Chapter 7: The Cracks Begin to Show
1026 Words
A Perfect Lie
Alodia stood in front of the bathroom mirror, gripping the edges of the sink as she stared at her reflection.
Her lipstick was slightly smudged. Her blouse was slightly wrinkled.
Evidence.
Evidence of another afternoon spent in Jasper’s arms.
She took a shaky breath and straightened, fixing her appearance with practiced efficiency.
By the time she walked out of the penthouse, she looked just as she had that morning—composed, professional, untouchable.
But inside, she was anything but.
---
Returning to Reality
When she arrived home that evening, she was met with the familiar sight of Raegan sitting on the couch, their two children curled up beside him, watching a movie.
Her heart clenched.
They looked so perfect together.
Like a family that hadn’t been shattered by past mistakes.
“Mommy!” Her daughter, Leila, jumped up and ran toward her, throwing her arms around Alodia’s waist.
Alodia forced a smile, hugging her tightly. “Hey, baby.”
Raegan’s gaze met hers over their daughter’s head, his expression unreadable.
“How was work?” he asked casually.
Alodia hesitated. “Busy.”
She felt his eyes linger on her, as if searching for something—a lie, a truth, a reason to question her.
But he didn’t push.
Instead, he turned back to the movie, patting the seat beside him.
She sat down, pulling Leila onto her lap, pretending—just for a little while—that this was still the life she belonged to.
That she wasn’t tangled in a dangerous web with another man.
That she wasn’t slowly falling apart.
---
Jasper’s Growing Obsession
The next morning, Alodia stepped into Jasper’s office, only to find him already waiting for her—his arms crossed, his expression dark.
She faltered. “Did something happen?”
Jasper leaned back against his desk, watching her. “Where were you last night?”
Her heart skipped a beat. “Excuse me?”
“You didn’t answer my calls.”
Alodia’s grip on her notepad tightened. “I was with my family.”
His jaw clenched. “With him.”
She swallowed. “Jasper, I—”
“You slept next to him, didn’t you?”
Her breath caught. “That’s none of your business.”
Jasper pushed off the desk, stepping toward her. “Isn’t it?” His voice was lower now, dangerous. “Because last I checked, you weren’t thinking about him when you were in my bed.”
Alodia’s pulse pounded in her ears.
“This can’t be a fight,” she said firmly. “You knew what this was when we started it.”
Jasper exhaled sharply, raking a hand through his hair.
“I don’t want to share you, Alodia,” he admitted. “And I don’t know how much longer I can pretend that I can.”
Her stomach twisted.
Because she had never planned for this to turn into something more.
But it already had.
And now, she didn’t know how to stop it.
---
A Dangerous Line
Alodia’s breath caught at Jasper’s words.
"I don’t want to share you."
Her heart pounded in her chest. This was getting out of control. She had told herself over and over that this was just a secret affair, a temporary escape. But the look in Jasper’s eyes told her it was no longer just that.
“Jasper,” she started carefully, trying to maintain her composure. “We agreed—”
“I don’t care what we agreed on.” His voice was rough, filled with something dangerous. “You belong with me, Alodia. Not with him.”
Her fingers trembled as she gripped the notepad in her hands.
“You don’t get to say that,” she whispered.
Jasper stepped closer, towering over her. His hands came up to cradle her face, his touch both gentle and possessive.
“I do,” he murmured. “Because you know it’s true.”
She wanted to deny it. Wanted to push him away.
But she couldn’t.
Because a part of her wanted to believe him.
That night, in the safety of her home, lying in the bed she once shared with Raegan, she realized she was drowning.
And she wasn’t sure if she even wanted to be saved.
---
Raegan’s Suspicion
Over the next few days, Alodia tried to put some distance between herself and Jasper, but he wasn’t letting go easily.
His texts, his calls, his subtle touches during work—they weren’t stopping.
And Raegan was starting to notice.
“You’ve been… distracted lately,” he said one night as they stood in the kitchen.
Alodia’s grip on the coffee mug tightened. “It’s just work.”
Raegan studied her carefully, his sharp gaze assessing.
“You’ve been spending a lot of time with him,” he said, his tone unreadable.
Her breath hitched. “Who?”
“You know who.”
She forced a laugh. “Raegan, don’t be ridiculous. Jasper is my boss. That’s all.”
Raegan didn’t look convinced.
“Right.” He nodded slowly. “Just your boss.”
Alodia swallowed the lump in her throat, knowing the lie wouldn’t hold forever.
---
An Ultimatum
The following evening, Jasper showed up at her apartment.
Alodia froze when she opened the door, panic flashing across her face.
“Are you insane?” she hissed, stepping outside and shutting the door behind her. “You can’t be here.”
Jasper didn’t seem to care. He leaned in, his voice low.
“Come with me.”
She stared at him. “What?”
“Leave this place, leave him, and be with me.” His gaze burned into hers. “For real.”
Alodia’s heart stopped.
This was the moment.
The moment she had to choose.
Her past or her future.
Raegan or Jasper.
The life she had built, or the passion that made her feel alive.
Her lips parted, but before she could say anything, a voice interrupted them.
“What the hell is going on here?”
She spun around, her blood turning cold.
Raegan stood there, staring between them.
And in that moment, everything shattered.
- Writer
