Chapter 5 – One Last Hope

Eleanor’s heart was heavy after finding the letters. She could no longer deny it. Her husband had not only hidden a daughter. He had not only lied about tours. He had women in the shadows. Promises made to strangers. Money given to others. And silence given to her.

For two nights she could not sleep. She sat in the dark, holding her chest, whispering, “Why, Victor? Why did you do this to me? Was I never enough? Was my love nothing to you?” Her tears fell until her eyes were swollen.

On the third night, she decided she would not cry anymore. She would speak. She would ask. She would demand the truth.

When Victor walked in, Eleanor placed the letters in front of him again. Her voice was calm, but her eyes burned with pain. She said, “Victor, this cannot go on. You cannot keep lying to me. You cannot keep living two lives. I am your wife. I gave you my years. I gave you my love. If you want me to stay, you must change. You must respect me. You must stop this now.”

Victor looked at her for a long time. For once, he did not shout. He did not grab the papers. He only sighed and said, “I will try.”

Her voice shook, “No, Victor. Do not say you will try. Promise me. Promise you will stop hiding. Promise you will be honest. Promise you will give me care.”

He nodded slowly. “I promise.”

Eleanor cried again, but these tears were different. They were mixed with hope. She thought, Maybe he will change. Maybe he will finally see me. Maybe our marriage can still be saved.

The next day Victor sat with her at breakfast. He asked softly, “How are you feeling today?” She almost dropped her spoon. It had been so long since he had asked that question. She whispered, “I am fine. Thank you for asking.”

For a week, Victor seemed different. He walked with her in the evening. He sat beside her in the living room. He even went with her to Sunday service, something he had refused for years. Eleanor smiled for the first time in months. She whispered to herself, “Maybe this is my husband again. Maybe the man I loved is coming back.”

One night, he even brought her flowers. He placed them on the table and said, “I thought of you today.” Eleanor held the flowers close. Her heart melted. She said softly, “This is all I ever wanted. Just a little love. Just a little care.”

She told her cousin on the phone, “Victor is changing. He is speaking to me again. He is treating me with kindness. Maybe I was wrong to think of leaving. Maybe he still loves me.”

Her cousin warned gently, “Be careful, Eleanor. Sometimes men show change only for a short time. Watch with open eyes.”

But Eleanor wanted to believe. She wanted to believe in her husband more than she wanted to protect her heart. She thought, Thirteen years cannot be wasted. Maybe God is giving me one more chance with him.

Victor even sat with her for tea one evening. She looked at him with tears and said, “This is all I need. I don’t want your money. I don’t want your tours. I don’t want your gifts. I just want you.”

He smiled faintly and touched her hand. For the first time in years, she felt warmth.

That night she prayed, “Thank you, God. Thank you for bringing my husband back. Please keep him this way. Please keep my marriage alive.”

But deep inside her, a small voice still whispered: Is this real? Or is this only for a short time? Can a man who has lived with lies truly change?

Eleanor pushed the doubt aside. She held onto hope. She whispered into the quiet, “Victor, I am giving you one last chance. Do not break it. Because if you do, I will not stay. I cannot survive more pain.”