28

Solana

“I know it's not in my place to ask, but I want to know...if you were with a woman throughout last week.” I blurted out without missing a beat, still avoiding his eyes. “You never specified if you'd be... seeing other people while we're married.”

He chuckled, the rich, vibrant sound catching me off-guard, making my face heat up in what? Embarrassment? Timidity? A mix of both, I'd say. “Yes, Solana. I was with a woman throughout last week, but not in the way you think. I'd figured that if we want this relationship to work out well between us, we must be honest with ourselves, and that's exactly what I strive to do from now on.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but the right words failed me. I was confused. “I don't understand.”

“It's pretty simple, dear. Why I stayed away was because I couldn't face you. I felt ashamed of my actions... treating you so... inhumanely. Making you do things you didn't want to.”

I blinked, my face reddening even more. I didn't know what to make out of th