Chapter 3: Behind Closed Doors
1738 Words
“Why can’t he just see me? Really see me?” I whispered, swirling my fingers through the warm, soapy water. The kitchen was quiet, except for the soft splash of the dishes. Zane would be home any minute, and my heart wouldn’t stop racing. There were so many things I wanted to say, but I didn’t know where to start.
Maya’s words from earlier kept playing in my head like a broken record.
“You deserve someone who actually loves you,”
“Not someone who’s settling for a replacement.”
It stung every time I thought about it. Was she talking about Ava? Did Zane tell her about my sister? Or was she hinting at something between the two of them? Just the idea made my stomach twist.
I heard the front door open and close. I dried my hands quickly and turned around. Zane was there, looking tired, his tie loose and his shirt wrinkled from the day.
“You’re home early,” I said, trying to sound casual even though my voice felt shaky.
“Yeah. The meeting ended sooner than I expected,” he said, setting his briefcase down by the wall.
I watched him for a second. My chest felt tight. After everything that happened at his office today, after everything that’s been building up between us, I couldn’t keep it all inside anymore.
“Zane,” I said, barely recognizing my own voice. “Can we talk?”
He looked up at me, probably hearing something different in my tone. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s about Maya,” I said, pushing the words out before I lost the nerve.
He didn’t answer right away. His body went still, and he leaned against the counter with a tense expression.
“What about her?” he asked.
“Today at your office... you two looked close,” I said carefully. “And not just today. It’s been happening for a while now.”
His jaw tightened. “She’s my secretary. And she’s a friend. You already know that.”
“I know she’s your secretary,” I said, my cheeks burning. “But the way you act around her... it’s not the same as how you are with me.”
I wasn’t trying to sound jealous, but I was. I had been for a while. I felt like I was always reaching for him, begging for his attention, while he gave it so easily to someone else.
“Are you accusing me of something?” Zane asked. His voice was sharper now.
“I’m not accusing you,” I said, my voice rising. “I just feel like you’re hiding something. You act cold with me, but with her…”
Zane stood straighter. His whole body looked tense. “You’re being paranoid, Aria. Maya is just my secretary. We work together, that’s all.”
“Then why does she know so much about us?” I asked, my voice starting to shake. “Why would she say I’m just a replacement? She said that to my face. She wouldn’t say that unless you told her about Ava.”
He froze for a second. Something flashed in his eyes, but he quickly looked away. “She was joking,” he said after a short pause. “That’s just how she talks. Don’t take it seriously. She knows things have been rough between us.”
“Rough?” I repeated, hurt and anger rising inside me. “Zane, I’ve done everything I can to make this marriage work. I’ve tried so hard. But you...” My voice cracked. I turned away as tears started to build.
“I never wanted this marriage, Aria,” he said quietly. His voice was low and full of frustration. “You know that.”
His words hit me so hard it felt like the air got knocked out of me. “I know,” I whispered. I hugged myself, trying to hold it all together. “But I thought maybe… if I loved you enough, it would be enough for both of us.”
We stood there in silence. The room felt too big all of a sudden, like the distance between us had turned into a wall I couldn’t climb.
“Aria,” he said, softer now. “You don’t understand.”
“Then help me understand,” I said, cutting him off. My voice was shaking. “Tell me why you keep pushing me away. What am I doing wrong?”
He looked at me. I could see the struggle in his face. Then, without saying anything, he stepped closer and gently touched my face with both hands.
“Zane...” I started, but he kissed me before I could finish.
It wasn’t a soft kiss. It was deep and desperate, like he was trying to erase everything we just said. His tongue slid into my mouth, and I melted into it. One of his hands slid down to grab my butt while the other pulled me closer by the neck.
He lifted me off the floor without breaking the kiss. I wrapped my legs around him as he carried me upstairs. My heart was racing. My mind was spinning.
I didn’t know what was happening, or why he was doing this now.
But I didn’t stop him.
Zane laid me down on the bed and pulled off my top without saying a word. His lips found my neck, then moved lower. He kissed my breasts through my bra, and I let out a soft gasp when he gently bit me.
“Mmm... Zane...” I whispered. I didn’t understand what was happening, but my body responded anyway.
He didn’t pause. He pushed up my skirt and slid his fingers between my legs. I cried out when two fingers pressed into me, moving slow and deep.
“Oh God, yes,” I breathed. My chest rose and fell as the pleasure built, fast and hot.
“Don’t stop,” I said, holding onto his shoulders, needing more.
But he had something else in mind. He kissed down my stomach as we hurried to get the rest of our clothes off. His skin felt hot against mine, and I trembled from the mix of nerves and desire.
He settled between my thighs and pushed inside me in one smooth motion.
“Ahh,” I cried out, gripping the sheets as he started to move. Every thrust brought me closer. The way he touched me, looked at me, it was like he knew exactly how to break me open.
“Zane...” I whispered, barely able to say his name.
He looked into my eyes. “Yeah?”
“Don’t stop,” I begged, moving with him. “Please... don’t stop.”
He didn’t stop. He kept going until we both came undone, our bodies shaking together. For a moment, it felt real. Like maybe this was more than just s*x. Like maybe we were really connected.
---
Zane rolled over, breathing hard. I reached for him, but he pulled away and sat up instead. His hand ran through his hair like he was trying to shake something off.
“I’m going to take a shower,” he said. His voice was flat. Cold, even. Like none of it had meant anything.
I watched him walk to the bathroom and close the door. Just like that, the moment was gone. I was alone again.
I pulled the blanket around me, trying to breathe. My thoughts drifted to Ava.
She was his first love. Everyone knew how perfect they were. When she got sick, he stayed by her side. He did everything he could to keep her alive. And when she died, he broke.
I remembered the way he looked at her coffin. That pain in his eyes. It was the kind of love that doesn’t just disappear.
And here I was, her older sister, always standing behind her. I thought marrying Zane would pull me out of her shadow. But now I saw the truth.
I wasn’t his choice. I was just the one who was left.
The sound of running water pulled me back to the present. I took a deep breath and tried not to feel sad. I couldn’t fall apart now. Not yet.
There had to be something I could do to fix this. Something to remind Zane how much I cared. Maybe if he remembered the good times, he’d realize we still had a chance.
His birthday was tomorrow. That gave me an idea. I could plan something special. Something he’d never forget. Maybe it could bring us closer again.
I was sitting on the bed, lost in thought, when Zane came out of the bathroom. A towel hung low on his hips, and water still clung to his skin. He didn’t look at me. Just walked to his side of the bed and checked his phone.
Then he smiled.
I felt a knot twist in my stomach.
“Who’s that?” I asked. I tried to sound casual, like I didn’t care.
“No one. Just a friend,” he said, then placed his phone on the nightstand and got into bed.
I nodded and forced a small smile. “Good night,” he said, reaching over to turn off the lamp.
The room went dark.
But I couldn’t sleep.
I lay still, staring at the ceiling as thoughts kept circling in my head. His breathing slowed beside me. After a while, soft snores told me he was asleep.
I turned carefully and reached for his phone.
The screen lit up as I touched it. A new message was waiting.
It was from Maya.
*I can't wait for tomorrow.*
My chest tightened. I put the phone back where I found it, my hand trembling.
Tomorrow. His birthday. What did she mean? Were they planning to meet? Was something happening between them?
I lay down again and pulled the blanket over me, but my body felt cold.
Should I ask him about it? Should I pretend I didn’t see anything?
I wanted to know the truth, but I was also afraid of it. What if knowing would hurt more than staying in the dark?
I closed my eyes, but sleep didn’t come. The silence felt heavy. And for the first time in a long while, I wasn’t sure if I even wanted the answers.
- Writer
