Chapter 22- LATE NIGHT LIES

“What was that?” I asked, sitting up straighter. “Ryan?”

“What are you doing?"

The line went silent for a second. Then the call ended abruptly. I stared at my phone, heart beating faster. What just happened? He sounded strange, out of breath, like he was in pain or… something else. I tried calling back, but it went straight to voicemail.

I stood up and started pacing the living room. My mind raced with possibilities. Was he really at the office? Has something happened to him? Or was he hiding something? The house felt too quiet. I checked the time again. 10:47 PM. He never came home this late without telling me.

I walked to the window and looked outside, hoping to see his car lights. Nothing. I sat back down, phone in my hand, waiting.

At the office, Ryan gripped his secretary’s hair tightly as he came hard in her mouth. She swallowed everything, smiling up at him with satisfied eyes. She wiped her lips with the back of her hand and stood up slowly.

Ryan zipped up his pants, breathing heavily. He grabbed his bag without looking at her much. “Clean up and go home,” he said. “We’ll talk about the promotion later.”

She smiled, satisfied. Ryan left the office quickly, feeling a strange mix of guilt and relief. The drive home was quiet. He kept thinking about Bella waiting for him and the lie he would have to tell.

I heard the car pull into the driveway. I quickly went inside and waited on the couch, heart pounding. When Ryan opened the door, I stood up immediately.

“Where have you been?” I asked, voice sharp. “It’s almost 11. You said you were at the office.”

Ryan closed the door behind him, looking tired. “I was at the office. Some urgent work came up. I told you that on the phone.”

“You sounded weird on the call,” I said, stepping closer. “Breathing heavy. Then you hung up on me. What were you doing, Ryan?”

He sighed and rubbed his face. “Bella, I’m exhausted. I was just sorting out some files. Nothing serious.”

I didn’t believe him. “Sorting files? You were groaning on the phone. Tell me the truth. Were you with someone?”

Ryan’s eyes narrowed. “What are you accusing me of now? I was working. Unlike you, who spends all day making videos and meeting your trainer.”

The words stung. “This isn’t about me. You came home late and sounded strange. I have a right to ask.”

He walked past me toward the stairs. “I don’t have energy for this tonight. I’m going to bed.”

I followed him. “Ryan, talk to me. You’ve been distant for weeks. Now you’re coming home late and acting like this. What’s going on?”

He stopped at the bottom of the stairs and turned to me. “Nothing is going on. I’m tired from work. You’re the one who’s always hiding things with your trainer. Maybe you should ask yourself that question.”

I felt tears coming. “I’m not hiding anything. I’m trying to get in shape like you wanted. But you treat me like I’m disgusting. You don’t touch me. You don’t even want me in the same bed.”

Ryan’s face hardened. “Because you’ve let yourself go. Look at you. Always complaining. I work hard to provide and you can’t even keep the house nice or yourself attractive.”

The argument grew louder. We stood in the hallway, voices rising. Ryan looked exhausted, eyes red, shirt wrinkled. He finally had enough.

“I’m done with this,” he said. “I’m going to bed. Think whatever you want.”

He climbed the stairs without another word, still in his work clothes. He didn’t even shower. He just collapsed on the bed and turned away from my side.

I stood at the bottom of the stairs for a long time, tears running down my face. The house felt colder than ever. I went to the living room and lay on the couch again, the same place I had been sleeping lately. My mind wouldn’t stop. The call. The late night. The way he avoided my questions.

Something was wrong. And I was scared to find out what it was.