chapter 84

Roseline dedicated the following days to walking a tightrope, every step deliberate and careful. She needed to portray the role of the devoted, faithful wife flawlessly, even though each moment seemed deceptive. Ronaldo's doubts were increasing, and the more she attempted to calm him, the more he appeared to doubt all her actions. 

She needed to be cautious and had to step softly around the delicate strands of her deception. However, the deceit was beginning to burden her—each falsehood felt like a brick piled onto the barrier separating her from the truth. 

Each interaction with Ronaldo resembled a show, with each look serving as a scrutiny. Nevertheless, she had discovered how to conceal her genuine emotions. She was able to pretend to smile, show concern, and express love, all while her heart yearned for the freedom she desired to flee to. 

One morning, while she was making breakfast, Ronaldo walked into the kitchen, his figure towering behind her. 

"Good morning," he replied, his tone more inviting than normal, yet there was an underlying chill to his words. 

Roseline tensed, managing a smile as she turned to look at him. "Morning greetings." 

He hesitated, his gaze exploring her face, looking for any sign of the truth. "You appear to be fatigued recently." "Is everything okay?" 

The inquiry struck a personal chord, and for a brief instant, Roseline almost wavered. Yet she maintained her composure, lowering her eyes to the eggs she was mixing. 

"I'm okay," she replied hastily, avoiding eye contact. "Simply feeling a bit stressed, that’s it." "You're aware of all that's happening." 

Ronaldo observed her for a brief moment more, his gaze tightening. "Certainly." He moved closer, the tension in the air between them evident. "Yet you’ve been aloof, Roseline." "Greater than normal." 

She gulped deeply, her hold on the spatula firming. "I've been handling numerous matters." You are aware of that. She compelled herself to meet his stare. "I apologize if I've seemed… unusual." 

He didn’t reply right away, and Roseline could nearly sense the tempest forming beneath his calm surface. After a lengthy pause, he extended his hand and made contact with her shoulder, his fingers softly gliding across her skin. "I simply don’t want you to exclude me." 

The act, while gentle, sent shivers up her spine. She sensed the burden of his possessiveness bearing down on her. 

"I'm not excluding you," she answered, her tone just above a murmur. "I simply require a little time for myself." 

Ronaldo examined her intently, his eyes fixed on her face as if attempting to uncover the truth behind her deceptions. But rather than pressing her more, he released a sigh and agreed. 

"Okay." "Just don’t ignore me for too long," he remarked, his voice becoming gentler. "I must confirm that you are fine." 

She nodded, feigning gratitude for his worry, but inside, she was falling apart. Each instant seemed as if she was treading on a razor’s edge. Each word she uttered needed to be thoughtfully selected, every move considered with doubt. 

Later that night, following dinner, Roseline got a text from Sam. 

Sam: "I've been attempting to contact you. "Are you alright?" 

Roseline gazed at the screen for a lengthy pause, her heart plummeting. Days had passed since she spoke to him last, and every silence between them expanded like a chasm. She didn’t want to distance herself from him, but it was the sole way to preserve her secret. She needed to portray that they weren't as intimate as they used to be, to persuade Ronaldo that Sam was out of her life. 

Roseline: "I'm okay." Simply... keeping my distance for the time being. "This is a better approach." 

She hesitated, her finger lingering over the screen while she contemplated how to conclude the conversation. 

Roseline: "I'll reach out to you when I'm able. "I'm simply attempting to simplify things here." 

She placed her phone down with a sigh, the falsehood feeling bitter on her tongue. She despised the separation between them and resented that she needed to do this for her safety and the baby. Yet she was left with no options. 

The following morning, she ensured to maintain her distance from Sam no matter what. She needed to act as if she wasn't seeing him, that their bond had diminished. Each time she encountered him—be it at the office or during their rare moments in the corridor—she compelled a courteous grin and looked away from his gaze. 

It seemed like a violation of trust, but she understood it was essential. 

However, with the passage of days, Roseline sensed Ronaldo’s doubt increasing. His gazes grew more intense, his inquiries increasingly straightforward. She needed to maintain the facade or face the possibility of everything collapsing. 

One night, while they were in the living room, Ronaldo leaned in, his gaze examining her face. 

"You've been staying away from me," he said softly. "I don't appreciate it." 

Roseline became still, her breath halted in her throat. She swiftly concealed her panic with an expressionless face. "I'm not ignoring you." "I'm simply... occupied." 

"You've been steering clear of Sam as well, right?" Ronaldo inquired, his voice unexpectedly steady, yet his eyes shone with doubt. 

Her heart missed a beat. "What are you saying?" she answered, attempting to maintain her composure. 

"I've observed you," Ronaldo proclaimed, his voice slicing through her like a blade. "You are not telling the truth, Roseline." I can perceive it in your gaze. "I'm not sure what game you're involved in, but it's finished." 

Roseline's thoughts sped through her head as she looked for an answer, yet none appeared. The deception was coming apart more quickly than she could mend it. 

"Reveal the truth to me," he insisted, his tone becoming more frigid. "What's happening between you and Sam?" 

The walls surrounding her started to encroach. She had arrived at the point of no return. Ronaldo was aware, or he was beginning to doubt, and there was no escape unless she faced him directly. 

However, Roseline was not prepared. Not at this time. 

"I’m not seeing him anymore, Ronaldo," she stated, her voice shaking slightly to appear believable. "I've been concentrating on us, on our family." "That's everything." 

Ronaldo examined her for an extended period, his gaze sharpening as if he were attempting to decode a message hidden deep in her speech. 

"You ought to be speaking the truth," he finally remarked, his tone deep and menacing. "Since I am not fond of deception." 

Roseline quickly nodded, hoping that her response would be sufficient to soothe him. Yet deep down, she realized her time was dwindling. Ronaldo's doubts were nearing the truth, and soon, she would struggle to conceal herself behind her well-crafted deceptions. 

As the days passed, the pressure mounted. Roseline could feel the walls closing in on her from all sides, and with each passing moment, her escape plan seemed further out of reach. Ronaldo’s grip on her tightened, and her hope for freedom grew ever more distant.