Lucy pulled out her phone, typing a few lines and showing them to me. Now that she was closer, I could see her bare face—flawless even without makeup.
"Lucy, do you want to come up for coffee?" I heard my own voice rasp.
"Sister-in-law, I felt an instant connection with you. How about we grab a meal together next time?" She typed on her notepad.
"Lucy, take care on your way." Alan also called her Lucy, with a closeness that made my stomach churn.
"See you tonight, honey," Lucy stepped aside, winking at Alan.
"See you tonight, my love," Alan's gaze was filled with desire, crystal clear to me.
Suppressing my emotions, I tried to take Alan's arm. His face darkened, as if I was something filthy, and he yanked his arm away.
I stumbled, falling to the ground, scraping my knees and elbows on the gravel.
He shot a disgusted glance at me, turned around, and stepped into the elevator, pressing the close button.
I could no longer hold back the flood of tears. Blinking through them, I struggled to my feet and headed upstairs.
When he saw my tear-streaked face, his temper snapped too.
"I hate it when you cry all the time."
"Everything in this house, I earned it. What do you have to cry about?"
It was the first time I heard Alan yell at me. Maybe he had long lost patience, but I hadn't been able to hear it, nor had I wanted to.
"Last night, you were with Lucy, right? She's pretty. You've got good taste."
"I told you, I ran into her at a class reunion. Don't overthink it." Alan's tone calmed slightly as he half-heartedly signed.
But his words were different. "Yeah, she's beautiful. She reminds me of you. The old you."
I remind him of her? This mistress? Alan spoke as if it was a compliment.
After the accident, Alan feared I would spiral into depression. For me, he learned sign language, spent days with me at the hospital, and nights studying. His eyes were bloodshot from the strain.
He promised, "If you can never hear again, I'll be your ears for the rest of your life."
The rest of my life? It's only been five years. How could someone change so quickly?
"Alan, if you don't want this marriage, we can divorce. Why cheat on me?" I screamed at him.
"Gloria Smith, I should be asking you that. What right do you have to interrogate me?" The contempt in Alan's eyes was something I couldn't understand.
Maybe my confusion was too obvious. Alan ripped off his tie, irritably snatching my phone.