THE PRICE OF INFIDELITY

The Day My World Shattered

CHAPTER 4

No. No, this couldn't be happening. My mind rejected what my eyes had already accepted.

I blinked so many times my eyes began to sting, praying that when I opened them again everything would disappear and that this was a terrible nightmare or prank. My face went completely numb. My lips fell apart but no sound came out. My jaw trembled and my eyes widened. My husband, my best friend O my God this is not really happening.

The two people I trusted most in this world. Standing there, I felt something inside me crack not loudly, not dramatically but quietly, the kind of crack that spreads through glass until the whole thing shatters. The air suddenly becomes too heavy to breathe.

Taking a step closer to me.

“Baby this is not what you think,” he said

“Don't ……………you dare……. come any closer to me” I said, pointing my fingers directly to his face. My heart pounded heavily against my ribs, so violently I thought it might jump out of my chest. My fingers trembled uncontrollably, I felt tears burning behind my eyes. I couldn't even think straight

“How long has this been happening?” I asked.

“Look at me,” I screamed. He just stood there staring at me, his shoulders dropped. The silence was unbearable. I watched as he dragged his shaky hand across his face, unable to “Look at me.”

“I’m sorry,”

“No,” I screamed. “Dont say you’re sorry answer my f*****g damn question”

“We have been seeing each other for a while.”

“How f*****g long?”

“A month now. I’m so sorry Vee, I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.” Every memory I treasured suddenly felt poisoned. My gaze went to Vanessa as she covered herself with a blanket, her face lowered, unable to look at me. The man I trusted with my heart suddenly betrayed me like this.

“All the gifts you brought for me from work, the sweet words, the hugs and kisses. Even the love we made a day ago was all a lie. How were you able to face me while keeping all these secrets? or you thought I'll never know?” I whispered defeatedly, my shoulders sagged with the weight of everything.

“So I was a fool all this while.”

“You were fooling me all this while, Adrian. Answer me.” I screamed at his face. The random flowers and the late night conversations. The dream we built together. Every beautiful moment we spend together watching each other back. Was any of this real…... My stomach twisted and I thought I might collapse. Adrian I can't count how many times I have defended you. I thought I was the luckiest woman. I loved you with everything I had. I gave you all of me because I believe you would protect my heart. My eyes drifted toward Vanessa. The woman who stood beside me on my wedding day, smiling as she adjusted my veil and whispered, You're going to be the happiest wife, was also the woman who contributed to the destruction of my marriage. The knife in my chest twisted mercilessly.

“So you were sleeping with my husband all this while, acting nice like you care.” I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to stop the violent shaking but nothing could stop the soul wracking betrayal I felt. What did I do wrong? Was I not beautiful enough? Did I stop making him happy? Did I love him too much? Did I become boring? Tears blurred my vision.

I didn't even realize I was walking toward them until I was standing only a few feet away.

Vanessa's face turned ghostly white.

"Vivian”

Adrian turned around so fast his expression froze.

"Baby... I can explain."

A bitter laugh escaped my lips.

"Baby?"

My voice trembled.

"You still have the nerve to call me that name ?” He took a step forward again

"It isn't what you think."

"Oh? Then tell me what it is." I whispered.

"Tell me why my husband is holding my best friend like she's the love of his life and f*****g her in our matrimonial bed?."

I looked at Vanessa. "Someone will tell me my best friend is having an affair with my husband and I won't believe it, but here we are.” She lowered her eyes.

"I trusted you, I called you my sister. I told you every fear, every dream, every secret." I cried out, stabbing her chest with my index finger. "I even cried on your shoulder when Adrian worked late because I missed him." My chest tightened. "And all that time... you were sharing him with me.”

"I'm sorry," she whispered, tears filling her eyes.

"Sorry?" I laughed out louder.

"You're saying you are sorry ? What for? Is it going to fix things? Sorry doesn't give me back the years I wasted loving people who were bent on ruining me,” I laughed bitterly. Adrian reached for my hand.

"Please... let's go of my hands.” I jerked my hand away.

"Don't touch me." His face crumbled, but I didn't care.

“It was a mistake.”

“A mistake?” I stared at him in disbelief.

“Cheating isn't a mistake, It's a choice. You chose her over me.” I stepped closer to stand right in front of him, staring into his eyes.

“I never meant to hurt you.” I looked at her, my heart hardening.

"You don't accidentally betray your best friend. You don't accidentally lie every single day. You don't accidentally steal someone's husband. You chose this with your full consciousness and awareness of the depth of your acts, but still went ahead anyways.”

The silence was louder than any confession.

“I hope,” I whispered, tears streaming freely now. “That one day the two of you feel even half the pain you've given me today. I turned to leave, my legs barely able to carry me. I could hear my best friend and Adrian calling for me but I didn't care.

“Vivian, wait.” His footsteps rushed after me. I didn't stop.

“Vivian, please,” he begged. He reached toward me as panic broke across his face.

The confrontation became frantic as they all moved at once, voices overlapping and emotions boiling over near the staircase.

“Don't come near me,” I cried.

“I said let me explain,” he pleaded with me.

"There is nothing left to explain!" I shouted back. Vanessa tried to step between us, begging us both to calm down.

The struggle continued in the confusion, and in the chaos Adrian shoved me away without thinking. For a split second, the world seemed to stop, his eyes widened as the anger on his face was now replaced with shock and pure horror. His hand struck out as he shouted and lunged towards me. It was too late.