Hidden Secrets

Gwen slipped Sienna’s phone into her pocket and turned to look at Jeff, who was snoring soundly beside her. Curiosity gnawed at her. What kind of woman was this Ivy, anyway, to make Jeff completely write off his own wife?

Slowly, she reached for Jeff’s phone, only to pause mid-motion. 'Right, as if a guy running around with a mistress wouldn't password-protect his phone,' Gwen grumbled to herself.

Jeff’s snoring was deafening. It grated on her nerves, drawing an inevitable comparison to sleeping beside Hans. Hans always slept on his side, his breathing soft, even, and calm. Jeff, on the other hand, sprawled flat on his back, mouth agape, letting out raspy, thunderous snores.

'I wonder what those two are up to tonight ...' Gwen mused, her thoughts drifting back to Sienna and Hans. 

A sudden pang of jealousy hit her, leaving her throat feeling parched. Stepping out of the bedroom, she headed toward the kitchen to grab a glass of water.

As she passed Susan’s room, muffled voices caught her attention. Curious as to why anyone would still be up talking past midnight, Gwen pressed her ear against the cool wood of the door.

"Mom, why is Sienna acting so weird lately? Do you think her memory’s coming back? But even if it were, she wouldn't be behaving like this, would she?" 

It was Trina's voice. Gwen froze, leaning in closer. 'Wait a second... Sienna has amnesia?'

"I don't think her memory's back yet. She’s probably just restless, which is why she’s been acting out since yesterday. We still need to stay on our toes, though. We can't let her regain her memory. As long as she stays an amnesiac, we get to keep living like royalty!" Susan let out a wicked little snicker.

Gwen’s brows furrowed deep. Sienna ... lost her memory? 'What on earth? Amnesia?' And why were her mother-in-law and sister-in-law practically celebrating it? What kind of dark secret were they hiding? 

Startled by the revelation, Gwen stepped back—only to elbow a delicate vase sitting on a side table near the door. 

Clatter!

"What was that, Mom?" Trina's voice spiked with panic.

Gwen bolted behind the long sofa in the living room, shrinking into the shadows. The bedroom door creaked open, followed closely by the soft meow of Trina's cat.

"Oh, for heaven's sake, Vania! What are you doing creeping around at this hour? Are you hungry? That was an expensive vase, you know!" Trina snapped at her cat in frustration.

Gwen let out a long, silent breath, clutching her chest. Thank goodness Trina blamed the broken vase on the cat.

"What happened?" Susan asked, stepping out behind her daughter.

"Vania knocked over the vase. Instead of sleeping, she’s prowling around breaking things!" Trina grumbled.

"Alright, just go back to bed. Let Sienna clean up the mess in the morning," Susan instructed casually.

Trina let out a wide yawn and ambled back to her bedroom. 

"Ugh, stupid cat," Susan muttered under her breath, shutting her door.

Gwen slunk down against the back of the sofa, letting out a heavy sigh of relief. Vania had unknowingly saved her neck. She resolved to sweep up the broken porcelain first thing in the morning, considering she was the real culprit anyway.

Once she was certain both women were fast asleep, Gwen tiptoed into the kitchen adjacent to the dining area. Her thirst had only worsened after stumbling onto Sienna’s past.

Sienna was a relative newcomer to the neighborhood, having moved into the grand estate previously owned by the wealthy Jayahadi family. After the old patriarch passed away, his family sold the property to Sienna's folks and relocated to another city. Sienna had lived here for three years now.

'So who is Sienna, really? And for that matter, who am I living as right now?' Gwen thought, pouring herself a glass of water. 'She’s harboring some massive secret, and her husband’s family is intentionally keeping her in the dark while exploiting her? Does Jeff know about her amnesia too?' The web of mysteries surrounding Sienna seemed to tangle tighter by the second.

Gwen tiptoed back to the master bedroom, careful not to make a sound that might tip off Susan or Trina. 

Once inside, sleep was out of the question. Gwen paced the floor like a caged animal. She checked Sienna’s dresser drawers again, but found nothing beyond jewelry, a marriage certificate, and a bank passbook. There were no land deeds, no tax documents, not even a high school diploma. 

Frustrated at having uncovered only a crumb of the truth, Gwen eventually collapsed onto the single armchair. There was no way she could sleep on the bed with Jeff snoring like a foghorn.

The next morning, Jeff shook her awake. "Why are you sleeping on the armchair?" he demanded, frowning.

Gwen stretched lazily, let out a slow yawn, and fluttered her eyes closed again.

Jeff’s scowl deepened. "Why are you still lazing around? Morning prayer time has already passed. Are you not praying? Or is it your period of the month?" 

"Mm-hmm, it's that period of the month," Gwen lied smoothly, seizing the excuse he had so handily offered. "That's why I slept on the armchair. I didn't want to mess up the mattress and make you grossed out."

"Hmm, fine," Jeff grunted. "Get up and cook breakfast."

Gwen yawned again, opening one eye. "I don't feel like cooking."

"Mom and Trina are going to nag me all day, and I don't need that headache," Jeff said, his voice dropping into a lower, persuasive tone. He was generally tolerable to his wife as long as she obeyed his orders and didn't pry into his extramarital affairs.

"I'll just order takeout. It's not like I'm short on cash," Gwen replied nonchalantly.

Jeff let out a heavy sigh. "Fine, do whatever you want. Just don't let me hear Mom or Trina complaining. You know I'm always patient with you, Sienna."

'Patient? Please,' Gwen mocked internally. 'Sienna's the one exercising saintly patience dealing with a cheating husband!' She paused, surprised at herself. 'Wait, did I just take Sienna's side?'

"I'm heading to the factory today. It's been a while since I checked on things there, and I need to audit the finance department," Jeff announced.

The factory? What factory? Oh, right! Gwen suddenly recalled. Jeff owned the manufacturing plant for Liniu gas stoves—a popular two-burner model known for its high-heat output that cooked meals in half the time.

"I'm coming with you, Jeff!"

"Where?"

"To the factory."

Jeff frowned sharply. "Why would you do that?"

"Because I want to see our factory!" Gwen retorted.

"No. Absolutely not," Jeff shot down instantly.

Now it was Gwen’s turn to narrow her eyes. "Why? Does Ivy work at the factory?"

The lines on Jeff’s forehead deepened. "What are you talking about? As if I’d ever let Ivy work! She’s a delicate, gorgeous woman. I’d never make her work a day in her life!"

"Does that include kitchen duty? Cooking, washing dishes, and scrubbing the house?" Gwen pressed.

"Of course!"

"Jeff, why don't you treat me the same way you treat Ivy? I'm your legal wife!"

"Because I don't love you, Sienna! I only love Ivy!"

Gwen opened her mouth to ask how he could have married Sienna while being in love with someone else, but she stopped harmlessly. Pushing too hard would only raise his suspicion. Instead, she turned around and climbed into the plush king-sized bed.

"Just make sure you don't step foot near the factory, got it?" Jeff warned, his tone laced with a sharp edge.

"Whatever," Gwen muttered. But internally, her curiosity flared. Why was he so adamantly against her visiting the factory? What was he hiding there? Ivy wasn't there, so what was the big deal about a wife visiting her husband's company?

Gwen drifted back to sleep to the sound of running water from the bathroom. By the time she woke up again, Jeff had already left without saying goodbye.

"Jeff, where is Sienna anyway? Why has she turned into such a lazy bum lately?" Trina's whining voice drifted up from the living room.

"Shh, she's still asleep. Leave her be, it's better than having her insist on coming to the factory with me," Jeff replied in a hushed voice. "Keep an eye on her while I'm gone. Make sure she doesn't try to sneak after me. It's not like her to poke her nose into our business."

In the bedroom, Gwen’s eyes snapped open, her ears perking up at every word.

'Why was Jeff so desperate to keep her away from that factory? What secrets were buried there?'

Gwen’s mind raced as the mystery deepened.