5
408words
Fiona sighed softly.“Just something to spice things up,harmless.I checked.”
“Besides,Victor uses it often,no issues.He says your pent-up needs cause hormonal imbalances,making you moody.”
I stared at her,incredulous.“You really don’t care about my feelings?Even if I sleep with another woman,you’re unbothered?”
I stared at her, incredulous, searching her face for any flicker of emotion.
Fiona smiled,placing a hand on my chest,her eyes brimming with love, but to me, it was utterly ironic.
“It’s fine,honey.I said,open marriage—we’re just playing.As long as our hearts are true,loving each other most,we’ll always come home.”
Raised abroad,Fiona’s open-mindedness was no surprise,but this distortion shocked me.
Open marriage?A flimsy excuse for her infidelity!
To indulge herself and control me,she dragged me into a difficult situation with her.
I laughed at her flawless face,my eyes welling,aching with weight.
Layer upon layer of disappointment piled up,turning to irreparable despair.
I stared blankly out the window.
“Honey,I had our marital home cleaned,new furniture and all.Once you’re healed,we can move back!”
“Your grandma’s painting—I’m sorry it can’t be restored,but I’m consulting experts!”
“Victor’s parents had a health scare,so they couldn’t visit or apologize in person.You’re generous;you won’t hold it against them,right?I forgave them for you,let bygones be bygones.”
“I know you’re upset.I told Victor I’ll stay home with you as long as I can.As long as I—”
“Who said I’m going home?”I cut her off.
She looked stunned.“Not home?Staying in the hospital?”
I turned to the woman hiding under the covers,eavesdropping.
Pointing at her slowly,I sneered at Fiona.“I’m moving in with her!”
Fiona froze,caught off guard.
My eyes were dead,but I smirked.“One night wasn’t enough.Want to watch us go again?”
Fiona’s face,rare for her,paled.
She stood rooted to the spot,lips trembling,silent.
She didn’t leave,so I ignored her.
I flung off the covers, disregarding the woman pretending to sleep. I lifted her chin and kissed her.Unlike last night’s haze,I savored another woman’s taste with intent.
Fiona stood there,I don’t know how long,until her phone rang.
Her shaking hand fumbled,nearly dropping it.
On speaker,Victor’s grating, whiny voice filled the room.
“Fiona,where are you?My chest’s tight,missing you bad!”
I pressed deeper.
“I—”
“Take it outside!”
My shout—my first time yelling at her—startled her.She hung up,either shaken by my anger or eager to see Victor,and left without closing the door.
Thankfully,she’d booked the whole floor;no one would come up.
Time crawled.When I woke,it was dark.
A pair of wide eyes stared at me from beside the bed.
