The days that followed their heart-to-heart were fragile but hopeful. Remy and Drea had recommitted to making their marriage work, and although it was clear they both had scars from the last argument, there was a quiet determination in both of them. They moved through their routines with more care, more intention, and with less silence between them. Remy could feel the tension lift, slowly but surely, as they rebuilt trust.
But the real test of their progress would come on a Friday night—a night that was meant to be a relaxing end to the week but turned out to be another challenge.
It started out innocently enough. Remy had planned a date night at home. They had ordered takeout from Drea's favorite Thai restaurant and were set to watch a movie together. Brielle was with her grandparents for the night, so it was just the two of them.
As they settled on the couch with plates of steaming noodles and rice, Remy felt optimistic. They hadn't had an evening to themselves like this in weeks, and she was looking forward to reconnecting. Drea seemed to be in good spirits, smiling and laughing a little more easily than she had been in recent days.
"Are you sure you're ready for this spicy food?" Drea teased, raising an eyebrow as she twirled some noodles around her fork. "I don't want to hear you complaining when your mouth's on fire."
Remy chuckled, shaking her head. "I'm tougher than you think, babe. I can handle it."
Drea smirked, taking a bite. "Alright, if you say so. Just don't come crying to me when you can't feel your tongue."
It was light, it was easy—exactly what Remy had hoped for. The evening flowed smoothly as they ate, made jokes, and picked out a movie to watch. Drea snuggled up beside Remy on the couch as they hit play on the screen, and for the first time in a while, things felt...normal. Like they had found their rhythm again.
But as the movie went on, Remy's phone buzzed on the coffee table, lighting up with notifications. She tried to ignore it at first, but when it buzzed a third time, Drea's eyes flickered toward it.
"Are you going to get that?" she asked, her voice calm but carrying an edge of curiosity.
Remy hesitated, glancing at the screen. She recognized the name—an old friend from work who had texted her a few times over the last few weeks, nothing more than casual conversation. But something about the timing made her stomach twist.
"No, it's nothing," Remy said, turning her attention back to the movie.
But Drea wasn't convinced. She sat up slightly, her expression shifting. "If it's 'nothing,' why is she texting you so much? Is this the same person who's been messaging you during the day?"
Remy's heart sank. This was dangerous territory, and she knew it. "Yeah, but it's really just love and hip hop work stuff," she said quickly, trying to defuse the situation before it escalated.
Drea's brow furrowed. "Work stuff? You haven't been on love and hip hop for a while now. Why are you still talking to her?"
"It's not like that," Remy insisted, sitting up straighter. "She's just a friend. I told you about her before. There's nothing going on, Drea."
Drea crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You say that, but every time I see your phone light up, it's her. Why does she need to talk to you so much if there's 'nothing' going on?"
Remy felt the tension rise in her chest, and she knew she needed to be careful. "Babe, you're reading too much into this. I swear, it's innocent. I don't want you to think I'm hiding something, because I'm not."
Drea's eyes flashed with a mix of hurt and frustration. "It just feels like there's more to this, Remy. We've been trying to work on things, and now I'm seeing messages from some other woman, and it's making me feel like—"
