Daniel finally understood he was screwed. As the silence stretched, Marianne realized she couldn’t stay submerged much longer.
The need for air and the weight of their deceit pressed down on her.
She emerged from the water, gasping. The truth about the affair was now undeniable. As she struggled for breath, Marianne looked from Daniel to Elise, thinking about an excuse.
Despite already figuring out the truth, Elise’s tears surfaced.
The betrayal was just too poignant. “How long, Daniel?” she whispered.
Daniel tried to blame Marianne for seducing him, but it was a defense that sounded feeble even to him. “Seduced?
You’re my husband. How could you?” Elise shook her head.
“Elise, it wasn’t like that. Daniel, he—he was the one who came onto me first,” Marianne chimed in.
Elise’s anger only grew at her friend’s audacity. How dare you?
My best friend, betraying me like this?” she snapped, trying to sound strong. “I can’t even look at either of you right now.
Get out. Get out of my house!”
Daniel and Marianne wrapped their bodies in towels and began collecting their things while Elise watched them, her heart broken yet her resolve firm. They took too long in her opinion.
It was time to teach them a swift lesson.
“Leave! Now! And don’t bother getting dressed.
Let the world see the shame you’ve brought onto yourselves!” she commanded, and her eyes told them not to mess with her.
Once alone, the sorrow took over Elise’s body, threatening to destroy her. Yet amidst the pain, a spark of resilience ignited.
She began to reclaim her space, packing away reminders of her soon-to-be ex-husband and her ex-best friend.
She decided to cut them out of her life for good, metaphorically and physically. “I am more than this betrayal,” Elise affirmed in front of the mirror after finishing her purge.
Grabbing her bags, she headed to the airport, but instead of a business trip, she headed to her mother’s house, where comfort and support would help her close this painful chapter of her life.
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