The night was calm, a soft breeze weaving through the open windows of their home. Daniel sat on the couch, a cup of coffee in hand, watching the steam rise and disappear into the cool air. The atmosphere was soothing—the kind of night that would usually bring them closer. But there was an unspoken tension hanging between them, a distance that had grown since the honeymoon. He could feel it in every glance, every silence that stretched too long.
He broke the quiet with a question that had been weighing on him for months.
"I think something is bothering you, Anna," Daniel said, his voice gentle but firm. "It's been three months since the wedding, and even on our honeymoon... it felt like you were lost. I don't know what it is, but you should trust me. We're partners, aren't we?"
Anna looked up, startled by his words. She hadn't expected him to confront her so openly. The warmth in his voice, the way he looked at her with concern and love, only made her guilt rise to the surface. She opened her mouth to respond but found herself lost in the flood of emotions she'd been trying to bury.
"Daniel, I..." she started, but the words stuck in her throat. Silence filled the room once again, heavy and suffocating.
After a few moments, Anna cleared her throat and forced a smile, attempting to shift the conversation. "Do you like kids?" she asked, her voice casual, as if nothing was wrong.
Daniel blinked, taken aback by the sudden change of topic. His surprise gave way to a teasing smile as he leaned forward, his eyes searching hers. "Do you want one?" he asked, a playful lilt in his voice, though his gaze was filled with curiosity.
Anna's cheeks flushed at his question, and she turned her face away slightly. "Of course, I love kids. Who in this world doesn't? They're so cute," she replied, her voice quieter now. She stood abruptly and kissed him on the cheek, a quick gesture before pulling away.
"I'm heading out for a bit," she said, her tone casual, but Daniel could hear the underlying tension in her voice.
"Where are you going?" he asked, his brows furrowing in concern, but the question was met with silence. Anna was already gone, the door clicking shut behind her.
---
The streets were dimly lit as Anna drove through the quiet evening, her mind racing. She reached for her phone and dialed Alia's number, her best friend and confidante.
"Where are you?" Anna asked, her voice tight.
"I'm already here, at The Shield Bar," Alia replied. "Waiting for you."
"Okay, I'm on my way."
As Anna approached the bar, the vibrant glow of neon lights came into view, and the hum of music and laughter grew louder. It was a place of life and energy, a sharp contrast to the heaviness she felt inside. She parked her car and made her way in, the atmosphere bustling around her as she and Alia found their way to a VIP area where they could talk in private.
Alia greeted her with a warm hug. "It's been too long! When did you get back from Africa?" Anna asked, pulling her close.
"I just arrived last week," Alia replied, smiling broadly. They sat down, ordering drinks, and the conversation flowed easily, filled with laughter and shared memories.
But soon, the lightness of their reunion gave way to the serious matters that had brought Anna to meet Alia tonight.
"So... what I heard was true?" Alia asked, her expression turning serious.
Anna nodded, her eyes dimming. "Yeah. I'm still looking for proof. Sooner or later, I'll get to the bottom of this."
"Have you told Daniel about any of it?" Alia's voice was cautious, her eyes studying Anna closely.
"No," Anna whispered, taking a deep breath. "I haven't."
"But why?" Alia pressed gently. "He's your husband now. Don't you trust him with this?"
Anna hesitated, her mind torn between love and suspicion. "I don't know... I guess I don't fully trust him with this. Not when it's about his father."
Alia's face softened with concern. "Anna, this could ruin your relationship with Daniel. He loves you so much. You have to trust him—he'll understand. And you know I'm always here with you."
Anna sighed heavily, her hands trembling slightly as she took a sip of her drink. The memories she had worked so hard to suppress began to bubble to the surface. She leaned forward, resting her head against the cool surface of the table, the past creeping in like a cold shadow.
"It wasn't that long ago," Anna began, her voice hollow as she stared at her reflection in the glass. "I can still see my father's body lying on the floor, lifeless... the cruelty of his killer right in front of me."
Her voice shook with the weight of the memory. "I was the one who told the police to lie, to say no one saw what happened. I had to protect my mother. She couldn't handle it. But when I found my father's old diary, I learned the truth. It wasn't just a simple murder. It was a family feud that had been going on for generations."
Alia listened quietly, her heart aching for her friend.
"My father and mother were in love, but their families—Daniel's father—tore them apart. It was all about revenge. And now... now Daniel and I are caught in the middle of that same history. I loved him from the time we were kids, Alia, but..." Her voice cracked, and her eyes filled with tears. "How can I be with him and keep this secret? How can I love him and still seek revenge against his father?"
Alia reached across the table, placing a comforting hand on Anna's. "Anna, you don't have to carry this burden alone. You have to decide what matters more—your love for Daniel or this revenge. But whatever you choose, you need to talk to him. Keeping this secret will destroy both of you."
Anna nodded, though her heart was still heavy with uncertainty. The weight of her past, the pain of betrayal, and the love she still felt for Daniel all tangled together, leaving her lost in a storm of emotions.
They sat in silence for a moment, the bustling noise of the bar fading into the background. The lights overhead glowed softly, casting shadows across their faces. Anna closed her eyes, remembering the last moment she had seen her father alive, the warmth of his smile before it was taken away forever.
"I can't lose Daniel," she whispered to herself. "But I don't know if I can forgive his father either."
Alia squeezed her hand, her voice gentle. "You'll figure it out, Anna. But don't wait too long. Time has a way of making things worse if you let it."
Anna nodded, her heart heavy with the weight of decisions she wasn't ready to make. As they left the bar, the cold night air wrapped around her, a reminder that the path ahead was far from clear.
But one thing was certain—she couldn't keep running from the truth forever. Sooner or later, the past would catch up with her, and she would have to choose between the love she had always wanted and the justice she felt she owed her father.