chapter 2

Aria

" She said you have fever and came by." Quinn's voice cut through the room, I exhaled, feigning a smile.

"You should have told me." Quinn added.

"It's nothing." I replied abruptly.

I couldn't let him see through me, at least not this soon. I needed a plan.

"Nothing doesn't make someone like this, pale." He said, unconvinced.

I felt relieved–glad she didn't reveal my secret at least for now.

I wondered what if she had told him? What would be his reaction?

"He's also cheating, it wouldn't be that hard." I thought to myself.

Men like Quinn always think they're clever, they forget wives notice the silence before the lies.

Each second I thought about divorcing Quinn and letting go of this marriage, but then every second again I think about what people would say.

Thee weight of societal expectations was disturbing.

Would I leave Quinn and run into Zachary's arms?

Or would I run away and remain a coward for the rest of my life?

"Excuse me, I need to take a shower."He reached out for my hand, his arms brushing mine. I pulled away, irritation flickering in my chest.

"We can do that together just like college days." He smiled.

"You remember how you used to be happy." He said softly.

"You remember how you used to be available." I countered. His smile faltered.

College days–when we used to be the envy of the singles in College and even lovers wished to be like us.

College days–everyone used to stare when we walked into the cafeteria together, as if we were perfect couples. We really were then. No secrets, just endless laughter.

He had no idea how much I'd changed.

"That was then." I muttered.

"You say that like we misplaced something." I said.

"We lost each other." He corrected.

"No," I scoffed "You let go first."

"We can still be like then, I know I've been so busy since we got married but I want us back." He explained.

Too late.

"It's not like we're divorced, What's with the I want us back?" I uttered inaudibly.

"Yeah, we're not divorced but we're distant, you're putting up some cold attitude like not responding to my kisses and trying to maintain space between us." He concluded.

"I'm not the one who goes for business trips every now and then." I snapped at him.

"You know why I do that." He said defensively.

"Yes," I replied " And you know what it costs us."

We were caught in a cycle of blame and it was extremely tiring.

"I'm trying my best to be the best husband I can be to you." He told me.

"Trying isn't the same as being." I retorted.

He opened his mouth, then closed it again, not a sound came from him

"Stop nagging like a lady."I yelled at him involuntarily, he nodded in understanding.

For a moment there was a heavy silence. Neither of us spoke; we were both lost in thought, or perhaps we simply didn't know what to say. For me it was the latter.

"I would minimize the business trips." He said, breaking the silence.

"For how long?" I asked.

"As long as it takes to revive our marriage." He replied

I had heard that before.

"You said the same thing 3 months ago." I reminded him.

"You and I both know you can't," I retorted, my voice dripping with sarcasm. " You're obsessed; your work always comes first."

A wave of nausea hit me, and I ran to the bathroom. Quinn's voice echoed behind me, "Aria!" My stomach convulsed, bile burning my throat as I vomited.

Cold water streamed down my face as I turned; Quinn stood behind me, his face filled with worry.

"Are you okay? Mikasa didn't tell me it was this bad." He inquired.

"Let's go to the hospital," he said, taking my arm.

"Mikasa this, Mikasa that." I spoke out aloud.

Every conversation had to evolve around Mikasa. If it wasn't he telling me about her achievements, it was he telling me he needed to visit her because she was in some sort of danger that needed rescue.

She was always in danger and my husband was always the knight in shining armor.

He deserved an accolade for that.

"Can we not start again?" He pleaded acting all innocent.

"Start again? Ohhh you mean I'm problematic one, guess Mikasa is so peaceful" I scoffed.

"Nothing is going on between us, how do I prove it to you?"

" Then why does her name come so easily off your lips?" I questioned.

"Thinking of it, I never accused you of having something to do with her or Is it guilt eating you up?" A sarcastic smile tugged on my lips.

"I don't need you to prove anything." I added.

Indeed I didn't, it was too late, too late to mend the crumbled walls that should have protected our marriage.

I tried to exit, but my strength failed me, I staggered.

Quinn tried to help but I shrugged him off. "I'm perfectly fine." I said, and he scooped me into his arms, carrying me back into the room. I sat on the couch, face pale like a dead woman.

Quinn paced round the room.

"Sit Quinn," I ordered.

"I'm fine standing," he replied, I met his gaze, my expression hard, and he finally sank onto the couch.

"My mom will be coming over in two days, and she'll be staying for a few weeks." My heart skipped.

"You'll be okay with that right?" He asked, I wanted to nod until....

"Well together with her husband." My heart skipped a bit.

Her husband could only be referring to one person.

That person who voice alone make my body shiver, whose touch gives me goosebumps, whose smile melts my broken heart. That one person who became a replacement for my husband, that one person who made me feel what my husband couldn't make me feel.

Anticipation was killing me likewise fear caging me.

Zachary. My sweetest mistake. My step-father-in-law

I awaited my misery in disguise.