ASHES OF DEVOTION

turned from a visit to her ailing father, and the emotional weight of the trip weighed heavily on her heart. Following a trail of rose petals that adorned t

ck today, and she couldn't shake the feeling that he

tered her heart into a million pieces. Her husband, Caius, was tangled in a web of intimacy with Emily, his secretary, on their matrimonial bed. The sight before her eyes was

and Emily. The rose petals, usually a romantic gesture, were a stark reminder of the tenderness Caius had lavished on ano

guilt as he tried to sit up and disentangle himself from Emily. Emily's

omed. Her voice trembled as she demanded an explanation, "What the fuck!! What is going on here, her h

lence, his inability to provide a reasonable explanation, further fueled Ondine's anguish. Emily's g

let myself believe in you, Caius. Every time you told me you'd change, I believed you. And what d

t you were different, but you're just like every other guy out there. You don't know how to be

e had chosen to overlook, the times she had believed his promises of change. It was as if all those p

And what did you do? You threw it all away for a few moments

n't know how to make it right. "I'm sorry, Ondine. I know I messed up, but I lov

an't keep living in a world where I have to constantly worry about whether my boy

a lifeline. "Ondine, I'm on my knees here, begging for your forgiveness. I ca

hose texts on your phone two years ago, you promised it was the last time. Th

hat I've changed. I'll do whatever it takes, attend therapy, cut ties with a

"And what about the time you disappeared for a weekend getawa

describe how sorry I am for that. I want to show you how much y

where you ended up sleeping with that woman you met at the hotel

rt aches when I think about how much pain I've caused you. I'm pleading w

. You slept with your secretary on our matrimoni

e. I'm not just asking for forgiveness; I'm asking for the chance to