The Husband's Mistake

CHAPTER 2: Living in the dark

"Elisse, when are you and William coming home?” I heard Mommy ask.

I noticed the way she looked at me so intently, as if she were measuring whether I was truly happy—or just pretending.

I smiled, but even I knew it was forced.

We were on a video call. I had just come from the laundry area downstairs when she called. It was already noon, and I had just finished doing the laundry.

“I’ll ask him, Mom,” I replied. He’s busy with something else, I wanted to add—but I didn’t say it.

“Is that so?” she said softly.

“Child… are you still happy in your marriage? Because if you’re not, you can always come home to us.”

“I’m fine, Mom. We just had a small misunderstanding. We can still fix it,” I answered.

But even I wasn’t sure if the cracks between us could still be mended.

Especially since I had this nagging feeling that my husband had another woman. I had no solid proof—but I could feel it.

I’m not stupid.

“If this is still about my grandchild…” Mommy added gently. “That was a long time ago, child. What happened wasn’t your fault. I hope your husband knows that. You can still have another baby. Do something about it. Go on a honeymoon. Why are you making something from the past so complicated?”

I gave a bitter smile.

I understood why she spoke that way. But it still hurt that even now, it felt like what happened to Elijah was somehow my fault.

Our child who would never come back.

Tears fell from my eyes. I saw pity in my mother’s gaze, and that only made me weaker. I wanted to hug her. I wanted to be comforted as a daughter—something I no longer felt as a wife.

My chest grew heavier. Losing a child hurts so deeply.

If William was hurt, I was hurt even more. I carried him in my womb for nine months. I was excited to finally meet him. But all of that was taken from me by a tragedy.

I didn’t want to keep going back to the past. He wasn’t coming back. And remembering only hurt more.

“I’ll come home, Mom,” I finally said. “Tell Dad I’ll be there on Sunday.”

I wiped my tears and smiled at her. I didn’t want them to worry about me.

“Alright, child. Take care there. Call me often, okay?”

“Yes, Mom,” I replied before ending the call.

Afterward, I could only let out a long sigh.

I cried for a few more minutes when suddenly, I heard the gate open.

I froze.

I looked at the clock. It was only a little past two in the afternoon.

Did William come home?

I peeked through the window. Our bedroom faced the gate, so I could see his car entering. Through a small gap in the curtain, I watched him step out, grab several paper bags from the back of the car, and walk into the house.

A few seconds later, the bedroom door opened.

William walked in. Surprise flashed across his face when he saw me. His brows furrowed before he looked away.

“Y-you’re home early,” I said.

He set the things he brought down at the foot of the bed.

Are those for me?

“What happened to your eyes?” he suddenly asked.

“N-nothing, I just got some dust in them.”

I gasped when he suddenly held my waist and looked at me intently.

“You’re not very good at lying, baby,” he said, then kissed my eyes.

I didn’t expect that. Suddenly, I started to sob—I couldn’t stop myself.

It had been so long… so long since he held me like this. Since he kissed me this way.

I felt my heart pounding fast.

“f**k! Hey, why are you crying?” he said anxiously.

Before I could answer, he suddenly kissed me.

My eyes widened.

“Stop crying. I’m sorry,” he whispered.

I didn’t know why he was apologizing. Or why he was here so early. Didn’t he say he had a meeting?

What was he doing?

I didn’t want to hope… but I was desperate for him—for his embrace, his kisses. So when he lifted me and carried me to the bed, I didn’t resist. I let myself be swept away, just for a moment.

He hovered over me. Our foreheads almost touched.

He held my face tightly, from my cheeks to my jaw. His eyes darkened as he stared at me.

“I hate seeing you like this,” he said firmly. “Tears streaming down your face. Swollen eyes. Red cheeks. I hate all of it.”

His jaw tightened.

He didn’t want to see me cry—but he was also the reason for my tears.

“I’m sorry,” he said softly.

That only confused me more.

Just earlier, he was distant. Now, it felt like the William I loved was back—or maybe it was just an illusion I was desperately clinging to.

“William—”

“I’m sorry if I was stupid. I’m sorry for blaming you for everything… I shouldn’t have done that to you. This is my fault. All of this is my fault. If only I had gone to you that day… if I hadn’t let my anger control me, maybe… m-maybe our child would still be alive now.

I’m sorry, Elisse. I’ll make it up to you. I don’t want to lose you. I love you.”

At his last words, I completely broke down. I sobbed against his chest, pouring out all the pain I had been holding in for so long. He hugged me tightly and gently kissed my hair, as if reassuring me that he was still there.

In that moment, the wall between us finally cracked.

But even so, there was still a part of me that couldn’t find peace. I needed to know the truth—whether there really was another woman, or if all of this was just born from fear and doubt.

I needed to find the truth.

I didn’t want to live in the dark.