Hidden Desires - Family Secrets

Chapter 168 Did I see wrong that night? Part 3

After a long silence, I slowly opened my eyes and turned around to find Betty still standing behind me, her gaze melancholic yet defiant.

"Why haven't you left yet?" I asked, my voice tinged with resignation, my back still to Betty.

"And what about you?" Betty's reply was brief, but her three words were laden with tension and panic.

"I'm not going back..." It was hard to say, but I had to make it clear.

If Betty couldn't accept this, the lawyer's work would be stalled.

After I spoke, I didn't feel the relief I expected; instead, a sharp pain clutched at my heart.

I was nervous, even slightly afraid that Betty might just walk away after hearing my decision.

"Are you planning to stay here?" Betty seemed to have anticipated this, but her tone was still heavy with sorrow.

She posed the question, perhaps thinking I would stay with Luna.

But honestly, I hadn't thought about my own future.

Initially, I planned to have the lawyer finalize the divorce with Betty, and these past few days, I was preoccupied with tracking down Betty and Michael.

Now that I've found them, I hadn't considered my next steps.

"I understand... My body is tainted, and I've betrayed our marriage. All of this is my own doing."

"When I couldn't find you, I was constantly worried about you, afraid you'd do something foolish, afraid you wouldn't eat or dress warmly, afraid your health would fail because you never take care of yourself."

"Now that I see you're alright, and there's another wonderful woman by your side, I'm truly relieved."

"I have no more desires."

"From the hatred she showed towards me, it's clear she really cares about you."

"That anger and resentment weren't feigned; she is the Snow White of your heart."

"Although our years together were uneventful, I genuinely felt happy."

"I've always seen your honesty and hard work, but now... everything has become so dramatic, perhaps it's fate... Take care..."

Betty's words carried another meaning, suggesting that I had kept Luna as a close female friend without her knowledge.

If it were another woman, she might have confronted me by now, but Betty didn't.

Her words were tinged with jealousy, yet she didn't blame me; she only blamed herself.

That's just Betty's nature, and one of the reasons I love her.

"You're mistaken... Before that night, she and I had no contact at all; we were strangers..."

I don't know why I felt the urge to explain so urgently, perhaps fearing Betty's misunderstanding.

She had strayed, and I had kept secrets from her, or maybe because I hadn't done anything wrong, I didn't want to take the blame.

I called out to Betty, hesitating as I started to explain the affair.

"Can I talk to her about the rest?"

When I woke up, it was morning, and sunlight was streaming into the room.

I hadn't even changed out of my clothes from the day before.

I went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror at my greasy face.

I sighed at the reflection of my disheveled appearance.

Once seen as a family-oriented, successful man by my colleagues, I now looked like a wreck.

I shaved and washed my face, cleaning up but unable to hide the melancholy in my eyes.

It was time to go back.

Betty and Michael must have left by now.

I left the hotel and headed towards Luna's villa.

I bought some food on the street to fill the emptiness inside me.

Once everything was settled, what would my next steps be?

I had always been decisive, but now I felt utterly lost.

Lost in my thoughts, I arrived at Luna's villa and entered without any obstacles.

To my surprise, I saw Betty sitting quietly on the living room sofa.

Betty had cleaned up.

Her hair was smooth, and she had put on makeup, looking like her old self, except her eyes were filled with a deeper sadness than mine.

When Betty saw me enter, a flicker of joy crossed her eyes, but it quickly faded, and she looked away, unable to meet my gaze.

I scanned the room and didn't see Luna or Michael, just Betty alone, which struck me as odd.

"She's upstairs waiting for you..." Betty's voice was low and timid.

I nodded and headed upstairs.

Betty's directions were vague; there were many rooms upstairs, but which one?

I followed my instincts to the room I had left the night before.

When I opened the door, Luna was sitting there, looking disheveled and tired, her eyes red as if she hadn't slept all night.

"You're back?" Luna looked up briefly, her eyes devoid of the usual joy, filled instead with an indescribable emotion.

Had her conversation with Betty affected her this much?

Although I hadn't known Luna long, I knew she was a strong woman.

What could have happened?

I didn't care much about how Luna felt towards me, but I didn't want her or anyone else to misunderstand me.

"Betty said you were waiting for me. What's up?"

I sat down on the sofa and rubbed my temples, waiting for her to speak.