Just then, the front door creaked open. David walked in, looking as sharp as ever in his suit, but with that tired slump to his shoulders that I’ve gotten used to. He tossed his briefcase near the door and loosened his tie. The sight of him used to make my heart skip a beat, but lately, it’s been more like a pang of longing for the old days. “Hey, Pen. Derrick,” he said, a small smile lifting his features. “Daddy!” Derrick shouted, running over to him. David scooped him up, spinning him around like he did every evening. “How was your day?” I asked, trying to keep the hope out of my voice. Maybe today he wouldn’t have to rush off to some work thing. “Good news, actually,” David said, his eyes lighting up as he removed a card from his pocket. “Laura’s throwing a birthday party this Friday, and she’s invited her top employees and their partners. Here’s our invite to her mansion.” My heart did a little flip. This could be fun, a chance to spend some quality time together. “A party? At a mansion? That sounds wonderful. We’ll need to find a babysitter for Derrick.” “Already thought of that. Maria said she could watch him,” David replied, kissing me on the cheek. “It’ll be great, Pen. You’ll finally get to see a bit of my world.” I smiled up at him, never imagining the devastation I’d face at the party. Friday evening arrived, and I found myself standing in front of Laura’s mansion with David. And when I say mansion, I mean mansion. This place was straight out of a fairy tale, with grand pillars, perfectly manicured gardens, and lights that made the whole place glow like a palace. There were even topiary animals lining the drive that were bigger than our car! I leaned over to David, whispering, “I’ve never been in a house like this before…” “Me neither,” he said, his eyes wide. We handed our coats to a butler—an actual butler. Can you believe it? As I took in the opulent surroundings, a sudden realization hit me. I’d promised to check in with Maria once we arrived. I removed my phone from my clutch, but soon realized the battery was dead. I turned to David, holding out my hand. “Can I borrow your phone? I need to check in with Maria about Derrick.” “Sure,” he said, handing it over without a second thought.I looked down at the screen and froze when I saw it was already connected to the Wi-Fi—”Laura’s Mansion.” My stomach did a little flip, but not in a good way. Why was his phone already connected? He said he’d never been to a place like this before. Why would David lie about that? “Everything okay?” David asked, his brow furrowing. “Yeah, just…this place is incredible,” I replied, forcing a smile. I shoved the unease aside and tried to focus on enjoying the evening. The party was in full swing, but my discomfort grew with each passing minute. David was off mingling, leaving me to wander on my own. I was near the buffet table when I overheard Laura’s husband, Mark, talking to someone. “I’ll be in Tokyo all next week. Laura’s got the place to herself,” Mark said, laughing. I felt a chill run down my spine. Trying to shake it off, I found David and some of his colleagues. He was mid-conversation, laughing about something. “So, starting tomorrow, I’ll be working late,” he said. “Got a big project coming up.” My mind raced. Could this be a coincidence? The uneasy feeling was back, stronger this time. I looked around the room, my eyes finally landing on Laura. She was beautiful, confident, and surrounded by people hanging on her every word. David noticed my distant look. “Penelope, you okay?” “Yeah, just… thinking,” I muttered. But my mind was already racing, connecting dots and forming suspicions I wasn’t ready to face yet. “Looks more like worrying,” David replied. “Relax, Pen. Let me fetch you another drink.” I watched David walk away. There was no way I could relax, not until I knew why David had lied to me and why his remarks about working late had taken on such a sinister edge. I needed answers. The next day, my heart was pounding like a drum as I dropped Derrick off at school. He waved goodbye, his little face lighting up with a smile that made my heart ache even more. How could I let this shadow loom over our family? I had to know the truth. I drove to David’s office, every mile feeling like an eternity. When I finally arrived, I took a deep breath and walked inside. The receptionist looked up with a polite smile. “Hi, is David in? I need to give him something,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. She frowned slightly. “David? Oh, he left early today. Said he had a personal matter to attend to.” My heart sank. I pulled out my phone and dialed his number, my hands trembling. “Hey, Pen,” David answered, sounding distracted. “Hey, where are you? I thought I’d bring you lunch,” I said, forcing cheerfulness into my voice. “I’m at the office, just buried in work,” he replied smoothly. “Sorry, but I won’t have time for lunch today.” My stomach twisted with anger and fear. “Okay. Another day then. Love you.” “Love you too,” he said, and I hung up, the lie hanging in the air like a dark cloud. He was lying again. Fueled by a mix of dread and resolve, I drove to the one place I felt certain I’d find my husband: Laura’s mansion. My thoughts raced, a torrent of fears and suspicions. When I reached the house, I felt a surge of adrenaline. I had to know. I knocked on the door, and Laura answered, her eyes widening in surprise. “Penelope? What are you doing here?” “I need to see David,” I said, my voice steely. “David? He’s not here,” she stammered, trying to block my way. Ignoring her, I pushed past and stormed into the house. Laura’s protests faded into the background as I made my way to the bedroom, driven by a gut feeling I couldn’t ignore. I flung open the closet door and there he was, hiding like a coward. “David?” My voice cracked with a mix of fury and heartbreak. David stepped out, guilt written all over his face. “Penelope, I can explain.” “Explain? You’ve been lying to me!” I shouted, my voice echoing through the lavish room. Laura tried to intervene, stepping forward with her hands raised. “Penelope, please—” “Stay out of this!” I snapped, my glare silencing her. I turned back to David, my hands trembling with rage. “How long has this been going on?” David stammered, “It wasn’t supposed to—” “Save it.” My voice was cold, each word like a dagger. “We’re done.” I walked out, my heart shattering with every step. The drive home was a blur, tears streaming down my face. How could he do this to us? To Derrick? Back home, I felt a mix of pain and relief. I called a lawyer and began the painful process of filing for divorce. Derrick needed me to be strong, and I couldn’t let this break us. Maria came over that evening, her presence a comforting balm to my shattered heart. “Pen, I’m so sorry,” she said, pulling me into a hug. I leaned into her, my tears soaking her shoulder. “I don’t know how to do this, Maria. How do I move on?” “One step at a time,” she said softly. “You’re stronger than you think.” I started therapy, determined to heal and rebuild my life. Every day was a struggle, but I focused on Derrick, making sure he felt loved and secure. One evening, as I tucked him into bed, he looked up at me with those big, innocent eyes. “Mommy, are you okay?” I smiled through my tears. “Yes, darling. We’re going to be just fine.” I kissed his forehead, knowing that despite the heartache, I had found my strength. I was ready to start anew, for Derrick and myself.
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