A Forbidden Affair - The proposal

When Lena got upstairs, the room felt… quiet.

The bathroom door was closed, and the faint sound of running water told her Richard was in the shower.

She exhaled softly, dropping her bag by the chair before sitting on the edge of the bed.

Her mind was restless.

Too many emotions tangled together in ways she couldn’t even begin to sort out.

She leaned back slowly, staring at the ceiling.

Maybe they could fix things.

A soft buzz interrupted her thoughts.

She turned her head slightly.

Richard’s phone lit up on the bedside table.

She ignored it at first.

It wasn’t her business.

Another buzz.

Then another.

Her brows furrowed.

“Why is it so urgent…” she murmured under her breath.

She sat up, hesitating for a moment before reaching for it.

“I’ll just give it to him,” she said quietly to herself.

The screen lit up again just as she picked it up.

A notification.

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

It wasn’t saved under a name.

Just a group.

Curiosity got the better of her.

She tapped it open.

And everything inside her stilled.

Her breath caught.

Her fingers tightened around the phone as her eyes scanned the screen.

Messages.

Explicit.

Disturbing.

People talking freely about their fantasies… sharing things that made her stomach turn.

And then the pictures.

Her hand flew to her mouth as a sharp gasp escaped her.

“No…” she whispered.

Her body went cold.

She sat down slowly on the bed, her heart pounding violently against her chest.

“Is this…” her voice trembled. “Is this why…?”

Tears blurred her vision.

“Is this why he wants us to…?” she couldn’t even finish the sentence.

A sob threatened to break free.

And just then—

The bathroom door opened.

Lena flinched.

Richard stepped out, a towel loosely wrapped around his waist, his hair still damp.

He froze when he saw her.

And then his eyes dropped to the phone in her hand.

“Baby…” he said slowly, his brows furrowing. “What are you doing with my phone?”

He walked toward her quickly and snatched it from her hand.

His expression changed the moment he saw the screen.

Panic.

Guilt.

Lena stood up slowly, her chest rising and falling.

“Is this what you do now?” she asked, her voice trembling with disbelief. 

“Wait—” he rushed out. “I can explain. It’s not what you think.”

A bitter laugh escaped her.

“I haven’t left yet, Richard,” she said, her eyes glossy with tears. “Doesn’t that tell you I’m trying to hear you out?”

He swallowed hard.

“You know about my fantasies,” he said carefully.

Lena shook her head immediately.

“No,” she cut in, her voice breaking. “I don’t know you anymore.”

“Babe, please—just listen to me." He stepped closer. “I just wanted to spice things up between us—”

Her eyes widened.

Cut me that crap; what does this have to do with us? she napped, her voice rising.

“I endured everything you threw at me because I loved you.”

Her chest tightened.

“But this?” she pointed toward the phone in his hand. “This is what you do behind my back?”

“What more do you want from me, Richard?” she asked, her voice softer now but more painful. “Am I not enough for you?”

“Babe, I—”

She raised her hand, stopping him.

“Don’t,” she whispered.

He fell silent.

Her eyes searched his face.

“Were you going to record us?” she asked slowly. “And send it to them?”

Richard looked away.

That was all the answer she needed.

Her heart shattered.

“Oh my God…” she breathed.

Then anger replaced the pain.

“I hate you,” she said, her voice cracking as tears streamed down her face. “I fucking hate you.”

She turned immediately, heading for the door.

“Lena—wait!” he rushed after her, grabbing her arm.

“Don’t touch me!” she snapped, pushing him away.

She yanked the door open and stormed out.

By the time she got into her car, she broke.

Her hands trembled as she gripped the steering wheel, her sobs uncontrollable.

It felt like everything had collapsed at once.

She grabbed her phone and called Chloe.

“Please…” she whispered when the call connected. “I need you.”

A few minutes later, Chloe arrived.

Lena barely waited before getting into her car.

The drive was quiet.

Except for Lena’s soft sobs.

When they got to Chloe’s place, Lena couldn’t help but notice how calm it felt.

The exact opposite of how she felt inside.

The moment they stepped in, Lena broke again.

“I feel used,” she cried. “I feel stupid… heartbroken… everything.”

Chloe pulled her into a tight hug, gently rubbing her back.

“I’m so sorry,” she murmured. “I’m so, so sorry.”

Lena pulled back slightly, her eyes red.

“I’m leaving him,” she said firmly. “I’m done. I can’t do this anymore.”

Chloe nodded slowly.

“I understand.”

“I’ve told him so many times,” Lena continued. “I’m not something he can control. I have feelings too.”

“And you deserve to be respected,” Chloe added.

Lena wiped her tears weakly.

“Any decision you make,” Chloe said, holding her shoulders, “I’m with you.”

That broke Lena all over again.

She hugged her tightly.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

They stayed like that for a moment.

Then Chloe pulled back, looking at her seriously.

“You have to choose yourself this time,” she said softly. “You can’t keep losing yourself for someone else.”

Lena nodded slowly.

Chloe’s expression shifted slightly.

“So tell me the truth,” she said. “What about Jayden?”

Lena stiffened.

Like the question opened more wounds.

“I…” she hesitated. “I don’t know.”

Chloe raised a brow.

“Do you have feelings for him?”

“I don’t know,” Lena repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.

Chloe sighed.

“This wasn’t the plan,

Lena let out a shaky breath.

“I just wanted to spend my holiday fixing things with Richard,” she said. “I don’t even know how I got here.”

Chloe was quiet for a moment.

“Then maybe you need distance,” she said finally. “Go back to Canada.”

Lena said nothing.

“Or,” Chloe added, “pack your things and come stay with me for the rest of your holiday.”

Lena looked up at her.

“Really?”

Chloe smiled softly.

“Anytime. You know that.”

Lena hugged her again.

“Thank you…”

The next day, Chloe drove her back to the house.

“I’ll wait downstairs,” she said.

Lena nodded and stepped out.

But just as she reached the door—

It opened.

Richard stood there.

He looked terrible.

His eyes were sunken, his expression drained.

But Lena didn’t stop.

She walked past him.

He grabbed her arm.

“Let me go, Richard.”

Instead, he pulled her into a tight hug.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered desperately. “Please don’t leave me.”

She pushed him away.

Hard.

He stumbled backward—

And fell.

Her eyes widened immediately.

“Richard?”

No response.

“Richard!” panic set in. “Stop playing—open your eyes!”

Fear gripped her chest.

She quickly called Chloe, and together they carried him to the bed.

The doctor arrived shortly after.

While he checked on Richard, Lena stepped outside with Chloe.

“I know this sounds crazy,” Lena said quietly, “but I can’t leave him like this.”

Chloe stared at her.

“You’re serious?”

“He needs someone right now,” Lena insisted. “I can’t just walk away.”

“And Jayden?” Chloe asked sharply.

“He’s not even here,” Lena replied. “He won’t be back till the weekend.”

Chloe studied her.

“Is this really what you want?”

Lena nodded slowly.

Chloe sighed.

“Then I’ll support you… But Lena—do what is right for you.

That evening, after the doctor left, Lena brought food into the room.

They sat in silence.

“Babe—”

“Please,” she cut in gently. “Let’s not do this right now.”

He nodded slowly before turning to face her.

“Just… one dinner,” he said. “Let’s talk. If it doesn’t work… I’ll let you go.”

She hesitated.

“Fine.”

That night, Richard prepared everything.

A carefully arranged table.

Before, it would have made her heart flutter.

Now she just felt tired.

He pulled out her chair.

“You look beautiful,” he said.

“Thank you,” she replied shortly.

“Richard,” she added, “say what you need to say.”

He nodded.

Then slowly he knelt.

Her breath caught.

“I’ve made a lot of mistakes,” he said. “But I want to prove I can change.”

Tears filled his eyes as he spoke.

“I love you. I always have.”

Her heart softened despite everything.

“I’m willing to learn and unlearn,” he continued. “To be better… for you.”

Please don't leave me.

Lena’s eyes filled with tears.

She knelt and hugged him.

“I forgive you,” she whispered.

And he did the unpredictable.

He pulled out a small box.

Her heart stopped.

“To seal this,” he said, opening it, “will you marry me?”

Everything hit her at once.

She paused for some time.

“…Yes,” she said finally, her voice trembling.

He slid the ring onto her finger and kissed her.

Later that night, he mentioned he had to travel for a deal and promised to make it up to her.

She didn't want to ruin the moment, so she waved it out.

The next day, she told Chloe over the phone.

And Chloe sounded surprised and not too happy about it.

“If you’re happy… then I’m happy.”

But Lena wasn't sure if this is what she truly wants, although a little part of her was excited and the other was sad.