Finding a Happy Ever After

quiet, almost

oors. Everything looked perfect. A successful businessman, a beautiful wife, and two lovely chil

nces could

lling apart, and the woman who had spent years trying to

lammed u

s echoed through the hallway be

lief. Her hands trembled at her sides, and her breathing wa

vi

hildren. The man she had once believ

thing had happened, as though he hadn't jus

you? This is definitely not

turning around. Instead of looking ashamed, he

You have no right to

ey f

expected excuses, perhaps even an argument, but she hadn't expected hi

you even say such a thing to me after I caught you re

hanged, but not in t

e's not

stared

aid, he had chosen to defend the

ips, though there was nothin

're standing here after betraying your wife, and th

twist m

at exactly am I supposed to twist? Should I pretend I didn't see what I sa

jaw ti

his bigger than

ck her harder th

an it nee

She had built a home with him and raised their children beside hi

l moment?" Audrey asked, her voice trembling. "

ay briefly, che

made her feel even

t go to your room. We'l

alk about this later.

, don't

d me? Asking you why the man I married suddenly thinks h

out a frus

on my nerves. I was ver

ps parted i

as a

d his affair, yet somehow he had

asked quietly. "Have you eve

id no

children? Or are you so busy protecting yourself that you've for

children ou

to be reminded that your acti

gh, A

shout made

eyes filling with tears, and searched his face for some s

uld always protect her. She remembered the way he used to make her laugh,

d that m

sured become something he

led down

his chest with her palms, her movements

u even say

wrists briefly, b

fell in love with!" Her voice cracked as s

him to say something-anything-that would reassure h

though she had become a proble

op all this crisi

wly lowere

is d

at he calle

him, making excuses for his absence, his temper, and the growing distance between them. Wh

s stressed be

he nee

ient, the man she loved wou

to have before she finally admitted that sh

that the silence might have give

picked up

ide Audrey qu

hat? I've h

lanced

ould get better, that the man I married was still somewhere inside you. But no." She shook her head, strug

is phone int

ou fin

him as though h

riously ask

have time

small, painful nod. "You never see

ment, she couldn't find the words to continue. She was tired of arguing, tired of crying, and

hts shifted to

and C

nts' problems. They deserved a home where love wasn't just s

haky breath and

y! Ch

diately st

re you

nd called again,

y! Ch

y, ans

re was something different in her expression now. The fear of what might happen

ve done a very, v

at this was no longer an argument he co

ouldn'

held hi

watc

marched toward

lled, following he

idn't

do you think

reached for her arm, att

go of

pped away from him, her

are touch me

ang through

ied to calm their arguments, the one who forgave him when he disappointed he

n her patience

to back down, he seemed unable to recog

now what would happen after this moment, and she wasn'

n't keep living as tho

rcase. Her hands were trembling, and tears still blur

breath and shouted at

harlie, c