Chapter 2 – The Questions in My Heart

Emily tried to act normal after that night, but her heart was no longer at peace. Something inside her kept asking questions. Every time Albert smiled at his phone, every time he came home late, her heart whispered, “What is he hiding from me?” She didn’t want to become the kind of woman who doubts her husband, but the silence between them was growing louder each day.

One evening, they were having dinner together. The children were already asleep. The house was quiet, but their hearts were not. Emily looked at him carefully. His face looked tired, but there was something more behind those eyes — something she could not understand.

She said softly, “Albert, can I ask you something?”
He looked up. “What is it?”
She hesitated for a second. “Do you still love me?”
He smiled faintly and said, “Why do you even ask that? Of course I do.”
Emily nodded, but deep down, she didn’t feel convinced. His eyes didn’t match his words.

After dinner, they sat together for a while. Out of nowhere, Albert asked, “Did you ever have a boyfriend before we got married?”
His question surprised her. She looked at him and said gently, “No, Albert. You are the only man I have ever loved.”
He laughed softly. “Really? You were beautiful even back then. I’m sure many wanted you.”
Emily said, “Maybe they did, but I waited for the one who would truly love me. I wanted my first everything to be with my husband.”
He looked down and didn’t reply for a moment. Then he said, “You are too good, Emily.” His tone was quiet — not romantic, but thoughtful.

That night, Emily couldn’t sleep again. She turned and watched Albert lying next to her, his back facing her as usual. She wondered, Why did he ask me that question? Something about his voice felt strange, like he was comparing her honesty to his own hidden truth.

The next morning, when Albert left for work, she sat at the table thinking about the past. She remembered the first years of their marriage — how happy they had been. Albert used to hold her hand while walking. He used to listen to her stories, even the small ones. Now he barely listened to her voice.

Her phone buzzed. It was her friend, calling again. “Emily, how are you?”
She sighed. “I’m trying to stay strong. But my heart feels heavy. He acts like nothing is wrong, but I can feel it. Sometimes I wish he would just tell me the truth.”
Her friend said softly, “Maybe you’re overthinking.”
Emily replied, “Maybe. But when a woman loves truly, she can feel when something is breaking.”

That afternoon, Albert called from work. His voice was different — too soft, too careful. “I’ll be late tonight,” he said.
She asked, “Office work again?”
“Yes,” he replied quickly. “Don’t wait for me. Have dinner.”
She stayed silent for a moment and said quietly, “Okay. Take care.”
When the call ended, tears filled her eyes. She whispered to herself, “He doesn’t even notice that I’m hurting. He doesn’t even ask if I’m okay.”

The next few days went by the same way. Late nights. Locked phone. Short answers. Emily’s patience was breaking. She started watching him closely, not with anger but with sadness. She wanted him to tell her the truth before she found it herself.

One weekend, they were sitting together, and she said, “Albert, I want to ask you something again. Please answer honestly.”
He sighed. “Go ahead.”
She looked into his eyes. “When you said you loved someone before me, was it serious?”
He nodded slowly. “Yes. But it was long ago.”
“Do you still talk to her?” she asked quietly.
He looked away and said, “No. It ended before we married.”
Emily smiled a little, but her heart didn’t believe him.

She whispered, “I hope that’s true.”
Albert stood up and said, “Why do you keep bringing this up? I told you the truth.”
She said calmly, “Because I can feel when you lie.”
He looked at her for a second, then walked away.

That night, Emily sat on the bed hugging her pillow. She cried softly, whispering, “What are you hiding, Albert? I gave you my whole heart. Why can’t you be honest with me?”

The next morning, Albert was quiet again. He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. Before leaving for work, he kissed her on the cheek and said, “You worry too much, Emily.”
After he left, she whispered to herself, “No, Albert. I worry because I love you.”

That day, Emily made an important promise to herself. She said, “I won’t accuse him without proof. But if he’s hiding something, I will find it. Not because I want to fight, but because I deserve the truth.”

She looked at their family photo on the wall. She touched Albert’s face in the picture and said softly, “Please don’t make me lose my faith in love.”

At that moment, she didn’t know how close she was to finding out everything — the lies, the truth, and the painful secret that would change her life forever. But she also didn’t know that in the end, this journey would make her stronger, not weaker.