Chapter 6: The Truth He Buried
I couldn’t breathe.
Not because of Megan’s words.
Because of Daniel’s reaction.
He didn’t look confused.
He didn’t look shocked.
He looked guilty.
That was worse.
I slowly turned toward him.
“What was she talking about?””
Daniel didn’t answer.
“Maya…”
“No.””
My voice was shaking.
“You don’t get to say my name like everything is normal.””
People around us glanced over.
I didn’t care.
“What hospital?””
Daniel looked down.
“The night you were sick last winter.””
My memory immediately went there.
The fever.
The emergency room.
The exhaustion.
I had been so sick that I barely remembered anything.
Daniel had told me he stayed by my side the entire night.
He held my hand.
He talked to the doctors.
He refused to leave.
It was one of the moments that made me think I was lucky.
“What about that night?””
He took a deep breath.
“Megan was there.””
My heart sank.
“Why?””
“She called me.””
“Why?””
“She said she was worried.””
I laughed softly.
Of course.
Always worried.
Always helping.
Always finding a reason to appear.
“What happened?””
Daniel looked miserable.
“She drove me there.””
I stared at him.
“You didn’t tell me she was there.””
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because after you were admitted, she left.””
I waited.
“But?””
Daniel closed his eyes.
“But before she left, she said something.””
My fingers curled around my coffee cup.
“What?””
He looked at me.
“She said, ‘Imagine how different your life would be if you were with someone who understood you.’”
The pain was immediate.
Not because Megan said it.
Because Daniel had hidden it.
“You heard that,” I whispered.
“Yes.””
“And you still let her stay in our lives?””
“I thought ignoring her would make it go away.””
I looked at him.
“Did it?””
“No.””
The answer was quiet.
Honest.
Devastating.
My phone buzzed.
A message.
From Megan.
*You want the truth? Fine. Daniel and I have talked about you more than you know.*
Another message appeared.
*Ask him how many times he complained about your marriage.*
I looked up.
Daniel saw my face.
“What did she say?””
I didn’t answer.
Because I already knew.
The worst part was not knowing whether it was true.
The worst part was knowing there was a chance.
“Did you complain about me to her?””
Daniel looked away.
Once again.
Silence.
I stood.
“Answer me.””
“Yes.””
The word was barely audible.
My eyes burned.
“How many times?””
“Only a few.””
“A few?””
“She would ask.””
“And you answered.””
“Yes.””
I nodded.
A strange calm came over me.
Not peace.
Something colder.
“What did you say?””
Daniel looked like he wanted to disappear.
“I said we argued sometimes.””
“Anything else?””
“No.””
I stared at him.
“You told her our problems.””
“I didn’t think—”
“That’s the problem.””
I grabbed my bag.
“I trusted both of you.””
Daniel stood quickly.
“Maya, please.””
I looked at him.
“I need space.””
I walked away.
This time, he didn’t follow.
That night, I went to my sister’s apartment.
I needed somewhere that didn’t have memories of Megan.
No photos.
No dinner conversations.
No reminders.
But at midnight, there was a knock at the door.
I froze.
Nobody knew I was there except my sister.
I looked through the peephole.
Megan.
Standing outside.
My first instinct was anger.
My second was fear.
I opened the door but kept the chain locked.
“What do you want?””
Her eyes were red.
She looked nothing like the confident woman from the restaurant.
“Maya, please.””
“No.””
“I need to explain.””
“You had twelve years.””
She flinched.
“I never wanted to hurt you.””
I almost laughed.
“You wrote a plan to destroy my marriage.””
Her face changed.
A small crack.
“You saw that?””
“Yes.””
She looked away.
Then something unexpected happened.
She smiled.
Not a kind smile.
A defeated one.
“Then you know.””
I felt a chill.
“Know what?””
She stepped closer to the door.
“You know Daniel isn’t as innocent as you think.””
I shook my head.
“This is your last attempt to manipulate me.””
“No.””
Her voice became serious.
“I’m telling you because I’m tired of protecting him.””
Protecting him?
The phrase made my stomach twist.
“What are you talking about?””
Megan looked directly into my eyes.
“The night you were in the hospital…”
She paused.
“He wasn’t there the whole time.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
“He left.””
I stared at her.
“No.””
“He left for forty minutes.””
“That’s a lie.””
Megan shook her head.
“Ask him where he went.””
I felt the ground disappear beneath me.
Because suddenly I remembered something.
A tiny detail.
A detail I had ignored.
When I woke up that morning, Daniel’s jacket smelled like a perfume that wasn’t mine.
I had assumed it was from the nurses.
I had assumed everything.
Megan stepped back.
“Ask him.””
Then she whispered:
“Ask him why he came back looking guilty.””
She turned and walked away.
I stood there frozen.
Then my phone rang.
Daniel.
I answered.
May you like
And the first thing he said was:
“Maya… before you hear anything from her, there’s something I need to tell you.””
