Twisted Vows

chapter 4 : secrets on the edge

Ethan hurried home, his mind spinning like a whirlwind. As he approached the front door, the familiar anxiety clawed at his chest. How much longer could he keep this secret from Samantha? Every step felt like a countdown to the inevitable moment when everything would unravel.Opening the door, he found Samantha sitting on the couch, her posture stiff, her laptop closed. She wasn't working tonight—that was the first red flag. She always worked late. Her eyes were sharper than usual, and Ethan knew immediately that she had sensed something. His heart sank."You're home," she said, her voice calm but clipped. "We need to talk."Ethan swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry. He walked into the living room, trying to steel himself for the conversation he had dreaded since Olivia came back into his life. Samantha motioned for him to sit beside her, and the air between them felt dense with unspoken tension."Where were you?" Samantha's voice was low, controlled, but her eyes were piercing. Ethan took a deep breath, already feeling cornered. "I went out to clear my head."Samantha tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing. "Don't lie to me, Ethan. I saw the message on your phone. 'We need to talk again'—that doesn't sound like someone from work."Ethan froze. Of course, she had seen the message. He should've known. Samantha was always one step ahead. There was no escaping this."It's... complicated," he began, running a hand through his hair. "It wasn't a work message. It was Olivia."Samantha's eyes widened slightly, but she didn't explode. Instead, her lips pressed together into a thin line, and she sat up straighter. "Olivia? My sister?"Ethan nodded, the weight of the truth bearing down on him. "She came back. She didn't know I was married to you, and when she found out... things got complicated."Samantha's expression darkened. She leaned forward, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and confusion. "You never told me you knew her. That you had a past with her.""I didn't know how to," Ethan admitted, his voice heavy with regret. "We were in love, Sam. Before you and I ever met, we were together. But her parents—your parents—they forced her to leave me. She said they threatened my life if she didn't break things off."Samantha's hands clenched into fists on her lap. "And you never thought to tell me this before? I thought we were building something, Ethan. I trusted you!""I didn't want to hurt you," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "You've done so much for me, and I... I didn't want to ruin what we have."Samantha stood abruptly, pacing the room as anger simmered beneath her usually composed exterior. "So what now? She's back, and you're what? Caught between us?"Ethan stood too, desperate to explain himself. "I didn't ask for this, Sam. I didn't even know she was your sister until recently.""That doesn't change anything!" Samantha's voice rose, her frustration spilling over. "You should've told me. Instead, you've been sneaking around behind my back, meeting with her. Do you even realize how this makes me feel? My own sister... and my husband."Her words hit him like a slap. He had never wanted to hurt her, but here they were, standing on the edge of destruction."I care about you, Samantha," he said earnestly. "I do. But I can't deny that seeing Olivia again stirred up old feelings."Samantha stopped pacing and turned to face him, her eyes filled with hurt. "Old feelings? Ethan, we're married. This isn't some high school romance. You made a commitment to me. Does that mean nothing?"Ethan felt the weight of her words crush him. He didn't know what to say. His mind was tangled between his past with Olivia and the life he had built with Samantha. "I'm not asking for your forgiveness right now," he finally said, his voice trembling. "But I need you to understand, Sam. I never wanted this to happen."Samantha's eyes glistened with unshed tears, and for a moment, she looked away. When she finally spoke, her voice was softer, but the pain was still evident. "I don't know what to do, Ethan. I don't know if I can handle this. You were supposed to be my partner... and now, I feel like a fool."Before Ethan could respond, Samantha took a deep breath and stepped toward him. "I need space. I need time to figure this out. And until then, I think it's best if you stay somewhere else."Ethan's heart sank. "Sam, please—""No," she interrupted, holding up a hand. "I'm not saying it's over. But I need to think. I need to decide if I can trust you again."Ethan nodded slowly, the weight of the situation crashing down on him. He had never meant for things to spiral out of control like this, but now, he had no choice but to face the consequences of his actions.As he packed a small bag and left their home that night, Ethan couldn't help but feel the heavy emptiness inside. He had hurt Samantha—someone who had been nothing but kind and supportive. And Olivia... she had reappeared, reigniting feelings he thought he'd buried long ago.Walking through the quiet streets, Ethan wondered if he'd lost both women in his life. If there was any way to fix the mess he'd created.But one thing was clear: nothing would ever be the same again.