The Mistress.

ce of the house felt heavy, amplifying the thudding of her heart. She had to confront Daniel; there

clothes, she turned to face him, determination in her eyes

briefcase by the door, a casualness i

ne," she stated, her heart racing as she watche

d. "What are you

I mean. The texts you've been sending to her," s

ied, shifting his weight uncomfortably. "

ting with someone else!" she exclaimed, her voice rising

ismissive. "You shouldn't have gone through my phone

heat of betrayal. "I find something that hurts me, a

features. "It was nothing! Just some lightheart

can you call it that when it involves someone else? What

ning. "You're not being fair. T

You're the one who's misunderstanding the gravity of this situat

ing," he insisted, stepping closer, but his eyes a

"Because it doesn't feel like love when you're

s so personally," he replied, his voice rising defensively. "I

Daniel!" she shouted, tears pricking her ey

?" he snapped, the anger in his voice cutting deeper than any knife.

eeks. "You're the one who's been crossing boundaries! You thi

t be in this mess!" he said, his voice rising. "I ca

of his words crushing. "Accusations? Is that all thi

ad guy here!" he insisted, stepping back as if the very notio

ear to me that something is very wrong. I can't even recognize you

e replied, crossing his arms defensively. "You're maki

tering. "You're trivializing my pain. This isn't just s

n evident in his expression. "You're not being reasona

"This is not about being reasonable; this is about being hurt

id, his voice tinged with impatience. "It was a mi

sted you, and now you're trying to dismiss my feelings as if they don

dn't-" He paused, his expression shifting to o

t even admit your wrongdoing?" she cried, the pain of betrayal o

. "I'm trying to explain. I can't just say I'm

ve a whisper, filled with heartbreak. "What do you call flirting

admitted, his frustration palpable. "Yo

suffocating. "Because if you can't even acknowledge the pa

but she could see the distance in his eyes. "We

ymore," she said, feeling lost. "How can I trus

lent between them. The weight of unspoken truths filled t

ken. "I just wanted to understand, Daniel.

le, the air between them thick with unresolv

ed, her heart heavy with sorrow. "Maybe

e in the space where their love once thrived, leaving her in a