Chapter 2: Caught By Eyes

“I’ll handle it, I promise. Just give me some time,” Julian continued, his voice steady but Sophia can sense like there's something wrong going on.

Sophia felt her stomach drop as realization hit her. Something was terribly wrong. She pressed her back against the railing, her breath hitching in her throat.

This wasn’t just about the pregnancy; there was a secret lurking in their marriage, one that threatened to shatter the fragile hope she had tried to build tonight.

Tears blurred her vision as she turned away from the balcony. Fear and anger swirling inside her. She felt betrayed.

She couldn’t let this go unaddressed. Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself for the confrontation that was sure to come. But for now, she felt lost, standing there alone.

Sophia slipped back inside. The table was still beautifully set, the food still warm, but the warmth of the moment had long since faded. She caught Julian’s eye as he hung up the phone, his expression was unreadable.

“Julian,” she began, her voice is trembling but it is still firm.

“We need to talk.”

He looked at her, the irritation is crossing his face, but she could see the uncertainty in his eyes as well.

“What’s there to talk about? You’re pregnant, and that’s great, but…”

“No, it’s more than that,” she interrupted, her heart is pounding.

“I heard you on the phone. What are you not telling me?”

His expression shifted, and for a moment, Sophia thought she saw fear in his eyes. She took a step closer, determined to unearth the truth that she thought was the reason for their drifting relationship.

“Who were you talking to?” she pressed.

Julian’s gaze dropped to the floor, and she felt a chill run down her spine. The realization that the man she loved might be hiding something from her—the man she had thought she could trust—felt like a betrayal she couldn’t bear.

“I—” he started, but the words fell silent on his lips, and in that moment, Sophia understood that this conversation was only the beginning. The walls of their marriage, which she had so desperately tried to fortify, were crumbling, and the truth was about to come crashing down.

~

The morning sun poured into the kitchen, making a glow over the cluttered countertops. Sophia stood by the coffee maker while her mind was elsewhere—last night’s conversation with Julian echoed in her thoughts.

As she poured a cup for herself, she could hear Julian moving around in the bedroom.

"I need to talk to him," she thought, gripping the mug tightly. Just then, he appeared in the doorway, his tie loose and his hair still tousled from sleep.

“Good morning,” Sophia said, forcing a smile.

“Morning,” Julian replied, glancing at her as he reached for the coffee pot. She can't read his expression. Sophia took a deep breath, as her heart began pounding.

“Can we talk about last night?”

“What about it?” he said, pouring himself a cup without making eye contact.

“I heard you on the phone,” she said, her voice trembling slightly.

“Who were you talking to?” He paused, finally meeting her gaze. It's the question, she asked last night.

“You were eavesdropping?”

“I wasn’t eavesdropping! I just… I heard you mention a name,” she pressed, trying to keep her tone steady. Julian sighed, running a hand through his hair.

“It was just a work call, Sophia. You’re overreacting.”

“Overreacting? You sounded serious. Why don’t you just tell me who it was?”

“Because it doesn’t matter!” He slammed the cup down on the counter, coffee splashing over the rim.

“I don’t have time for this.” Sophia felt her stomach twist.

“It does matter! If we’re going to have a baby, I need to know I can trust you.”

“Trust? You think I’m cheating on you?” Julian laughed, but it was devoid of humor.

“That’s paranoid.”

“I’m not paranoid! I just want to know the truth,” she insisted, her voice is also rising.

“You want the truth? Fine. I’m tired of you accusing me of things I’m not doing. I have enough stress without worrying about your insecurities.” He turned away, grabbing his briefcase. Sophia’s heart sank.

“So you’re just going to walk away? Just like that?”

“What do you want me to say, Sophia? I have to get to work,” he replied, his voice flat.

“Julian, please…” she pleaded, desperation is already creeping into her voice.

“I thought we were in this together.”

He hesitated, then shook his head.

“You keep looking for problems where there aren’t any. I can’t do this right now.”

With that, he walked out the door, leaving her feeling shattered. She sank into a chair, tears pricking her eyes.

"What if he really is hiding something?" she thought.

~

Later that afternoon, Sophia tried to distract herself with chores. She washed the dishes, but her mind kept drifting back to Julian’s coldness.

"Why can’t he just be honest with me?"

Suddenly, her phone buzzed with a message. It was from her friend, Jamella.

"How’s everything? You sound off."

Sophia sighed and replied.

"I'm just having a rough day. Trying to figure some things out with Julian."

“Oh, about your husband again? You sound more upset now.”

“Yeah. It's Julian. He just… I overheard him on the phone last night, and now he’s being so distant.”

“What did he say?”

“He was talking to someone, and it didn’t sound like just a work call. He dismissed my concerns and… it felt like he was hiding something.”

“Ugh, I’m sorry, Soph. That sounds frustrating. Have you confronted him about it?”

“Yeah, and it didn’t go well. He got defensive and accused me of being paranoid. I don’t know what to think anymore,” she admitted, her voice was shaking.

“Maybe you’re just reading too much into it? Men can be clueless,” Jamella suggested. Sophia’s heart sank.

“I hope so. But what if I’m not?”

“Just give it some time. Talk to him again when he’s calmer. You’re having a baby; you need to be on the same page,” Jamella advised.

“Yeah, you’re right. Thanks, Jamella,” Sophia said, though the worry still lingered.

---

That night, after a tense dinner filled with awkward silences, Sophia lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The thought of confronting Julian again made her stomach churn. But deep down, she felt an urge to find out the truth—whatever it may be.

When dawn broke, she knew she had to act. She would follow him the next morning.

The next day, after a restless night, she woke up early, her heart racing with the possibility of what she's going to find out. She dressed quickly, the cold morning air biting against her skin as she stepped outside.

Arriving at the café near Julian’s workplace, she parked her car and waited. She felt her stomach flutter with anxiety as she glanced at the entrance.

"What if this is a mistake?"

Minutes passed, each one feeling like an eternity. Then, finally, she spotted him. Julian emerged from the café, his expression relaxed. But next to him was Vanessa, one of his coworkers.

Sophia’s breath caught in her throat as she watched them. They were too close, their bodies almost touching as they talked, laughing over some shared joke.

“What’s going on?” Sophia whispered to herself.

Then, as if the universe was mocking her, Julian leaned in. He brushed his lips against Vanessa’s cheek—a kiss that lingered just a moment too long.

“No. No, no, no,” Sophia gasped, her heart plummeting into her stomach.

The betrayal hit her, and she felt paralyzed, tears are now streaming down her cheeks.

"H-How could he?"

She wanted to scream, to run over and confront them, but instead, she felt frozen in place, the reality of the situation crashing over her now.

“What do I do now?” she muttered, as she watched Julian and Vanessa walk away, side by side, leaving her behind in a haze of heartbreak.

The truth was clear: her marriage was now unraveling. And it's because of that woman, Vanessa.