The Mistress.

once-familiar silence of the house now felt different, carrying a weight she couldn't ignore. She glanced over at the empty

ndless meetings and new demands at work. He'd mutter excuses, claiming it was all part of moving up in the company, his words always slipping away

he'd step out to take calls in another room, his voice low and guarded. Or the way his responses to her ques

er heart giving a hopeful jump. Maybe today would be different; maybe he'd explain the distance she was feeling or apo

p suit, his face set in a tired expression. He gl

her as he poured himself a cup. She watched him, searching his f

ng to keep her voice casual. "I tho

eeting her eyes. "

o ask more but felt the words stick in her throat. She knew if she pushed,

ance down, catching a glimpse of the screen before Daniel quickly picked it up, his fingers tightening around the de

mall smile. "E

faint edge to his voice. He cleared his throat, seem

eeling the need to question or doubt. But now, the distance between them felt insurmountable. Every small lie, eve

ay into his office after dinner, leaving her with a quick peck on the cheek that felt more like habit than affection. She could hear th

ere she was, alone in a quiet house, feeling more like a visitor than a partner. Th

and distant. His gaze didn't linger on her, his footsteps

at was really going on, but a voice inside her held her back. Part of her feared that if she pressed

y asleep, or at least pretending to be, his breathing even and steady. She lay there,

y there, feeling the empty space between them grow wider with each passing second, she wo

ly, like a whispered trut

but now felt hollow. Mornings started the same – the clinking of mugs, the soft shuffle of footsteps as Daniel left early.

ations clipped and evasive. He'd always been busy with work, but now it was as if he was a ghost in their own home, m

She told herself she was imagining things, that he was just stressed. But the late nights, the secretive phone

nd the faint ticking of the wall clock. She glanced at her phone, her thumb hovering over Daniel's contact. She almost texted him, asking when he'd be home, but something held her back. A par

nearing midnight, and the house was silent save for the ticking clock on the wall. When

e tried to be quiet. Victoria stayed still, her heart pounding in her chest as she listened to him make his way through the hall. She could smel

s he saw her waiting. "You're still

hirt was slightly wrinkled, the collar askew, and that

his shoes. "Long day at work," h

eep her voice steady. "You've been work

r his shoulder. "It's just the new proje

perfume?" She forced herself to hold the q

sked it. "Perfume?" he echoed, giving a short laugh. "Probably one of the assist

hardening. "There's lipsti

"Oh, that must've been from Maya. She was showing me some presentation material earlier, leaned in close fo

the heartbreak settle like lead in her

f her. "You're being paranoid. You think I'd actually do something like that?"

it feel like you're always somewhere e

king things, Vic. You always do this when I get busy." He sighed,

s that same distant look, the one that clos

ed to bed, leaving him to his excuses, th