Casey stood outside the door of the Wilkins' house, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the driveway. He had come to see his in-laws, hoping for a casual visit, but a sense of unease lingered in the back of his mind. He hadn’t seen them, in a few days. He had been busy with work, and he been tied up with his own responsibilities. A part of him wondered if this visit was a way to escape the workloads that barley give him time.
He knocked on the door, and after a few moments, it swung open. To his surprise, it wasn’t Mr. or Mrs. Wilkins who greeted him but Linda, Barbara's younger sister. She smiled at him, her eyes bright and welcoming.
"Casey! What a surprise," Linda said, stepping aside to let him in.
"Hey, Linda," Casey replied, trying to match her enthusiasm. "Are your parents around?"
"No, they just stepped out for a bit. You just missed them," Linda said, closing the door behind him. "But you can wait here if you’d like. I’m sure they’ll be back soon."
Casey hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, I guess I can wait."
Linda led him into the living room, and Casey settled into one of the comfortable armchairs. He glanced around the familiar room, noticing the small changes that had been made since his last visit—a new painting on the wall, fresh flowers on the coffee table. It all felt so normal, so refreshing, yet there was an undercurrent of tension in the air.
Linda sat across from him, her posture relaxed, but there was something in her gaze that made Casey feel slightly on edge. They made small talk for a while—discussing work, family, and the latest movies—but as the conversation drifted, Casey couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.
"So, how are things with Barbara?" Linda asked casually, leaning back on the couch.
Casey stiffened slightly at the mention of his wife. "Things are... okay. You know how it is. We’re both busy with work."
Linda raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smirk playing on her lips. "Just okay? You don’t sound too convinced."
Casey shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "It’s just... we’ve been a bit distant lately. But it’s nothing serious. We’ll work through it."
Linda leaned forward, her eyes locking onto his. "You sure about that?"
There was a challenge in her tone, and Casey felt his pulse quicken. He knew Linda had always been bold, unafraid to speak her mind, but this was different. There was a predatory glint in her eyes that made him uneasy.
"Yeah, I’m sure," Casey said, his voice firmer now. "Barbara and I are fine."
Linda tilted her head, studying him for a moment before a slow smile spread across her face. "You know, Casey, I’ve always wondered what it would be like to be with someone like you."
Casey blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in the conversation. "What are you talking about?"
Linda’s smile widened as she moved to sit beside him, her hand lightly brushing against his arm. "Come on, Casey. You’re a smart guy. You know exactly what I’m talking about."
A wave of unease washed over Casey as he realized what was happening. He stood up quickly, putting some distance between them. "Linda, this isn’t funny. You’re Barbara’s sister for goodness sake."
Linda didn’t back down. She stood as well, taking a step closer to him. "And you’re Barbara’s husband. But that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy each other’s company."
Casey’s heart pounded in his chest as he tried to process the situation. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. This was wrong—so very wrong. He loved Barbara. They might be going through a rough patch, but that didn’t mean he would betray her like this.
"I can’t do this," Casey said, his voice strained. "I won’t do this."
Linda’s eyes softened for a moment, and she reached out to touch his hand. "Casey, I’m not asking you to leave Barbara. I’m just saying... why not indulge, just this once? No one has to know."
Her words were a whisper, a tantalizing promise that tugged at the darkest corners of his mind. Casey swallowed hard, his resolve wavering. He had always prided himself on being loyal, on being a good husband, but in this moment, the temptation was almost too much to bear, beholding the standing nipple protruding from her revealing wear.
He closed his eyes, trying to block out the thoughts swirling in his head, but Linda’s presence was overwhelming. She was right there, so close, her hand warm against his skin. He could feel his control slipping, the rational part of his mind fading away as desire took over.
For a moment, time seemed to stand still. The room was silent, save for the sound of their breathing. Casey opened his eyes and found Linda staring up at him, her expression readable. He knew what she wanted—what she was offering—and despite every instinct telling him to walk away, he found himself unable to move.
Linda leaned in, her lips brushing against his ear as she whispered, "No one has to know, Casey. It’s just us."
The last thread of his resistance snapped. Before he knew it, he was pulling her closer, his lips crashing against hers in a desperate, hungry kiss. Linda responded eagerly, her hands sliding up his chest as she pressed herself against him. The world outside ceased to exist. All that mattered was this moment, this stolen moment of forbidden passion.
They stumbled toward the couch, their movements frantic and uncoordinated as they gave in to the desire that had been simmering beneath the surface. Clothes were discarded, and soon they were tangled together on the cushions, lost in each other.
For Casey, it was a blur of sensations—Linda’s soft skin, her breathless moans as her legs are well coordinated spread, the way her fingers dug into his back as they moved together. He knew it was wrong, but in that moment, it didn’t matter. All that mattered was the heat of the moment, the way Linda made him feel—wanted, desired, powerful.
But as the passion subsided and reality set in, a cold wave of guilt washed over him. Casey lay beside Linda, his heart pounding, his mind racing. What had he done? How had he let it come to this?
He sat up, running a hand through his hair as he tried to collect his thoughts. Linda reached out to touch his arm, but he pulled away, unable to meet her gaze.
"Casey?" she murmured, her voice laced with concern. "Are you okay?"
He shook his head, unable to find the words. He felt sick, disgusted with himself. This wasn’t who he was. He wasn’t the kind of man who cheated on his wife, who betrayed the woman he loved.
"I need to go," Casey said abruptly, standing up and reaching for his clothes. He dressed quickly, his movements jerky and rushed.
Linda watched him, her expression a mix of confusion and hurt. "Casey, wait—"
But he didn’t wait. He couldn’t. He needed to get out of there, away from the guilt and shame that threatened to suffocate him. Without another word, he left the house, the door slamming shut behind him.
As he drove away, the weight of what he had done settled heavily on his shoulders. The guilt gnawed at him, a constant reminder of his betrayal. He didn’t know how he was going to face Barbara, how he was going to look her in the eye knowing what he had done.
But one thing was certain: nothing would ever be the same again.
The door creaked open slowly, and Linda's heart skipped a beat. It wasn't meant to be an ordinary late afternoon, but anticipation had settled like a shroud over her parents household. Just as her thoughts spiraled into uncertainty, she saw him—Casey. His presence was like a thunderstorm on a clear day, bringing with it the promise of anticipation."Casey! What a surprise!" Linda attempted cheerfulness, her voice wavering slightly. But the way his dark eyes swept across the living room, scanning each corner as if searching for something unseen, suggested that this visit was anything but benign.He stepped inside briskly, acknowledging her wife Linda with only a faint nod before his attention turned to Barbara and his Inlaw who are seated at the dinner table. “Hey, everyone,” he managed with a forced grin that didn’t touch his eyes. The parents exchanged glances—a moment of shared concern—and then gestured for him to join them.As he settled into his chair, Casey exhaled a sigh heavy e
At that mention, silence fell like death itself in the room. The oppressive atmosphere thickened, heavy with unspoken accusations and tension. Jefferson's face flushed with a blend of ire and disbelief as he stormed out of the police station, leaving a bewildered Linda caught in a storm of his wrath. She stood frozen, emotions swirling within her like a tempest—fear, guilt, but most of all, sheer dread about the man she had always revered and feared in equal measure.As he drove toward home, Jefferson's mind raced with a cocktail of rage and betrayal. How could she? He thought repeatedly, each iteration of the question escalating his fury. Linda had been his pride, the daughter whose name he had seen embossed on trophies and accolades; she was the future of his company, yet here he was, faced with a tragic betrayal that threatened to engulf their lives. Evelyn had sensed the shift in her husband’s demeanor upon hearing the news but dared not voice her concern. The family’s golden appe
Linda left the police station with her heart heavy, cradled like a fragile crystal. The sterile scent of the building lingered with her, mixed with the bitter aftertaste of betrayal. She thought back to the tense faces in the lit interrogation room where accountant Henry had been taken into custody—his eyes pleading, weaving a mixture of guilt and innocence as they darted between the officers and her own unyielding glare. How had it come to this? A simple accounting discrepancy had spiraled into a full-blown investigation Linda assume, throwing their family’s reputation—and Linda's very being—into chaos.As she made her way home, the traffic lights flashes in an incessant rhythm, but she barely noticed. Instead, she was trapped within a lots of thoughts. Each beat of her heart echoed a question: What now? She had a mounting sense of responsibility toward Henry, not just as her trusted right hand accountant but as a friend who had always done her bidding. As he had become the focal poi
The hum of the office buzzed with the muted conversations of detectives and the beeping of printers. Hayes sat at his cluttered desk, sifting through yet another stack of reports relating to petty thefts and neighborhood disputes. He leaned back in his chair, rubbing the bridge of his nose, when the shrill ring of a phone sliced through the ambient noise. It was an incoming call on Hayes’ phone that jolted everyone back to reality.“Hello?” Hayes answered, his voice steady yet curious.“Mr. Hayes, this is the police receptionist. Your attention is needed urgently at the reception room.” The urgency in her voice made Hayes’ heart race. He rose, pushing aside the crumpled papers littering his desk. His colleagues exchanged wary glances, their conversations fading as they instinctively understood the call was not routine. Hayes strode through the busy precinct, mentally running through potential scenarios that could necessitate such urgency.As he approached the reception area, he spotte
The fluorescent lights flickered ominously in the dim interrogation room, a solemn temple of truth where shadows danced on beige walls. The accountant Henry sat hunched over the steel table, his palms sweating against its cold surface, struggling under a barrage of intense scrutiny. Detective Hayes, a seasoned investigator known for his dogged determination, leaned forward, his piercing gaze locked onto Henry’s anxious face. Behind him, two members of his team—Officer Kelly and Sergeant Ramirez—stood ready to catch any trace of deception.“Let’s go over it again, Henry,” Hayes said, his voice calm but with an underlying current of urgency. “You’re saying that Linda directed you to divert funds from Jefferson Company into an unauthorized account. Why would she do that?”Henry swallowed hard, the taste of desperation thick in his throat. “I… I mean, it started small, you know? Just a little at first—”“Just a little, huh?” Hayes interrupted, eyebrow raised. “You don’t embezzle just a li
The evening light streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over the modest living room where Barbara and Ethan sat. An atmosphere of unspoken tension enveloped them, punctuated only by the soft ticking of a wall clock. They had tried discussing their future, but the words hung heavy in the air.Suddenly, Barbara's phone buzzed on the table between them—the screen lighting up with a name that sent chills down Ethan's spine: Casey. He barely concealed his reaction, anger and jealousy intertwining within him like a storm brewing on the horizon. “Do you want me to leave?” he asked quietly, gripping the edge of the sofa as if it were a lifeline.Barbara hesitated, her brow creasing in uncertainty. “No, it’s... it’s okay. Just give me a moment.”She picked up the phone, glancing nervously at Ethan as she swiped to answer. “Hey, Casey.”“Hi, Barbara,” came the voice from the other end, light and breezy, yet with an undertone that could slice through glass. “Just calling to check up