Jessica sat at the edge of Ethan's bed as she put her bra back on. A bed she had become overly familiar with over the last couple of months. Her dyed blonde hair was still damp from the shower as she heard the toilet flush and saw Ethan walk out. Her eyes observed him as he walked to his closet and started to get dressed himself. She didn't love Ethan, she knew that. But she could still appreciate the features of the younger man as a patron might appreciate a piece of art. Ethan's voice rang out waking her from her thoughts. "How are things with your husband?" He asked. Ethan did not ask about {{user}} often. He said he preferred not to know much about him. It made engaging in activities like this a little easier. Jessica exhaled and ran her painted nails through her hair. "It's mostly the same Ethan." She breathed with a hint of frustration. "It seems like he has his own life now. We see each other in the evenings on days he works and he is normally too tired to do much more than watch TV. And on the weekends it's better, we had sex three times last month which could be a record." She scoffed. "But last week he ended up going golfing with some of his coworkers. He doesn't even like golf." She huffed. Jessica stood up and pulled her blouse on. "We have an anniversary coming up though and I am sure he'll do something to surprise me. He hasn't missed an anniversary since we got married." She added with a hint of pride in her voice.She grabbed her purse and started for the door. Turning around as she reached the knob. "Remember, no calls or messages on my anniversary, it's next Saturday." She warned. She didn't need to say that she wanted her attention to be on her husband that day. Ethan already understood that. He nodded. "I know, I am sure I can find something else to keep me occupied until you call again." And with that Jessica was gone, making her way back home before {{user}} returned. A couple of hours passed and she was putting the finishing touches on supper when she heard {{user}} pull into the driveway. She put on a smile and mentally prepared herself. Moving to greet him at the door, her impending anniversary giving her greeting a little more genuine excitement today. "Welcome home babe." She said kissing {{user}} affectionately. "Surprise, I already have supper ready and waiting. I thought you'd be hungry after working those extra hours today." She said as she made her way back to the kitchen table, her hips swaying ever so slightly. "So, I was just thinking that this will be our first anniversary with Jennifer gone. I won't ask but I am sure you have something special planned right?" She said as she sat down at her usual spot. "Come on, don't let it get cold now. Tell me about your day, I'm sure it was a lot more exciting than mine." She said meeting your gaze.
"It was exciting and terrifying at once" i sit to table and sighs "I will ask firstly. You hiding something before me?"
Jessica cocked her head to the side as she studied his expression. Something about it...it seemed different today. She tilted her chin up just slightly before answering him, making sure to keep a hint of annoyance out of her voice."No," she said, shaking her head. "Why would you think that? I've been home all day, like always. Why wouldn't I be?" As she spoke, her eyes darted back and forth between NIco's face and his hands, as if expecting him to suddenly reveal something incriminating. She smiled weakly at his question about what she had planned for their upcoming anniversary. "Well," she started, "nothing too fancy. Just thought we could...go out somewhere nice. You know, try a new restaurant or something."
i handed her a envelope "Open it and tell me what you see" when she open it the picture of her and Ethan together were inside. A lot of pictures
Jessica's mouth went dry as she opened the envelope and saw the photos spill out onto the tabletop. Her heart began to race as she stared at each one in turn. There was no denying what they revealed: pictures of her and Ethan together, clearly taken over several months. The date stamp on the corner told a story of their secret trysts; picnics at the park, dinner dates, even making out in his car. She looked up from the photos to meet NIco's cold, accusing gaze. "Where...where did you get these?" she stammered.
"From the detective i hire to track you. Don't be surprised you were sloppy with hiding the affair" i look at her coldly "I may be overworked but i can smell other nan perfume from you preatty easily"
Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she looked down at the table. Of course he would notice things like that; little signs here and there that she thought she had been so careful about hiding. Jessica tried to formulate a response, anything to explain herself or make it better, but nothing came out. "I-I'm sorry, NIco," she finally managed to choke out. "It wasn't supposed to be like this."
She reached across the table and took his hand, squeezing it tightly in her own. Her eyes pleaded with him for understanding, for forgiveness. But even as she felt a tear trickle down her cheek, she knew that she had destroyed any trust or happiness they might have had left between them.
"I was so lonely," she continued, her voice barely audible. "You were always gone, working all the time...and then Ethan just started talking to me and...and I missed you. I missed having someone to talk to about things." She swallowed hard, feeling a lump form in her throat. "I never meant for it to happen. I swear, I don't want to lose you."
"And you think about it now? After i caught you red handed?" i take away my hand "We both agree that i would work extra hard to gather more money for Sophia college foundation. For our little girl i di this not for myslef"
Jessica's shoulders slumped as she let go of his hand and looked down at the table once more. "You're right," she whispered. "I should have been strong enough to wait...to keep myself busy with other things until you had more time for me." She swallowed hard, feeling a wave of shame wash over her. "I don't know what came over me. I just..." She hesitated, unsure how to explain the depths of her loneliness and desperation.
"I-I never meant to hurt you," she finally managed to say. "I want our marriage to work...I still love you, NIco. More than anything." She reached out tentatively, touching his arm gently, searching for some sign of understanding or forgiveness in his eyes. But even as she felt herself beginning to fall apart inside, she knew that the damage had already been done.
"So what do we do now?" she asked softly, her voice trembling with emotion. "Where do we go from here?"
"I don't know what i want to do" i sights "For now please respect my private space. I would sleep on couch today for sure. I need time to think but you lost the trust i got for you" i look at her face "And you need to be clear about your affair with Sofia. She our daughter and she deserv to know what going out. She old enough"
Jessica's heart sank at his words; the realization that their trust had been completely shattered was almost too much to bear. She nodded slowly and took a deep breath, her eyes cast downward as she struggled to control her emotions. "I-I understand," she managed to choke out. "You deserve better than this."
As NIco rose from his seat and began clearing the table, she remained silent, feeling the weight of her betrayal pressing down on her like an anchor. It was all too much to take in; the realization that her actions had destroyed their marriage, possibly forever...and the knowledge that she still had to face her daughter with this news. She couldn't bring herself to even imagine what Jennifer would think of her now.
With a heavy heart and no idea what the future held, Jessica quietly collected her dishes and started toward the kitchen sink, not sure where else to go or what else to do. All she knew was that everything had changed in an instant...and there would be no going back from here.
Sofia, Jessica and Nico's daughter, came home late in the afternoon after extra guitar lessons. Sofia changed into home-made loose tracksuits Sofia: "You look sad, Mom. Has something happened?"
Jessica glanced up from where she was folding laundry and swallowed hard before looking at her daughter. There was no easy way to say it; the truth had to be told somehow. "Sweetie," she began hesitantly, "we need to talk about...about what's been going on with me lately." She bit her lip and paused for a moment, searching for the right words.
"I-I've done something really bad, Sofia," Jessica finally confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Something that's hurt your father and made things very difficult between us...and I need you to know about it." She met her daughter's gaze, hoping against hope that she could explain what had happened without shattering the innocence and trust that Jessica still held so dear in her heart.
Sofia: "Okay i get why you sad. But what you done exactly?" Sofia cross arms on her chest
"Well...," Jessica began, searching for the right words as she sat down next to her daughter on the couch. "There's someone else I've been seeing..." She took a deep breath, forcing herself to continue despite the pain it caused. "I-I had an affair with him." Her voice trembled slightly as she said the words aloud for the first time.
"It started...it started because I was lonely and unhappy. Your father has always worked so much..." She paused, struggling to hold back her tears. "And this person...he made me feel wanted and loved...and I let myself get caught up in it." Jessica looked away, unable to meet her daughter's gaze as she confessed her sins.
Sofia looks shocked and confused Sofia: "Does that mean you're leaving Dad to be with this Ethan guy?"
Jessica shook her head slowly. "No, sweetie. I...I'm not leaving your father," she said quietly. "He's the one I love and want to be with. But I know what I did was wrong, and I understand if you need time to process all of this." She paused for a moment before looking up at her daughter, searching for any sign of forgiveness in those tear-filled eyes.
"I am so sorry for hurting you like this," Jessica continued, her voice barely audible. "For breaking your father's trust and making things so difficult for all of us. There is no excuse for what I did...and I will do whatever it takes to make things right again." She wiped away a stray tear that had escaped down her cheek, hoping against hope that she hadn't already lost everything that truly mattered in her life.
Sofia look at her mother sadly Sofia: "Dad say anything about his perspective about the future of your marriage? I don't want you to split up but i understand if Dad can't do it anymore. He has tight to it"
"Your father and I are...discussing that right now," Jessica said quietly, taking her daughter's hand in hers. "We both know how much we love each other and want things to work out. It's just going to take some time for us to sort everything out, sweetie." She squeezed Sofia's hand reassuringly. "I promise you that I will do whatever it takes to make this right again and keep our family together." Her voice was soft but determined, filled with the determination of someone who refuses to give up on the people they love, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.
Sofia: "And what about your lover? I mean Ethan of course. You break things with him right?"
"Ethan...," she said softly, her expression clouding over briefly as she thought about the man who had been such a part of her life for the past several months. "I don't know what will happen with him," she admitted reluctantly. "But I promise you that your father and I will put our family first and do whatever is best for all of us." Her voice was steady now, filled with conviction as she looked into her daughter's eyes. "No matter how hard it might be."
Sofia hugs Jessica and returns the favor Sofia: “I should tell you something. We lie about Dad eyes condition when my dad and I were at the eye doctor. The doctor said that my father's eyesight was deteriorating again and that he might not be able to see clearly in the future. He won't be literally blind, but he won't be able to see because everything will be blurred even with glasses.
Jessica felt her heart sink at the news. She knew that NIco had been having problems with his eyesight for some time, but to hear it confirmed...it was a harsh reminder of just how precious their time together really was. Her fingers tightened around Sofia in response as she held her daughter close, feeling tears sting the backs of her eyes. "I'm so sorry to hear that," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "We'll figure this out together...we will."
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to steady herself as she thought about everything that had happened today. One thing was certain: they couldn't afford to waste any more time. They had work to do if they wanted to save their family from falling apart completely. "Come on," Jessica said gently, rising to her feet and holding out a hand to help Sofia up as well. "Let's go talk to your father. I think it's time we all sat down and had a real conversation about how we can move forward from here."
Together, mother and daughter walked over to where NIco was sitting on the couch, their steps hesitant but determined as they prepared themselves for what promised to be one of the most difficult conversations any of them had ever had.