Chapter Seven: She cares for me

We left the hospital, and he dropped me off before leaving for his appointment. The moment the car pulled away, a deep stillness filled the space he'd left behind, a stillness that screamed louder than any noise. My heart felt heavy, like a cold stone in my chest.

“Ma’am, ma’am,” Sussy's voice, soft and gentle, broke through my disturbed thoughts. I flinched, startled, then quickly tried to compose myself. It was extremely difficult to keep the tears from flowing. They were right there, pressing against my eyes, a burning sensation behind my eyelids.

“Yes, Sussy, what is it?” I forced out, my voice strained, on the verge of breaking. I focused on her, trying to keep my face still, to conceal my inner turmoil.

“Sir and Madam aren't back yet,” she began, her words, a gentle reminder of normal life, felt distant right now. “What should I make for lunch?”

Lunch! The word seemed foreign and distant. Food was the last thing on my mind. My stomach felt tightly knotted, a mix of hurt and anger swirling inside me. I just wanted to be alone, to release my emotions.

“Sussy, please, I'm not in the mood to speak now,” I said, turning away from her, my gaze fixed on the stairs, a path to escape to my room. Each step I took felt immensely heavy, as though I were dragging myself through thick, clinging mud.

“But, Ma'am…” Sussy's voice followed me, a gentle plea.

“But what, Sussy?” The words burst out, sharp, raw, and louder than intended. I spun around, my eyes, burning with unshed tears and intense anger, locked onto her.

She gasped, her face turned pale, her eyes wide in shock. This was new. I had never shouted at her, not once since joining this family.

The silence that followed was oppressive, filled with her stunned stillness and my growing shame. She didn't say another word, just stood there, her head bowed. I couldn't bear to look at her any longer. I turned and rushed up the stairs, leaving her standing there alone.

I burst into my room, a desperate plea for privacy. My whole body was shivering, a fine tremor that started in my hands and spread through my limbs. The effort to hold back my emotions had been too much. Now, with the door closed, the tears came. They spilled over, hot and stinging, tracing paths down my cheeks.

I paced the room, my thoughts a racing, jumbled mess. “Ethan doesn't see me as a woman,” I muttered to myself, continuously, as if repeating it could make it less real, less painful. It couldn't.

“No, this cannot be true, it simply cannot," I whispered, my voice ragged with despair, desperately clutching at any fragile thread of hope, any reason to believe his words were nothing more than a cruel jest. But the doubt relentlessly clawed at me, refusing to release its grip.

“Not after how many years of being together?”

“He must be joking, but what if he is serious?” The thought was a sharp stab to my heart, twisting it further.

My tears flowed faster now, a steady stream, blurring my vision. My head spun, trying to make sense of what felt like a sudden, brutal betrayal.

Then my phone rang, snapping me out of my distress, with the name 'Bestgirl' displayed on the screen.

“Hi, babe,” Her voice sounded vibrant and cheerful as usual the moment I answered.

“Hi, bestie,” I replied, trying to steady my voice and wiping away my tears with the back of my hand.

“Maya, your voice doesn't sound good, is there a problem?”

“Ye-yes, I'm fine,” I replied abruptly to hide it, but she was too perceptive not to know something was wrong.

“Maya, you and I know that something is wrong somewhere,” she said. “So tell me, Maya, what is it? Don't tell me it's Ethan, because he's the last person I'd imagine hurting you, given how much you boasted about him and his love, he wouldn't dare.”

I had never before revealed to anyone what had truly been happening between Ethan and me. I always presented an image as if my marriage was the most wonderful thing that had ever occurred in my life, and that Ethan was a man truly sent by God.

"Look, babe... I'm okay, really... nothing is wrong with me, may... may..." I couldn't complete my sentence as my voice broke down once more.

"I knew it from the start, that something was off," she said. "Hey, Maya, it's okay. I don't know what's wrong, but I think we can discuss it over a meal."

Going out was the best option for me. Even if I didn't talk about our marriage, we could talk about something else and relax with fresh air instead. And also to show her that nothing was wrong with me, as she suspected.

“Oh yes, I think it is better to talk one-on-one. It's been ages since we met, just two of us,” I said.

“Honestly, it's been ages, bestie. Okay, I lodged in the Royal Hotel. I think you can come over as it is also a good place to relax, or maybe any other place you have in mind.”

“Not at all, I think the Royal Hotel is the best. I am coming over right away,” I said.

“That is my babe,” she said, sounding happy. “Alright then, I'm waiting.” She hung up.

I stood up, bathed, and dressed in one of my best outfits. I applied a little makeup to conceal my worried expression and look more feminine for our girls' outing.

As I went downstairs, I met Sussy, who was setting up the wine bar. She turned and bowed immediately she saw me.

“Ehm, Sussy, if my husband or his parents come back, tell them I'll be back, and that I went out with a friend,” I said and turned to leave but stopped.

“Also, I am truly sorry for speaking like that earlier. Please don't be offended.” With that, I left the house, hearing her smiling voice from outside the door as she said,

“It's okay, Ma’am.”

I went out, retrieved my car from the garage, and drove to Royal Hotel, feeling relieved to have at least one person by my side who cared.

I parked in the hotel garage, then saw her message she had sent earlier:

[Maya, come straight to room 404, that is my room].

"Hmm, big spender,” I muttered to myself, knowing that rooms from 400 and above are for VIPs and are very expensive.

"Please, I'd like to visit someone staying in room 404," I stated as soon as I reached the reception desk.

"Any proof to show permission?" the receptionist inquired.

"Oh yes... here it is," I replied, showing her the message on my phone.

"Alright, when you get to the elevator, press the button marked 'VIP1.' That's the first floor for VIP guests," she explained, her voice remarkably soft.

"Alright, thank you," I said, and headed towards the elevator.

As I tried to open the door, I distinctly heard the sounds of skin slamming together and moans that were sensual enough to arouse anyone without physical contact. I paused for a moment, imagining myself being pleasured like that by an attractive man.

“If only Ethan would just touch me and make love to me, I would be okay.”

"Hi, Ma'am, any problem?" a voice brought me back to reality. It was a hotel room attendant carrying food on a tray.

"Oh... no, dear," I replied, as I touched the doorknob, which turned easily. She must have left the door unlocked for me.

"Don't you know it's a risk to leave the do...or..." I was saying as I stepped inside, but my words abruptly ceased at what I witnessed. In fact, every part of my body seemed to shut down; my legs froze, and my mind went utterly blank.

"Ethan!!!" I shouted.