Elena's hand trembled as she inserted the key into the lock of her shared apartment with Eddie. The July heat was stifling, but it wasn't just the weather making her perspire. She paused, taking a deep breath to steady herself before pushing the door open.
"Eddie?" she called out, her voice barely above a whisper.
The living room was empty, but she could hear movement coming from their bedroom. Her heart raced as she slowly made herway down the hallway.
Eddie appeared in the doorway, his golden hair tousled from sleep, his eyes red-rimmed. "Where have you been?" he asked, his voice hoarse. "I've been calling you all night."
Elena's mouth went dry. "I... I needed some time to think," she managed to say, avoiding his gaze.
Eddie stepped closer, his brow furrowed with concern. "Think about what? Elena, what's going on? We have the florist appointment in a few hours for the engagement party."
The mention of their upcoming engagement party, now just two weeks away, made Elena's stomach churn with guilt. She could smell the faint scent of whiskey on Eddie's breath. Had he been drinking all night?
"We need to talk," Elena said, finally meeting his eyes. "About Rose."
Eddie's face fell, a mix of shame and resignation washing over his features. "I thought we were past that," he said quietly. "I told you, it was a mistake. I was drunk, and she—"
"She what, Eddie?" Elena interrupted, her voice rising. "She just happened to be at the same bar? She just happened to get you so drunk you forgot about your fiancée?"
Eddie ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in his posture. "It wasn't like that! You know Rose and I have history. She was upset about her family's situation, and I... I was weak. But it meant nothing, Elena. Nothing!"
Elena turned away, tears stinging her eyes. "How am I supposed to believe that? How am I supposed to trust you? We're supposed to be celebrating our engagement in two weeks, and then moving to Boston next month. How can we do that when I don't even know if I can trust you?"
There was a moment of heavy silence before Eddie spoke again, his voice soft and pleading. "Because I love you, Elena. More than anything. What happened with Rose was a terrible mistake, but it made me realize how much I can't bear to lose you."
He moved closer, gently turning her to face him. "Please, give me another chance. We have our whole future ahead of us – the engagement party, the move to Boston. I promise you, I'll spend every day making it up to you."
Elena's mind raced. The weight of her own transgression with Alfie pressed heavily on her conscience. How could she condemn Eddie when she had done the same thing just hours ago?
"I don't know if I can," she whispered, tears spilling down her cheeks.
Eddie's face crumpled. He cupped her face in his hands,"Elena, please. I'll do anything. What can I do to make this right?"
Elena closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. When she opened them, she saw the genuine remorse in Eddie's gaze. Despite everything, she still loved him. And the thought of losing the future they had planned together – the engagement, their studies in Boston – Of course, the help from his family is also a consideration,was too painful to bear.
"Okay," she said softly. "We'll try. But things need to change, Eddie. We can't go on like this."
Relief washed over Eddie's face. He pulled her into a tight embrace, burying his face in her hair. "Thank you," he murmured. "I promise, I'll make it up to you. We'll make this engagement party perfect, and then we'll start fresh in Boston. Just you and me."
His lips kissed her lips, tightly embracing her in his arms. As the kiss deepened, his hands began to become unruly. After being together for so many years, he was well aware of how to arouse her desire.
Elena wanted to immerse herself passionately in the heat of the moment with him, and she began to kiss Eddie back enthusiastically. But as Eddie's agile tongue began to invade her ear, a noisy voice started ringing in her head. she tried to ignore the nagging voice in the back of her mind. The voice that whispered of Alfie's touch, of the passion she had experienced in his arms,his kiss was domineering, and the unique cologne scent on his body. She tried to ignore the voice, but failed, and the smell of whisky on Eddy's body began to make her feel disgusted.
"We should start getting ready," she said, pulling away from him. "We have the florist appointment, and then we need to finalize the guest list for the engagement party."
Eddie nodded, a tentative smile on his face. "You're right. A new beginning starts now."
As they began to discuss their plans for the engagement party, Elena's phone buzzed in her pocket. She ignored it, knowing without looking that it was Alfie. She had made her choice. She would bury the memory of their night together and focus on rebuilding her relationship with Eddie.
However, as she listened to Eddie excitedly talk about their upcoming celebrations and their future in Boston, she smiled and nodded, but a small part of her couldn't help but question whether her decision was right. "Why can Eddie act as if nothing has happened?" she thought silently, as she began to doubt Eddie's true meaning to her. Coming from a wealthy and academically successful family, she seemed to be the brightest cufflink on his suit; he could not bear to lose it, but if it became worn, it did not seem to be a big deal.
At this moment, Alfie's face surfaced in her mind again. He looked at her so intently. When he kissed her, it was domineering yet passionate. "If it were Alfie, how would he be?" she silently asked herself in her heart.