The Woman You Thought Would Stay

Chapter 8 — The Name on His Phone

I barely slept that night.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the same photograph.

Adrian's hand.

Mira's hand.

The hotel.

The lie.

I wanted to confront him.

But I couldn't.

Not yet.

I needed to know everything before I made a decision I couldn't take back.

The next morning, Adrian came to my apartment.

He was holding breakfast.

"Good morning."

I forced a smile.

"Good morning."

He kissed my forehead.

"You didn't answer my calls last night."

"I'm sorry. I fell asleep."

It was another lie.

My first instinct was to feel guilty.

But then I remembered the hotel.

The photo.

His message.

And I said nothing.

We sat together at the kitchen table.

For a few minutes, everything felt normal.

Almost painfully normal.

Then Adrian's phone rang.

He glanced at the screen.

I saw the name.

Mira.

My heart stopped.

Adrian immediately declined the call.

I looked at him.

"Why didn't you answer?"

"She's probably calling about work."

I nodded slowly.

"At eight in the morning?"

"Maybe it's urgent."

His phone rang again.

This time, he stood up.

"I'll take this."

He walked toward the balcony.

I watched him through the glass door.

He answered.

His voice was too quiet for me to hear.

Then I saw his expression change.

He looked worried.

After a few minutes, he came back inside.

"Everything okay?" I asked.

"Yeah."

"Are you sure?"

He smiled.

"Of course."

I looked at him.

"Was it Mira?"

He froze.

Only for a second.

But I saw it.

"Yes."

"What did she need?"

"Nothing important."

I nodded.

"Okay."

He sat beside me.

I leaned against his shoulder.

He wrapped his arm around me.

I closed my eyes.

I wanted to cry.

Not because I had proof.

But because I was beginning to realize that I didn't trust the man holding me anymore.

---

That afternoon, I went to see Mira.

I didn't tell her I was coming.

When she opened the door, she looked surprised.

"Lia?"

"Hi."

She smiled nervously.

"What are you doing here?"

"I just wanted to see you."

She stepped aside.

"Come in."

I walked inside.

Everything looked normal.

Her apartment was clean.

There were flowers on the table.

A half-finished cup of coffee sat beside the window.

Then I noticed something.

A man's jacket was hanging over a chair.

I stopped walking.

Mira followed my gaze.

Her face changed.

"That's not mine."

I looked at her.

"I didn't say it was."

She swallowed.

"It's my brother's."

"Your brother?"

"Yeah."

I nodded.

"Right."

I walked closer to the jacket.

There was something in the pocket.

A car key.

I recognized the keychain.

It was from Adrian's car.

My heart sank.

I looked at Mira.

She was staring at me.

Neither of us spoke.

Finally, she whispered,

"Lia..."

I shook my head.

"Don't."

"Please, let me explain."

"Explain what?"

She opened her mouth.

Nothing came out.

I smiled sadly.

"You know what's funny?"

She looked at me.

"I've spent days trying to convince myself that you're not lying to me."

My voice trembled.

"But every time I ask a question, you give me another reason to doubt you."

"Lia, it's not what you think."

I stared at her.

"Then tell me what it is."

She remained silent.

That silence was an answer.

Maybe not the whole truth.

But enough to hurt.

I turned toward the door.

"Lia, wait."

I stopped.

She sounded desperate.

"Please don't leave like this."

I looked back at her.

"I've been leaving pieces of myself behind every time I choose to believe you."

Her eyes filled with tears.

I opened the door.

"Next time you tell me the truth, Mira..."

I paused.

"...make sure it's actually the truth."

Then I walked away.

Outside, I took a deep breath.

My hands were shaking.

I still didn't know exactly what Adrian and Mira were hiding.

But now I knew something else.

They were hiding it together.

And whatever that secret was...

It had already started destroying my trust in both of them.