Not Anymore

Shocking Discovery

In the car, Chris maintained a tight-lipped silence, his usual demeanor slightly overshadowed by an air of contemplation. Cathy, however, was a stark contrast to his quietness. Unfazed by his reticence, she filled the space with her lively chatter, tossing out one question after another, eager to understand what was on his mind. The entire journey became as animated as it could be, as she shared snippets of her day, laughed at her own jokes, and even brought up a few light-hearted stories from their shared past.

Minutes later, as they approached the outskirts of an upscale neighborhood, Chris broke the silence. “Drop me here,” he announced, his voice steady but lacking its usual warmth.

Cathy frowned, glancing out the window and then back at him. “Are we there yet?” she asked, a hint of confusion in her voice.

“Yeah, it’s the next block,” he replied, his gaze fixed ahead. “They don’t allow unregistered vehicles into the estate, so I didn’t want to trouble you with that.” His words were straightforward, but Cathy could sense the underlying tension in his tone, a hint that this was not just a casual drop-off.

Understanding the situation, she nodded, her expression shifting from inquiry to concern. “Be safe, Chris,” she said with conviction, her eyes locking onto his. It was a simple phrase, but it carried the weight of their friendship, filled with unspoken worries and unyielding support. Chris returned her gaze, nodding subtly before slowly stepping out of the car.

As she drove off, he stood by the curb for a moment, watching her car disappear into the distance. The rhythmic thrum of the engine faded, leaving behind an almost eerie quiet. Only then did he allow himself to breathe a deep sigh of relief, the tension in his shoulders easing. He took a moment to gather his thoughts, the image of Cathy’s worried face lingering in his mind, before he turned and walked forward into the darkness.

“Sir, the miss said you should take the guest room when you are back.” No sooner had he stepped into the house than a maid walked over and said.

Chris hesitated.

“What?” he couldn't believe.

“I am sorry sir, but the boss has a guest. She is not to be disturbed tonight,” the woman said.

Chris sighed and nodded.

“It's okay, I will be in the room them, prepare my bath,” He said and made towards the other side, but he had taken a single step when the woman said, “I am sorry sir, but she said no disturbance, you will have to take a bath in the guest house.”

Chris halted, “What?” he swirled around.

“Is there someone in the bath?” he asked incredulously, glaring at the woman.

She looked away, clearly avoiding his gaze.

Chris frowned, and that moment understood what she wasn’t letting on.

In a flash, he darted away and headed towards the bathroom area.

“Please sir, you can go in there.” She called out as she hurried after him.

Chris gritted his teeth, steeling himself for what lay ahead. Each heartbeat felt like a drum, echoing in his ears as he stumbled toward the slightly ajar front door. He hesitated, taking a long, deep breath. Closing his eyes momentarily, he tried to collect his thoughts, but when he opened them, dread washed over him like a cold wave.

With a cautious glance inside, Chris's blood ran cold. His eyes widened in disbelief, and his jaw dropped as if he had just spotted a ghost. The maid entered just in time, her gaze locking onto Chris’s stunned expression. She gasped, her hand flying to her mouth, her eyes wide with horror as she took in the scene unfolding before them.

Time seemed to freeze as Chris stood transfixed at the sight. Two figures lounged in the bathtub, surrounded by frothy bubbles that danced lazily on the surface of the water. They were completely unclothed, whispering sweet nothing's to one another, their laughter echoing softly in the air. Every rational thought fled from Chris's mind at that moment; all he felt was a hot surge of anger and betrayal.

For a fleeting second, a fierce desire to storm in and confront the two washed over him. His mother’s admonitions echoed in his mind, a reminder of the values she instilled in him—of respect, dignity, and loyalty. But something deeper held him back, a conflicting mix of emotions that left him paralyzed.

“I can’t believe it,” he mumbled under his breath, the disbelief hanging thick in the air.

As moments passed, the initial shock faded, replaced by a profound sense of exhaustion. It was as if every ounce of strength in his body had been siphoned away. The courage to act slipped through his fingers like sand, and finally, his trembling hand dropped from the doorknob. He shook his head, battling against the waves of frustration, and stormed off down the hallway.

Inside the bathroom, Irene turned sharply at the sound of his hurried footsteps. “Who is there? Who is it?” she called out, confusion and concern lacing her voice, but there was no answer from him. The maid watched as Chris fled, wanting to speak but finding herself at a loss for words, her mind racing.

As Chris hurried away, anger and frustration coiling through his veins like a venomous snake, he muttered to himself, “Third chance, seven more to go.” Each step felt heavy under the weight of his disillusionment.

He strode toward the guest house the maid had instructed him to go to, his footsteps echoing with a mix of purpose and barely contained fury. With a sudden burst of energy, he slammed the door with a force that seemed almost unreasonable, the heavy sound reverberating in the still air.

Standing there, he felt his chest heaving, each breath a battle against the storm brewing within him. Anger coiled inside like the tempest, threatening to burst free. "All this time," he muttered under his breath, his voice thick with disbelief and hurt. "I thought, I really thought you could turn over a new leaf. Turns out I was the fool again. I can’t believe it… stupid, stupid, stupid!"

In a fit of rage, he clenched his fist and struck the nearby wall, the sharp pain that shot through his knuckles barely registering above the tempest of emotions churning inside him. Blood welled up from the cut, but he barely noticed; it was a tangible manifestation of his frustration, a distraction from the deeper ache of betrayal.

“Enough of this!” he erupted, his voice a raw, anguished roar that tore through the silence of the sprawling estate. The sound ricocheted off the walls, a testament to his turmoil, leaving behind an echo that lingered long after the last notes faded away. He remained there, breathing heavily, fighting against the barrage of anger and hurt that threatened to consume him. He strode toward the guest house the maid had instructed him to go to, his footsteps echoing with a mix of purpose and barely contained fury. With a sudden burst of energy, he slammed the door with a force that seemed almost unreasonable, the heavy sound reverberating in the still air.

Standing there, he felt his chest heaving, each breath a battle against the storm brewing within him. Anger coiled inside like the tempest, threatening to burst free. "All this time," he muttered under his breath, his voice thick with disbelief and hurt. "I thought, I really thought you could turn over a new leaf. Turns out I was the fool again. I can’t believe it… stupid, stupid, stupid!"

In a fit of rage, he clenched his fist and struck the nearby wall, the sharp pain that shot through his knuckles barely registering above the tempest of emotions churning inside him. Blood welled up from the cut, but he barely noticed; it was a tangible manifestation of his frustration, a distraction from the deeper ache of betrayal.

“Enough of this!” he erupted, his voice a raw, anguished roar that tore through the silence of the sprawling estate. The sound ricocheted off the walls, a testament to his turmoil, leaving behind an echo that lingered long after the last notes faded away. He remained there, breathing heavily, fighting against the barrage of anger and hurt that threatened to consume him.