Chapter 15

Richard pov.

Weeks passed, and it was the same thing every time Susan and I went out.

People always found a way to bring up Sarah, to compare them. It was grating on my nerves.

Why did they have to pick on Susan? It wasn't her fault that I didn't love Sarah. If anything, Sarah was the other woman. Susan was the one I'd loved from the start. I stood outside our bedroom door, listening to her muffled cries. We had just come back from another event, and it had happened again.

Someone had called her 'the other woman.' My hands balled into fists. Why couldn't they just let it go?

Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door open. Susan was on the bed, face buried in her hands, her shoulders shaking.

I walked over and sat beside her, reaching out to touch her back.

"Susan," I said softly.

She jerked away from my hand. "Don't," she snapped. Her voice was raw. "You just stood there, Richard. You just watched while they called me the other woman."

I felt a knot in my stomach. "I... I didn't know what to say," I muttered. "You know it's not true. They don't know our story."

She lifted her head, her eyes red and puffy. "But they keep saying it! Every single time!"

She wiped her nose with the back of her hand. "It's like... it's like I'm some kind of villain. And you... you just stand there."

I felt the sting of her words. "That's not fair," I said quietly. "You know it's not fair."

wife. And you say nothing. You just... you just look at them." I sighed, rubbing my

at least tell them it's not true. Tell them that

sharp pain hit my chest. "I do tell them," I said, feeling helpless. "But it doesn't matter

head, tears streaming down her cheeks

mixing in my gut. "I know you're hurting," I said, my voice low. "But... this isn't

you just stand there, all calm and collected, while I get called names. I'm the one who has to listen

inside me. "Susan, I'm trying my best here," I said, my voice rising. "It's not easy for

is being looked at like you're a homewrecker

my hair.

softer this time. "We'll figure it out. I'll talk to them if it happens again. I'll tell them

turning away. "You always

this time," I insisted. "I'll make them see

she nodded, but I could see

whispered. "But next time, if it happens

grow. "I promise,"

wasn't sure if it was a promise I

couldn't keep standing by while people whispered and

that. So I decided to go

good. That's how I ended up sitting across

a view of the whole city, where you can

his drink, looking at me with that calm expression of his. "You wanted to talk. What's

deep breath, then said

that's-" He shook

what people think!" I snapped, louder than

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255