Hidden Desires - Family Secrets

I slowly regained consciousness, not daring to open my eyes just yet.

My mouth was parched, and a cool cloth rested on my forehead while footsteps echoed nearby.

Gradually, I opened my eyes to find myself in my own bed.

The room was lit, and as I squinted against the harsh light, I could see a slender, beautiful figure bustling about in the living room.

She moved with a towel in hand until she disappeared from view.

Feeling the cool towel on my forehead, I realized someone was tending to me with a cold compress.

The sound of running water came from the bathroom, likely the towel being rinsed.

Soon, footsteps seemed to head towards the kitchen, followed by the clatter of pots and pans.

What was going on? What time was it? Glancing at the clock, it was 8:55 PM, nearly 9 PM.

My mind was foggy as I recalled returning home, intending to visit the memorial tablet of my parents, only to faint.

It was around six o'clock then; I must have been out for over two hours.

The person now busy in the kitchen had to be Betty; I wondered when she had come back and how long her affair with Michael had lasted.

My body felt incredibly weak, devoid of any strength.

My heart was heavy, wishing all I had seen was just a dream during my unconscious state.

But it felt all too real, leaving no room for hope.

Just then, I heard footsteps approaching the bedroom.

I quickly closed my eyes again, unsure how to face Betty.

After entering the room and gently touching my face, Betty left, her footsteps fading away.

I opened my eyes and saw Betty kneeling at the doorway, meticulously cleaning my shoes.

After finishing, she began using a lint roller on my suit and trousers.

Watching Betty's diligent actions, I couldn't reconcile the betrayal I had witnessed.

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Why had Betty betrayed me again, and for what reason?

I stared at the ceiling light, not minding the glare, until my eyes watered from the brightness.

What should I do? Did Betty still love me, or was it all pretense?

The cold towel on my forehead now felt repulsive.

"Darling, you're finally awake," Betty's surprised voice reached me.

I looked up to see Betty at the doorway; I had been so lost in thought that I hadn't noticed her.

I hadn't realized she had finished cleaning.

She had caught me awake.

"Darling, you have no idea how scared I was when I came home and saw you like this," Betty said, wiping tears with the back of her hand, but she suddenly stopped speaking.

After a brief pause, she picked up the towel again and touched my cheek and forehead.

"Where have you been?" I asked weakly, already knowing where Betty had been but unable to help myself.

I hoped against hope for an honest answer, though I knew it was unlikely.

"I was at the school lab, doing an inventory of equipment, so I got back late and forgot to call you," Betty replied smoothly, without hesitation, but she didn't dare meet my gaze.

It seemed she had prepared her excuse well before coming home, a flawless alibi possibly suggested by Michael.

"Why didn't you answer your phone?" I pressed with another question, wondering if she had prepared for this one too.

"I... I... I didn't have my phone with me. We're not allowed to bring electronics into the lab because of some chemicals," Betty stuttered, her eyes darting around nervously, showing she hadn't anticipated this question.

I wasn't well-versed in chemistry, so I couldn't tell if Betty was telling the truth or lying.

"Honey, don't move."

I tried to shift a bit, only to feel a sharp pain in my left arm, causing Betty to cry out in alarm.

I looked down and noticed an IV needle inserted into my arm.

"What happened to me?" I asked, puzzled about why I had passed out.

"The doctor came by and said you were just exhausted and stressed, which led to a severe fever because you might have caught a chill recently," Betty explained with a sigh, tenderly stroking my face.

It seemed my recent discovery of Betty's affair had overwhelmed me, and the poor insulation in the cabin, coupled with my careless dressing, had taken its toll.

"Honey, don't push yourself too hard. Relax a bit at work. We don't need much to be happy. If it's too much, quit your job and rest for a while. We can get by on my salary alone, as long as you're healthy, nothing else matters," Betty said, holding my hand.

Her tearful eyes looked so sincere, it was hard to see any deceit.

She thought my condition was due to work stress, unaware that I knew everything, that I knew about her secret rendezvous with Michael, who was not abroad as she had claimed.

"Honey, you must be hungry. I'll get you something to eat."

Betty wiped her tears and hurried out of the bedroom. I wasn't really hungry, but before I could say anything, she was gone. Soon, she returned with a bowl of celery and pork porridge, my favorite, though not quite as good as my mom's, but still very appetizing.

Betty sat on the bed, placed the bowl on the nightstand, propped up my head with a pillow, and began to feed me, gently blowing on each spoonful.

Looking at Betty's charming face, her sexy, beautiful lips, and her voluptuous figure, it was hard to believe what she had done just hours ago.

Betty cooled the porridge and brought it to my lips, but I hesitated to open my mouth.

My favorite food no longer interested me.

Yet, seeing Betty's eager, caring eyes, and thinking about our future, I wondered if I would ever have the chance to eat her cooking again or share such intimate moments.

Soon, I might have to live with this betrayal or leave her because of her infidelity.

With these thoughts, I opened my mouth, and Betty fed me the porridge.

It tasted the same as always, but I felt no love or warmth. Perhaps Betty still loved me, but it was no longer exclusive to me; her love was now divided.

I ate the porridge Betty fed me, spoon by spoon.

Each time, she looked into my eyes with deep affection and a smile, her care seemed so genuine, but I felt disconnected, unable to receive the signals of Betty's love anymore.