MY HUSBAND MUST NOT KNOW

UNVEILING THE SECRET

The Morning After,

Morning sunlight filtered softly into the bedroom.

Dora slowly opened her eyes.

Her head pounded terribly.

The sound of running water echoed from the bathroom nearby.

A few seconds later, Angela walked out holding a towel.

“Oh, you’re awake,” she said gently. “How are you feeling?”

Dora tried to sit up.

Pain shot through her body instantly.

“Ouch…”

“You should be asking me what happened,” Angela replied with folded arms. “I came here and found you completely drunk and bleeding.”

Dora looked confused.

“Bleeding?”

“Yes. There were broken bottles everywhere. You hurt yourself badly.”

Dora glanced down at her bandaged hand.

Fragments of last night slowly returned to her memory.

Angela sat beside her.

“Dora… what happened? I’ve never seen you like this before.”

Silence filled the room.

Then suddenly—

“I’m pregnant.”

Angela blinked.

Then excitement exploded across her face.

“What?! Dora, that’s amazing! Congratulations!”

“Please let me finish,” Dora interrupted sharply.

Angela paused.

“You don’t understand.”

The excitement slowly faded from Angela’s expression.

“Okay… help me understand.”

Dora lowered her head.

Tears gathered in her eyes once again.

“John is involved.”

Angela became completely still.

The room suddenly felt colder.

“What do you mean John is involved?”

Dora swallowed hard.

“That’s the problem…” she whispered. “I don’t even know who the father really is.”

Angela stared at her in shock.

“What?”

Dora covered her face with trembling hands.

“Apart from Bryan,” Angela continued carefully, “who else could possibly be responsible?”

Dora remained silent.

And in that silence, Angela realized the truth was far worse than she imagined.

“Wait…” Angela whispered slowly. “You and John…?”

“No!” Dora replied quickly. “Not the way you’re thinking.”

“Then explain it to me because right now I’m completely confused.”

Dora inhaled deeply.

Her heart pounded loudly.

FLASHBACK

Two Months Earlier

The afternoon sun spilled warmly through the windows of Bryan’s apartment, filling the living room with a calm, comforting glow.

Bryan sat relaxed on the couch, one arm resting behind Dora as they watched television together. Dora lay comfortably with her head on his lap, absentmindedly tracing circles on his hand while the movie played in the background.

“Babe,” Dora called softly.

Bryan glanced down at her while reaching for the remote.

“Yeah? What’s up?”

Dora hesitated briefly.

“About your trip… has the date been confirmed yet?”

Bryan sighed lightly.

“Oh, I didn’t tell you?”

Dora shook her head.

“No.”

“Sorry, it slipped my mind. They moved the trip to the twelfth of February.”

Dora immediately sat upright, shock written across her face.

“What?”

Bryan gave her an apologetic look.

“I know. Terrible timing. But you know how my work is—I have to go.”

Dora wrapped her arms tightly around him.

“I’m really going to miss you,” she whispered. “This place is going to feel so empty without you.”

Bryan smiled softly and stroked her hair.

“I’ll miss you too, darling. Besides, Angela will probably keep you company.”

“I’ll talk to her,” Dora replied quietly before pouting. “But Valentine’s Day without you? That’s depressing. I’m not even sure I’ll go out. Watching couples everywhere while I’m alone? I can’t handle that.”

Bryan chuckled.

“It won’t be easy for me either. But it’s only one week—it’ll fly by. And besides…”

He leaned closer.

“I have a surprise planned for you.”

Dora’s face brightened instantly.

“Really?”

Smiling shyly, she climbed onto his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck.

She kissed him slowly.

Bryan kissed her back.

“Babe…” she whispered against his lips. “Hold me.”

Their kiss deepened as the world around them disappeared.

Later That Day

Outside Bryan’s apartment, the two stood beside his car, fingers intertwined.

They laughed softly about something Dora had said moments earlier before Bryan leaned down and kissed her one more time.

“I’ll call you the moment I land,” he promised.

“You better,” Dora replied teasingly.

Bryan smiled before climbing into his car.

Dora watched him drive away, unaware that the next few days would completely change her life.