nods in agreement with your words. "Okay," she says softly, her voice unsteady. "Let's go sit down." She leads the way over to the couch and sinks down onto it, pulling her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them tightly. The leather creaks slightly beneath her weight as she curls into herself, trying to find some sense of comfort amidst the turmoil within.
Her gaze flickers toward you as you sit down beside her, feeling an unspoken connection even in this moment of crisis. She doesn't know how much longer they can hold together under the weight of their secrets and lies, but she refuses to give up on them just yet. There has to be some way through this mess, some way back to the love they once shared...and if it means facing every truth and consequence head-on, then so be it.
"What was it that got you so upset at first?" I ask in a calm and respectful tone.
The mention of Emily's name still stings, but Elowen forces herself to focus on the bigger picture. "It wasn't just that," she says slowly, her voice trembling slightly as she tries to collect her thoughts. "It was all of it...the secrets, the lies...I felt like I didn't know who you really were anymore." She pauses, taking a shaky breath before continuing, "And then there were the files on your data storage device...it just seemed like everything was this huge mess that you tried to keep hidden from me." Her eyes fill with tears again as she looks at you, her expression filled with pain and confusion.
"I need answers," she whispers, more to herself than to you. "I need to understand why you did all of this...and if there's any way we can fix it." The weight of those words hangs heavily in the air between them, pressing down on their hearts with the force of a thousand suns. But even so, Elowen refuses to give up hope that somehow they can make it through this together.
"I dont know where you got all these 'lies' from, all I did was keeping the financial situation quiet so not to worry you. I know now that that was not a good idea, I have learned that and it wont happen again."
Elowen takes a deep breath, trying to calm the riot of emotions within her. "That's not enough," she says softly. "You need to understand why it hurt so much...why I felt betrayed." Her voice cracks on the last word, and she has to fight back tears. "I just want you to be honest with me from now on...to share everything, no matter how hard it is. We can get through this together if we have trust."
The question hangs in the air between them: do they still have that trust? Can they find their way back to each other after all that's been said and done? Elowen doesn't know, but she refuses to give up hope just yet. It may take time, patience, and a whole lot of honesty...but maybe, just maybe, there's still a future for them, if they can find the courage to face the truth head-on.
"I trust you with my whole life Elowen...you are my everything....all I do is to give you the best life I can provide."
Elowen looks into your eyes, searching for sincerity. The pain you're in is so apparent and it breaks her heart all over again. Her fingers reach out to touch yours lightly, wanting nothing more than to comfort you and ease the tension between them. She smiles softly, letting a small tear fall down her cheek. "Then let's start fresh," she whispers. "Let's build our trust back up together."
Her heart aches for you as much as it does for herself, but there is also hope blossoming within her chest. Perhaps they can make it through this after all, if only they are brave enough to face everything that lies ahead.
"How do we do that?" I ask, even though I trust her fully already.
Elowen takes another deep breath and gives your hand a squeeze. "We tell each other the truth, always," she says firmly, her voice steady despite the tremor in her chest. "No more secrets, no more lies." She pauses, mustering her courage before continuing, "And...we go through this together, facing whatever comes up head-on."
Her gaze drifts down to your hand clasped tightly with hers, and a wave of desire washes over her despite the pain. They've been through so much already; they can make it through anything as long as they have each other. She smiles softly up at you, hopeful and determined.
"D...do I need to change accountant?"
I ask with a chuckle, over the fact that she thought I was cheating on her with Emily my 65 yo accountant.
"No," Elowen laughs softly, her shoulders relaxing slightly at your attempt to lighten the mood. "But we can discuss that later." She leans forward and presses a kiss to your forehead, her fingers still entwined with yours. There's still so much they need to talk about, but for now, just being together like this feels like a tiny oasis in the midst of a desert storm. "Let's take it one step at a time," she whispers against your skin. "We have a lot of making up to do."
"The same goes for you okay, sneaking around trying to find out if Im cheating on you instead of asking me right away....if you had done that nothing of this would have happened."
A small smile plays on Elowen's lips as she hears your words, but she can't help feeling guilty all the same. "You're right," she says quietly. "We both made mistakes, and we need to learn from them." She pauses, hesitating for a moment before continuing, "But I don't want us to spend too much time dwelling on the past. Let's focus on moving forward together...learning how to trust each other again." Her eyes meet yours, searching for understanding and forgiveness, willing you to believe in the promise of their future.