A hidden affair: my wife lover is my secretary

Chapter 8: A Call That Shatters the Silence

The days crawled by, each minute an eternity for Lila. The silence from Ethan was deafening, a constant, agonizing reminder of the precarious balance she was trying to maintain. Anxiety gnawed at her, fear and guilt swirling within her like a tempest. Had she pushed him away? Was he angry with her? Or worse, had something happened to him?

Then her phone buzzed, the familiar ringtone jolting her out of a melancholic reverie. It was Ethan. Her heart leaped into her throat, a mixture of relief and trepidation washing over her.

"Ethan," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "Where have you been? I haven't heard from you."

"Lila," his voice, warm and apologetic, washed over her. "I'm so sorry. Things got hectic here. The meetings were back-to-back, and I barely had a moment to breathe."

Relief washed over her, quickly replaced by a surge of longing. "Are you back in the city now?" she asked, her voice soft.

"No," he replied, his voice slightly hesitant. "I'm actually at my parents' place."

Lila's heart plummeted. "Your parents' place?" she echoed, a sense of dread creeping into her voice.

"Yeah," he said, the hesitation in his voice growing. "My mother… she arranged a meeting. You know, the usual. She wants me to settle down."

Lila felt a cold dread grip her. "A meeting?" she repeated, her voice barely a whisper. "With who?"

"A girl," Ethan admitted, his voice dropping to a low murmur. "Her name is Maya. She's… nice."

Lila felt a wave of nausea wash over her. "Nice?" she echoed, her voice laced with disbelief. "Ethan, what about us?"

A long silence followed. Lila held her breath, her heart pounding against her ribs. Finally, Ethan spoke, his voice low and intense. "Lila, I… I told her no. I told my parents I'm not interested."

Lila's heart pounded with a mixture of relief and a strange, unsettling joy. He had chosen her. He had chosen their secret, their forbidden love. "You did?" she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.

"Yes," he said, his voice firm. "I… I can't imagine my life without you, Lila. You're the only one for me."

Lila felt tears welling up in her eyes. "Ethan…" she breathed, her voice thick with emotion. "I… I love you too."

Their conversation continued, their voices a hushed murmur, filled with longing and unspoken promises. Lila felt a surge of euphoria, the thrill of their forbidden connection pushing her to the edge.

Suddenly, a voice startled her. "Lila? Who are you talking to?"

Alexander stood in the doorway, his expression a mixture of surprise and concern. Lila's heart leaped into her throat. She quickly hung up the phone, her fingers trembling as she scrambled to cover the receiver.

"It's… it's Sarah," she stammered, her heart pounding in her chest. "She was just… explaining something to me."

Alexander raised an eyebrow, but he didn't press further. "Oh, okay," he said, his voice laced with a hint of disappointment.

Lila forced a smile, trying to appear calm. "Sorry, I got carried away."

Alexander stepped closer, his eyes searching hers. "It's alright," he said, his voice softening. "Come here."

He pulled her close, his arms encircling her waist. Lila leaned into him, her heart still racing, the memory of Ethan's words echoing in her mind. As Alexander kissed her, his lips moving gently against hers, Lila felt a strange disconnect, her mind still reeling from her conversation with Ethan.