Shout
Marco
I can't believe Ashley has been hiding a secret from me. For the last two weeks, I've felt restless. It seemed like she was avoiding and hiding from me. I stopped asking someone to look into her more than a month ago because I thought she couldn't stay away from me for long. I knew she wouldn't leave me, and I felt a little confident about our relationship.
But something happened earlier that made me feel uneasy. I was about to leave when I overheard her talking on the phone. At first, it didn't seem like a big deal since their conversation sounded casual. But then I heard her mention the name of the person she was talking to: Lance.
I didn't know him personally and tried not to think much of it. But then I remembered something. Ashley came over to the house when Ashlyn and I were newly married. I let the twins chat since I knew how close they were.
I went to get some water and passed by the living room when I heard Ashley say, "You know how much I like Lance." I will never forget that moment because my wife, Ashlyn, was so happy knowing her twin finally had someone she cared about. She even started planning for their possible wedding.
And now, I hear her talking to that guy on the phone. Jealousy and anger overwhelm me. I can't leave anymore. I wait until she goes upstairs and returns to her room.
"Get out of here!" I shouted at my wife as soon as she entered Ashley's room. I knew she was confused about why I was there, but I didn't care. All I wanted to know was if Lance was the reason Ashley had been avoiding me lately.
"What did Ashley do to make you this angry?" my wife asked calmly, not leaving the room. Her words hit me like a bucket of cold water. "I know you don't like my twin living here, but do we need to fight over it?" she added, making me look at her.
I could see the pain and frustration on her face. I had never yelled at her before and felt guilty for what I had done. "I'm sorry," I said and quickly left the room. I didn't look at Ashley again, worried my wife might notice something.
After leaving Ashley's room, I went straight outside, got into my car, and drove away. I didn't know what had caused me to treat my wife like that, but I was certain it was jealousy. For a moment, I forgot that our relationship had to remain hidden.
I don't even know what this Lance looks like. I don't know him personally. But somehow, the fear of hearing his name shook me. What if this man helps Ashley remember everything? It's not that I don't want her to regain her memories—God knows I want that more than anything. But what if, along with her memories, she remembers Lance as the one she truly loves and not me?
I know deep in my heart that I love Ashley. Much more than I ever loved Ashlyn. I can't even say that I love my wife anymore. What I feel for her now is mostly guilt and pity.
I kept driving until I reached my friend's, a lawyer's, office. He's handling my separation from Ashlyn.
"Everything's set, but are you sure about your decision?" Albert asked. "I know how much you love your wife. I saw how happy you were before. I just want to make sure you won't regret this."
"I'm sure, Albert," I replied, leaning back and closing my eyes while rubbing my temples. When I opened my eyes and looked at him, I saw him sigh deeply and shake his head.
"Just reminding you, this is going to be a long process. You know how conservative our country is when it comes to this. You can't just say you're in love with someone else. It needs to be more serious than that." He was right, and I understood it. But my mind still refused to accept that reality.
"Isn't it heavy for you?" I asked. "I don't love Ashlyn anymore, and I'll just keep hurting her if we stay together."
"You know what I'm talking about, Marco," Albert replied, his voice firm. "We can't just walk into court and expect them to agree that easily. There are so many arranged marriages out there where the couples don't love each other, but they still stay together."
"Then let's just say it's because we can't have children." I didn't want to use that excuse. It didn't matter to me if we couldn't have children. I'm not that shallow. I could accept it, or we could even adopt, as long as we truly loved each other. The problem is, I don't feel that way about my wife anymore.
"Seriously?" Albert asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes," I sighed. "She doesn't want kids yet because she says she's focused on her career. And another thing is, she's barely home. She spends more time out of town than with me at home." Albert took a deep breath, clearly not understanding my situation. He's happily married, and like he said, he saw how much I loved Ashlyn before.
"Alright, I'll start the process. But don't blame me later. Remember, I warned you." I stayed quiet, unsure of what else to say, but Albert couldn't seem to let it go. "What if, out of the blue, your wife tells you she's pregnant? Will you still go through with the divorce?"
I couldn't answer right away. The truth is, I see myself as a family man. I know deep down that I wouldn't abandon my child if that happened, so his question hit me hard. I never thought I'd be in this kind of situation. The one thing I hate most is men who leave their wives after they've had children. I never imagined I'd be faced with something like that.
"I'm just asking, Marco. You don't need to sit there like an idiot."
"Yeah, I know. Your question just made me think. To be honest, I don't know. You know how I feel about family and kids."
"Exactly, that's why I'm asking. What if, during the divorce process, Ashlyn tells you she's pregnant? Wait, is something still happening between you two?"
Once again, I couldn't answer. But I knew he already had an idea.
"Shit, man! If you plan on leaving her, you shouldn't be getting involved with her like that anymore. It's like you're stringing two sisters along!"
"You think I don't know that?" I snapped. "We even did it right in front of Ashley."
"What?!" Albert exclaimed, his eyes wide.
"Ashlyn walked into my home office unexpectedly and couldn't leave, so she just hid."
"Fuck! What did she say?" Albert asked, and I told him the whole story from that night.
"It must have hurt Ashley so much. But I know it will hurt Ashlyn even more when she finds out her twin sister is involved," said Albert.
"And Ashley wanted to break up with me," I admitted.
"Which, if I'm honest, is the right thing to do." Albert's comment made me glare at him sharply. "I'm just saying, bro."
"Just do what I asked, Albert," I replied coldly, standing up from the couch. "Let me know when everything's ready." Without another word, I left his office and drove to mine. I needed to work and clear my mind. I'd deal with Albert's question about Ashlyn possibly being pregnant later. Like they say, I'll cross that bridge when I get there.
Yes, I was nervous and scared, especially since Ashlyn and I had slept together a few times, and I didn't use any protection. I know it was a stupid thing to do, but I couldn't resist her, especially with Ashley constantly avoiding me. It's gotten to the point where I can't even be alone with my wife, and I haven't been able to be with her intimately. Damn! I know I've made some terrible choices and given in to my lust.