No Happily Ever After

Chapter 5

Imaginethe surprise of Quinton Pure when his teen aged daughter, Cailyn,confronted him regarding the illicit affair he was having.

Cailyn didn't makeher discovery in any devious manner. It was innocent and quite byaccident. It was also entirely Quinton's fault. He committed theultimate blunder of a man cheating on his wife.

He left his webbrowser open.

It was late autumn,and only a few weeks away from Thanksgiving when Cailyn dropped intothe desk chair in the family room early one morning. Her motherNathalie was still in bed and her father had already left for work. Cailyn was still trying to wake up and get it together for school,and had decided to mindlessly stare at Likebook for a fewminutes before showering.

When she touchedthe mouse, the screen saver dissipated and a picture of voluptuousbreasts took over the screen.

Cailyn gasped andreared backwards for a moment, staring at the picture, and trying todetermine just exactly what she was looking at. Obviously, it was apair of milky white bosoms. But why was it there? Things began toregister. The photo was attached to an email. Upon closerconsideration, she saw that it was her father's email account, leftwide open.

He was therecipient. The sender was Aliah Joiner. Aliah Joiner was decidedlynot Cailyn's mother.

Along with thepicture was a filthy message that in one instant, changed herperception of her father. This was not spam email. Cailyn's headspun and there was a rushing sound in her ears. She glanced aroundthe room at the dozens of family pictures that graced the walls. Herlovely, smiling mother. Nathalie Pure was the ideal devoted wife. She conducted herself with a pleasant demeanor and outlook always. She worked and earned an excellent living while simultaneouslykeeping a wholesome home for the family. On top of her long list ofstrong character traits, Cailyn's mom was beautiful. With hermother, Cailyn shared identical looks. Petite curvaceous shape, jetblack long hair, and blood red lips.

Cailyn began toboil. How could her father even entertain the notion of dishonoringa woman like that?

She began furtherinvestigating her father's email account and all his impropercommunications with this wicked woman. There were many pictures, butnone of her face. They sickened her. Most of the messages involveddisgusting talk and nothing more. But there were a few of a moreserious nature. Promises were exchanged. Plans were made. Herfather had told this woman he would leave his wife to be with her. Worse, these promises had been made for several years, according tothe record of emails sent.

She sat trembling,staring at the screen with her mouth hanging open. Tears swam in hereyes. She felt both hot and cold at the same time, her head spun,and her ears rang. Moments with her father throughout her life,raced through her mind. He'd been loving and devoted all her days;she couldn't recall any different. He was affectionate with hermother. They were a family of laughter, always. Yet, he'd madeplans behind the scenes to leave them, and to make a new life withanother woman.

Cailyn logged outof her father's email and laid her head on her arms to bawl.

***

Cailyn Pure worehead to toe black to school that day. In no way was she normally theGoth sort of girl, but that day she changed entirely. Her veryfoundation was shaken and crumbling. She felt desperately sad forher beloved mother.

And violently angrytoward her philandering father.

She sufferedthrough the excruciating school day, ignoring everything andeveryone. Literally dozens of her classmates at Faraway Senior Highasked her what was wrong, and Cailyn wilted them all with one look. She failed to participate in any class, which was also highly unlikeher. The thing was, she simply could not stop thinking of that evilwoman's breasts.

By the time lastperiod rolled around, half her friends were cross with her, and shehadn't even bothered to make note of a single homework assignment.

As soon as the lastbell of the school day rang, dismissing students, Cailyn stormedthrough the hallway and out the door. She didn't stop by her lockerto collect her belongings and put on her coat. The frigid windoutside bit into Cailyn's pale skin, but her anger kept her warm. Shestomped down the street and straight downtown. In no time, sheshoved open the door to her father's law firm.

"Oh hello,Cailyn," said the receptionist pleasantly. Cailyn ignored herall together and savagely thrust open the door that connected thewaiting room to the rear office area. "Oh! Uh, Cailyn, he's ina-"

The prettyreceptionist jumped up, sending a waft of heavy perfume in Cailyn'sdirection, to attempt to intervene on her warpath. But Cailyn wasalready slamming into her father's office before the receptionistcould even complete her sentence.

A small, mousyman's head snapped up and regarded her with surprise. Her fatheralso looked at her in utter amazement. Red crept up his neck intohis face.

"Cailyn Pure! I'm with a client," he admonished as the secretary ran in behindher.

Cailyn smiledsnidely at the client. "I'm sorry sir; your appointment's beencanceled. Please reschedule on your way out." She held open thedoor and gestured toward the hallway as everyone gaped at her,flabbergasted.

Mr. Pure leapt upand slammed his hands down on the desk. "CAILYN! Wait outsideuntil I finish with my client," he said, seething anger.

Cailyn chuckled. "What I have to say can't wait," she snarled.

Mr. Pure visiblyshook with his fuming rage. "Cailyn, do not make me say itagain."

The mousy man stoodup and Mr. Pure stammered around asking him to please stay. But thenCailyn leveled a brutal gaze on her father with smoldering blackeyes.

"Dad, I know. I saw your email."

As fast as theblaze had risen, the color drained from Mr. Pure's face.

He mumbled awkwardapologies as he escorted his client and the aggravated secretary outof the office, and then he returned to his desk. He sunk like adeflating balloon into his seat.

Cailyn walked veryslowly to his desk and then leaned on it against ram rod arms andpalms with fingers splayed.

"How. Could.You?" she growled.

In response, herfather dissolved into tears.

"HOW COULDYOU?" Cailyn raged. She began pacing crazily around his office. His blubbering emotional display only served to fan the flames ofher anger. "You monster!" she screamed.

"Cailyn, I amyour father, you do not speak to me that way." His demandsounded weak and hollow. Prior to her discovery that morning, Cailynwould never have dreamed of speaking to her dad that way. But ashift of power had occurred.

Prior to thatmorning, he'd been a different man in her eyes.

She fought the hottears gathering in her eyes. She didn't want to waiver. She wantedto remain firmly rooted in unbridled anger and raw hatred. "Youneed to start talking, Dad. I haven't talked to Mom. Yet. You havefive minutes to make me understand why I shouldn't tell her."

Mr. Pure weptharder. "Cailyn, she doesn't mean anything..."

"YOU CAN'T BESERIOUS!" Cailyn shrieked. She charged back to his desk, leanedover and placed her rabid face nose to nose with his. "You knowwho doesn't mean anything?" she hissed through clenched teeth. "Me and Mom, that's who."

Mr. Pure moaned. "Cailyn, you must believe me. I've wanted to end it for quitesome time. But Aliah... She's... Intense. I, I don't know whatwould happen if I cut her off."

Cailyn straightenedand stood arms crossed over her chest. She smirked down at herfather.

"Well now itboils down to which outcome you fear less then, Dad. You can eitherend it, and PROVE to me that you ended it. Or... I tell Mom. Youhave one week. It's all up to you."

She spun on herheel and stalked out, slamming the door behind her.