The expression on my best friend’s husband’s face changed completely the moment he caught us trying to open the fōrbidden room… but what broke us wasn’t his anger, it was what happened after he finally opened the door himself.

The expression on his face was terrifying…

“What is going on here? Babe, what are you two trying to do?” Henry asked, his voice calm but dangerous.vr

Immediately, Sharon and I froze.

My heart skipped.

“My love… you are back early… I did not know you would come back this early…” Sharon stammered nervously.

“H-Henry… good afternoon…” I stammered too.

But Henry did not respond.

He just kept walking slowly toward us, and honestly, my spirit almost left my body.

“Stella… we are doomed,” Sharon whispered shakily.

“Stay calm,” I whispered back quickly. “He is still your husband. I will tell him it was my idea.”

Henry finally stopped in front of us.

His face carried both anger and disappointment.

“I asked a question before,” he said slowly. “What are you both doing?”

The way his eyes fixed on us made Sharon start trembling badly.

“Ba… babe… I… I invited Stella to… to…”

“Stella,” Henry interrupted sharply, pointing toward the door. “Please use the door. Thank you for coming.”

“Henry please, it was my idea—”

“Stella,” he interrupted again. “Use the door. Remember this is my house and Sharon is my wife.”

The atmosphere immediately became tense.

I quietly picked my handbag and hugged Sharon tightly.

“Stay calm,” I whispered into her ears. “Do not argue. Just apologize.”

She nodded fearfully.

I slowly walked out but instead of leaving completely, curiosity held me back.

I quietly sneaked around the backyard.

Inside the house, Henry dragged Sharon gently into their room and locked the door behind them.

“Babe… what did I do to deserve this?” Henry asked painfully.

Sharon lowered her head immediately.

“I thought you loved me. I thought I could trust you as my wife and best friend. Why would you do this to me?”

“My love please… I am sorry,” Sharon cried. “I was just curious. I only wanted to know what you are hiding inside that room.”

Henry laughed bitterly.

“Is there anything you have asked from me that I refused to give you?”

“No…” Sharon replied softly.

“Have I ever abūsed you?”

“No my love…”

“Then why?” he asked almost yelling now. “Why would you bring your friends into our marriage?”

Sharon wiped her tears.

“Henry, if you did not hide things from me, I would not be this curious. We are married and yet you are keeping secrets from me.”

Henry stared at her for some seconds before speaking again.

“It was just one request, Sharon. Just one.”

He moved closer.

“What if what is inside that room can destroy me? What if opening that room will ruin my life? Did you ever think about that?”

Sharon looked confused.

“Or your friends filled your head with the idea that I am a ritúalist and you believed them I guess?” he added angrily.

“A ritúalist?” Sharon repeated in shock. “My friends never said that, I didn’t have such a conversation with them.”

Henry laughed painfully again.

“So I should trust you? You already doubt me this much, why then are you still here with me, do you know what happens when trust is broken in a relationship and we just got married.”

Sharon burst into tears immediately.

“My love please… I am sorry. I did not mean for things to get this far. I just wanted answers.”

Outside the window, I kept listening quietly.

And honestly…

Henry had a point.

That was exactly why I warned Sharon to leave the room matter alone.

But curiosity can destroy even the strongest mind.

“Sharon,” Henry said emotionally, sitting on the couch. “You do not understand how much I love you.”

Tears gathered in his eyes.

“You discussed our private matters with your friends so easily. Do you know how painful that is?”

The moment Sharon saw tears in his eyes, she immediately rushed toward him and knelt between his legs.

“My love please forgive me,” she cried while holding his face. “I was confused. I was curious. I did not mean to hurt you.”

PARTI 2