CHAPTER 2
2436 Words
Mara knew exactly what she was going to do.
Nothing.
At least, not yet.
She drove home with both hands wrapped tightly around the steering wheel, her wedding ring sitting in the cup holder between the seats.
She had almost put it back on.
Almost.
Then she remembered Adrian's voice.
Yes.
He loved Selene.
The simplicity of the answer had hurt more than any lie could have.
She had expected hesitation.
Denial.
Anger.
Something.
Anything that would make her believe that the last six years of her marriage had meant something.
Instead, Adrian had admitted it like a man confessing to something inevitable.
Almost a year.
Almost a year of dinners, birthdays, anniversaries, mornings in the same bed, kisses at the front door, and whispered promises.
Almost a year of Mara sleeping beside a man who had already given another woman the parts of himself she thought belonged to her.
And her family had known.
Her mother.
Her father.
Her sister.
Perhaps even the cousins who had laughed with her at Christmas.
Perhaps the aunt who had hugged her last month and told her how lucky she was to have such a wonderful husband.
The thought made her stomach twist.
She pulled into the driveway.
The house was quiet.
Adrian's car was already there.
Mara stared at it.
For several minutes, she didn't get out.
She wanted to scream.
She wanted to walk inside and throw every photograph she had of Adrian onto the floor.
She wanted to call her mother and demand an explanation.
She wanted to call Selene and ask how she had managed to sleep at night.
Instead, Mara reached into the cup holder.
She picked up her wedding ring.
And put it back on.
Not because she forgave him.
Not because she wanted him.
Because she suddenly understood something.
If everyone had been lying to her for almost a year, then she needed to stop being the only person telling the truth.
She needed to learn how to lie too.
Mara stepped out of the car.
She walked into the house.
Adrian was standing in the living room.
He had changed clothes.
Dark trousers.
White shirt.
No tie.
He looked calm.
Too calm.
"You came home."
Mara placed her handbag on the console.
"Of course I did."
He stared at her hand.
His eyes fell on the wedding ring.
Something flickered across his face.
Surprise.
Maybe relief.
"You put it back on."
Mara looked down.
"Yes."
"Why?"
She smiled.
"Because I'm still married."
Adrian looked away.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then he walked toward her.
"Mara, about earlier—"
"I'm tired."
"We need to talk."
"We will."
"When?"
"Tomorrow."
He frowned.
"Why not tonight?"
"Because if we talk tonight, I'll say things I don't mean."
That wasn't entirely true.
She meant every terrible thing currently sitting at the back of her throat.
But she needed information more than she needed revenge.
Adrian nodded slowly.
"Okay."
Mara walked past him.
She reached the stairs.
Then stopped.
"Adrian?"
"Yes?"
She turned.
"Did you tell Selene you loved her before or after you told her you were going to leave me?"
His face changed.
There it was.
The hesitation.
The first real c***k.
Mara smiled faintly.
"Never mind."
She went upstairs.
She didn't look back.
Once inside their bedroom, she locked the door.
Then she sat on the edge of the bed.
Her hands were shaking.
She pressed them against her knees.
She had expected anger.
What she hadn't expected was grief.
The bedroom still looked exactly the same.
Their photographs.
Their books.
Their wedding picture on the bedside table.
In it, Adrian was kissing her cheek while Mara laughed.
She picked up the photograph.
Six years.
She wondered if he had already been capable of betraying her then.
She wondered if Selene had already looked at him differently.
She wondered whether her family had watched her walk down the aisle and known she was marrying a man her sister would eventually take.
The thought made her feel sick.
Mara put the photograph down.
Then she opened the drawer beside her bed.
Inside was an old notebook.
She hadn't written in it for years.
She pulled it out.
On the first page, she wrote three names.
Adrian.
Selene.
Mother.
Then she added:
Father.
She stared at the list.
There were only four names.
But somehow, it felt like she was writing the beginning of an investigation.
She turned the page.
Under Adrian's name, she wrote:
Almost one year.
Under Selene:
Knows everything.
Under Mother:
Protecting Selene.
Under Father:
Protecting Selene.
Then she stopped.
Something didn't make sense.
If her parents knew about the affair, why had they allowed Mara to remain married to Adrian?
Why had they encouraged her to attend family dinners?
Why had they watched her celebrate anniversaries with him?
Why had they never told her?
There had to be a reason.
And Mara intended to find it.
She closed the notebook.
Then she heard footsteps outside.
The bedroom door opened.
Adrian stood there.
"I thought you were sleeping."
"I will."
He leaned against the doorframe.
"Can I come in?"
Mara looked at him.
For six years, she had never had to think about whether Adrian belonged in the bedroom.
Now she did.
"Fine."
He entered.
He sat on the edge of the bed.
"I don't know how to explain this."
Mara almost laughed.
"Try."
He rubbed his hands together.
"It wasn't supposed to happen."
"When did it happen?"
"Last year."
"I know."
"It started as conversations."
"Where?"
"At your parents' house."
Mara's eyes narrowed.
"At my parents' house?"
"Yes."
"With my sister?"
"Yes."
She nodded slowly.
"And nobody thought that was inappropriate?"
Adrian looked down.
"I know how it sounds."
"No."
Mara smiled.
"You don't."
He looked at her.
She leaned back against the headboard.
"Tell me something, Adrian. When did my family start treating Selene like your wife?"
He went still.
Mara watched him carefully.
That reaction told her more than his words.
"Why did you look like that?"
"I didn't."
"You did."
He sighed.
"Mara, your family knows how complicated things have become."
"That's not what I asked."
"You should speak to your mother."
"Why?"
"Because she understands."
Mara stared at him.
"Understands what?"
He didn't answer.
"Adrian."
"I can't be the one to explain everything."
She laughed softly.
"Of course not."
She looked at him.
"You've already done enough."
He flinched.
Mara turned away.
"Go downstairs."
"Mara—"
"Please."
He stood.
At the door, he stopped.
"I never wanted to hurt you."
She looked at him.
"Then you should have stopped."
He had no answer.
The door closed.
Mara waited until she heard his footsteps disappear.
Then she opened her notebook again.
Under her father's name, she wrote:
Adrian says Mum understands.
Then she underlined it.
Twice.
She needed to talk to her mother.
But she wasn't going to ask about the affair.
Not directly.
She needed to know what her mother believed she had done wrong.
That would tell her everything.
The next morning, Mara woke before sunrise.
Adrian wasn't beside her.
She wasn't surprised.
She found him downstairs making coffee.
He looked up.
"Morning."
"Morning."
He handed her a cup.
She took it.
"Thanks."
He watched her.
"You seem calm."
"I am."
"Are you?"
"No."
He looked away.
Mara sat at the kitchen island.
She took a sip.
"Did you sleep?"
"Not really."
"Why?"
"I kept thinking about us."
Mara looked at him.
"Us ended a long time ago."
His eyes lifted.
"You don't know that."
She almost smiled.
"Neither do you."
He said nothing.
Her phone rang.
Mother.
Mara looked at the screen.
Perfect.
She answered.
"Hi, Mum."
"Are you okay?"
Mara glanced at Adrian.
"Yes."
There was a pause.
"Can you come over?"
"Why?"
"I want to talk."
Mara smiled.
"About what?"
"About everything."
Mara's heart skipped.
Everything.
Interesting.
"I'll come."
"Alone."
Mara looked at Adrian again.
"I'll be there in an hour."
She ended the call.
Adrian watched her.
"What did she say?"
"She wants to talk."
"About?"
"I don't know."
He nodded.
Mara stood.
"I'll see you later."
He grabbed her wrist.
"Mara."
She looked down at his hand.
He released her.
"I'm sorry."
She smiled.
"I know."
Then she left.
Her mother's house was quiet when she arrived.
The front door opened before she knocked.
Her mother stood there.
"Mara."
"Hi."
Her mother hugged her.
Mara allowed it.
She noticed her mother's perfume.
The same perfume she had worn yesterday.
The same perfume she had worn at lunch.
Mara stepped inside.
Her father was sitting in the living room.
She hadn't expected him.
"Good morning, Dad."
"Morning."
She sat down.
Her mother remained standing.
"You look tired."
"I didn't sleep much."
Her mother nodded.
"Neither did I."
Mara looked at her.
"Why?"
Her mother sighed.
"Because I knew this conversation would come."
Mara's heart began pounding.
She leaned forward.
"Then let's have it."
Her father shifted in his chair.
Her mother sat opposite her.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Finally, her mother said:
"You need to let Selene be happy."
Mara stared at her.
There it was.
No apology.
No shame.
Not even an explanation.
Just that.
"Excuse me?"
"Don't make this harder than it has to be."
Mara felt something inside her go cold.
"Harder for whom?"
"Everyone."
She laughed.
"Everyone?"
Her father spoke.
"Mara, we understand you're hurt."
"You understand?"
"Yes."
"Then tell me why you supported it."
Her parents exchanged a glance.
Her mother sighed.
"Because Selene loves him."
Mara stared at her.
"And?"
"And Adrian loves her."
"And?"
Her mother frowned.
"What do you want us to say?"
"The truth."
"We are telling you the truth."
"No."
Mara's voice remained calm.
"You are telling me what you want me to accept."
Her father leaned forward.
"Your marriage has been unhappy for a long time."
Mara blinked.
"What?"
"You and Adrian have had problems."
"Every marriage has problems."
"Not like yours."
Mara stared at him.
"Who told you that?"
Her father hesitated.
Mara looked at her mother.
"Who?"
Her mother said nothing.
"Selene?"
Silence.
Mara nodded.
"Of course."
Her mother reached for her hand.
Mara pulled hers away.
"Don't."
"Mara."
"No."
She stood.
"You all decided I was unhappy?"
Her father stood too.
"Your sister has always been there for you."
"She slept with my husband."
"Don't say it like that."
Mara stared at him.
"How should I say it?"
Her father looked uncomfortable.
"She fell in love."
Mara laughed.
"So did I."
Her mother stood.
"You need to understand that Selene didn't plan this."
"She didn't?"
"No."
"Then who did?"
Neither parent answered.
Mara looked between them.
Something wasn't right.
Her parents weren't defending Selene because they thought the affair was innocent.
They were defending her because they had chosen her.
But why?
Mara picked up her handbag.
"I think we're done."
Her mother grabbed her arm.
"Please."
Mara looked at her hand.
Her mother released her.
"Don't destroy your relationship with your sister."
Mara stared at her.
"She destroyed it."
"She's still your sister."
"And I'm still her sister."
Her mother looked away.
Mara walked toward the door.
Then stopped.
"One question."
Her parents waited.
"When did you know?"
Her mother looked at her father.
Her father looked at the floor.
Finally, her mother whispered:
"Before you did."
"How long?"
No answer.
"How long?"
Her mother closed her eyes.
"About ten months."
Mara's stomach turned.
Ten months.
They had known almost the entire time.
She walked out.
She didn't cry.
Not this time.
She was beginning to understand something.
The affair wasn't the secret.
The reason behind it was.
And until she discovered that reason, she wasn't going to confront anyone.
She drove to a small café and sat in the corner.
She opened her notebook.
She added another line.
Mother and Father knew for ten months.
Then she wrote:
They believe Selene deserves Adrian.
Underneath it, she wrote:
Why?
Her phone buzzed.
A message from Selene.
Mara stared at it.
She opened it.
I'm sorry you're hurting.
Mara's jaw tightened.
Another message arrived.
But I won't apologize for loving him.
Then:
You have to let us go.
Mara stared at the screen.
She typed:
When did you start loving him?
She waited.
The reply came almost immediately.
Before you married him.
Mara stopped breathing.
She read it again.
Before you married him.
Six years.
The affair wasn't one year old.
Perhaps the betrayal wasn't either.
Her hands began shaking.
She called Selene.
Her sister answered after two rings.
"Hello?"
Mara said nothing.
"Why are you calling?"
"How long?"
Silence.
"How long have you wanted my husband?"
Selene exhaled.
"I told you."
"Before I married him."
"Yes."
Mara closed her eyes.
"Did he want you too?"
Another silence.
"Selene."
"Yes."
Mara swallowed.
"Did Mum know?"
"She knew I loved him."
"Did Dad?"
"Eventually."
"And Adrian?"
"Of course."
Mara laughed quietly.
"So everyone knew."
Selene didn't respond.
Mara's voice dropped.
"Then why did you let me marry him?"
This time, Selene didn't answer immediately.
When she finally spoke, her voice sounded different.
Less confident.
Almost frightened.
"Because he chose you."
Mara's blood ran cold.
"He chose me?"
"At the time."
"What does that mean?"
Selene said nothing.
Mara stood.
"Selene."
"I have to go."
"Wait."
The call ended.
Mara stared at the phone.
Then she looked down at her notebook.
She crossed out the question:
Why did they support the affair?
And replaced it with another.
Why did Adrian choose me if he loved Selene?
For the first time, Mara wondered whether her marriage had ever been what she thought it was.
Maybe Adrian hadn't married her because she was the woman he wanted.
Maybe he had married her because she was the woman he needed.
And if that was true, then everything she knew about the last six years was a lie.
Her phone buzzed again.
This time, it was an unknown number.
The message contained only one sentence.
You should ask Adrian why your father paid him to marry you.
Mara stared at the screen.
Her heart stopped.
Then another message arrived.
And why Selene was supposed to get everything when you were gone.
Mara slowly lowered the phone.
For the first time since discovering the affair, she felt something stronger than heartbreak.
Fear.
Because suddenly, this wasn't about a husband cheating with her sister.
It was about a marriage that might have been arranged around a secret she had never been meant to discover.
And somewhere in her family's past was a reason they had all decided Mara was expendable.
- Writer
