My hands had been trembling since earlier, a telltale sign of the unease that had settled within me.
I couldn't ignore the gnawing suspicion that had taken root in my mind.
It was a suspicion that had grown with each passing moment, casting a shadow over the facade of normalcy that had defined our lives.
In an attempt to calm my racing thoughts, I reached for my cell phone, its cool surface a comforting anchor in the midst of my turmoil.
The screen lit up, displaying a myriad of missed calls and unread messages, a reflection of the chaos that had overtaken my inner world.
I hesitated, unsure of whether to proceed with my plan.
Should I call my best friend, Denise?? , and share my nagging suspicion, or should I push it aside and pretend that everything was fine?
The decision weighed heavily on me, like a pendulum swinging between truth and denial.
Having returned home from a day of shopping, I found myself in my room, seeking solace and refuge from the storm of emotions that threatened to consume me.
The room, with its familiar furnishings and comforting ambiance, had always been a sanctuary, a place where I could retreat and gather my thoughts.
After much deliberation, I finally decided to call Denise.
She had been my best friend since childhood, a bond that had weathered the storms of life and grown stronger with time.
Yet, as I pressed the call button, doubts gnawed at me.
While Denise had always been there for me, I couldn't be certain of Erwin's relationship with her. They had been childhood enemies, and I couldn't decipher if they had become friends or if old rivalries lingered.
Denise Fonte, a courageous woman in her own right, had been my protector alongside Erwin when we were young.
She was both a sister and a friend to me long before I met Erwin.
Now, as I tried to reach out to her, my calls went unanswered, and I wondered if her busy life as an obstetrician-gynecologist had taken her away from her phone.
My intention had been to discuss my suspicion with her, to seek her advice and perhaps a medical opinion, but it seemed that fate had other plans.
I had refrained from scheduling a meeting, thinking that she had a hectic day ahead.
After numerous attempts to reach her, I reluctantly set my cell phone aside, hoping that she would notice my missed calls and return them once her work allowed.
The uncertainty gnawed at me, but I had no choice but to wait.
With a deep breath, I made my way downstairs to prepare my lunch, my stomach rumbling at the thought of the strawberries I had purchased earlier.
It was a simple meal, yet the anticipation of savoring those succulent fruits provided a temporary distraction from the turmoil in my heart.
As I prepared my meal, I couldn't help but steal glances at my phone, a silent prayer in my heart that Denise might call me back.
My mind was too preoccupied to cook any elaborate dishes,..my hunger was singularly focused on the sweet taste of strawberries.
Instead of consuming the strawberries raw, I decided to bake them, allowing their natural flavors to intensify and meld with the sweetness of the cake.
The aroma that filled the kitchen was intoxicating, a tantalizing promise of the culinary delight that awaited me.
When my meal was finally prepared, I couldn't contain my excitement.
I sat down at the table, my mouth watering as I beheld the strawberry cake and shake that I had crafted.
I took a bite of the cake, the flavors exploding on my taste buds, and I couldn't help but exclaim,
"Wow! This is probably the best cake I've ever tasted."
My impulse was to indulge further, so I left the cake outside the fridge, preferring the taste of freshly baked goodness.
Yet, my culinary journey was far from over. I craved more, and with that, I decided to prepare a strawberry shake to complete my strawberry-themed meal.
As I surveyed the table, the satisfaction of my culinary creations washed over me.
It was a perfect combination, a symphony of flavors that brought solace to my troubled soul.
I couldn't resist the urge to capture this moment, so I reached for my phone and snapped a picture of my lunch, posting it on my Instagram account with the caption,
"Strawberry meals for lunch đŸ˜˜đŸ˜˜."
I savored every bite, relishing the fact that, for the first time in a long while, I had truly enjoyed the food I had prepared.
It was a fleeting moment of contentment amid the uncertainty that loomed over my marriage.
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Meanwhile, in a distant office, a phone vibrated, interrupting a conference meeting.
The speaker, engrossed in presenting monthly market sales, fell silent as the vibrations resonated through the room.
All eyes turned to the phone, a curious hush falling over the attendees.
The boss, Victor, picked up the vibrating phone, his face a mixture of surprise and curiosity.
The room watched with bated breath, unsure of what had caused this interruption in the midst of business proceedings.
The phone vibrated again, and Victor's attention shifted to the message that had just arrived.
It was a notification from RinaSy_09's Instagram account.
He opened the post and beheld a picture of a strawberry cake and shake, posted by Rina.
A rare smile crept across Victor's face as he admired the delectable creations.
The sudden change in his demeanor caught the attendees off guard, some finding it eerie, while others speculated that perhaps his girlfriend had sent him a message.
The secretary, Lucas, who knew more than most about Victor's personal life, observed this shift with a shake of his head.
He had seen his boss's mood sour earlier that morning, but now, Victor seemed unusually cheerful.
Unbeknownst to his colleagues, Victor's good mood was a result of the Instagram post, and his thoughts had momentarily strayed from business matters.
His mind had drifted to the evening ahead, and he couldn't help but feel excited.
In the back of his mind, Lucas felt a pang of sympathy for Rina, who remained unaware of the current situation.
He understood the complexities of Victor's situation, torn between loyalty to his girlfriend, Helena, and his commitment to Rina.
As the meeting continued, Lucas couldn't shake the feeling that Victor's newfound happiness would result in a heavier workload for him.
He knew that Victor would likely spend the evening with Helena, oblivious to the pain he was causing Rina.
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Hours passed, and Lucas worst fears were realized as Victor assigned him a mountain of pending tasks after the meeting, including work that needed to be completed for the following day.
The workload was overwhelming, and it was already 7:00 pm, leaving Lucas on the verge of tears.
As Victor made his preparations to leave the office, Lucas, his secretary, couldn't help but observe his boss closely.
What caught his attention was the conspicuously large bag Victor was carrying, not the usual attire for a typical day at the office.
With an air of surprise, Lucas watched as Victor began placing some of his clothes on the hooks in the office, an unusual sight that piqued his curiosity.
He had never seen his boss behave in such a manner before, and it raised questions he dared not voice.
Victor, attuned to Lucas's lingering gaze, turned to face his secretary with a raised eyebrow.
There was a subtle tension in the air as Lucas grappled with whether or not to address his boss's peculiar actions.
"What are you looking at, Lucas?" Victor inquired, his tone betraying a hint of impatience.
"Do you have any concerns about the work I've assigned you for tonight?"
Lucas hesitated, carefully choosing his words. "Nothing of concern, boss," he replied cautiously.
"I just hope you enjoy wherever you're going, and please take care."
Victor nodded in response to Lucas's words, offering a curt acknowledgment of his well-wishes.
"Make sure to finish all the work tonight. Goodbye," he said as he departed, carrying his oversized bag.
Left alone in the office, Lucas couldn't shake the sense of unease that had settled over him. The mystery of Victor's intentions, his abrupt departure, and the enigmatic bag weighed on his mind.
Inwardly, Lucas contemplated the possibilities.
Could it be that Victor was merely an insatiable workaholic, intending to spend the night at the office?
Or was there a deeper reason behind his actions, a desire to avoid returning home to his wife, Rina?
As Lucas pondered these questions, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of pity for Rina.
Her situation, unbeknownst to most, was undeniably pitiful.
She lived in the shadow of her husband's secrets, unaware of the complexities that threatened their marriage, completely unaware of the contract marriage of Rina and his boss.
In that moment, Lucas couldn't help but wonder if Victor's pursuit of happiness would ultimately come at the expense of Rina's well-being, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of sorrow for the woman caught in the crossfire of her husband's hidden life.