Allyson could hear faint voices downstairs. She stretched, grabbed her robe and made her way quietly towards the voices, which belonged to her husband and Pete.

Just as she neared the sitting room, she heard Pete talking. His voice was so low, she strained her ears to listen to their conversation.

“Have you told her? I bet she's oblivious.”

Allyson's heart plummets.

What is Roderick hiding from her? She didn't want to make her presence known, she stood still, and tried to control her emotions.

“No, I can't do that now.” Roderick responded, his voice empty of any discernible emotion.

“What if she finds out? You guys have been together for more than a year and she's been really good to you. So if you ask me, she deserves to know.” Pete's voice softened with empathy. “She’s very smart and I believe in no time she'll discover you're hiding something from her,” he continued.

“I really do not care whether or not she finds out, it won't change a thing. I only feel a faint stir of guilt,” Roderick retorted. His voice was cold and distant.

A faint stir of guilt? What on earth are they talking about?

She slowly made her way down the stairs, this time making her presence known to them.

“What are you guys talking about, what are you hiding?” She asked cluelessly.

Both men looked surprised, has she been eavesdropping on their conversation?

“What are you talking about?” Roderick asked.

“What is it you're hiding from me Roderick? Is something wrong? Just tell me.” She looked at both men, demanding an answer to her question.

“Go upstairs Allyson, there's nothing wrong and if there is, it's none of your business.” Roderick responded abrasively, and walked out of the room, he headed towards his library. Pete followed quietly behind him.

A shiver of desolation coursed through her. She feels so little, and in no time, she knows her legs are going to fail her just like her marriage is failing. She held the rails tightly and slowly made her way upstairs to her room, shutting the door behind her. She fell to her knees and cried.

The last time Roderick was acting sneaky around her and hiding things from her, he was having an affair with a Caucasian dancer he met at the bar.

Memories she's buried for the past eight months came flooding back. She knows she can't save her marriage, but what's the point of giving up now. She loves Roderick and with time, he's going to come around.

She was lost in thought when the sound of her phone stirred her back to reality. The name Liam was dancing boldly on her screen, at first she hesitated but then she picked up the phone.

“Hello?”

There was silence on the other end of the phone. Allyson couldn't bring herself to say anything, she just realized how much she missed hearing this voice.

“Ally, are you there?” The rich masculine voice brought back bittersweet memories.

“Hello Liam,” Allyson answered, trying to sound indifferent.

“That voice. I've missed you so much and I've been trying so hard to reach out to you but I couldn't. I just got transferred to Salt lake and I met Cassie at the mall. She's still very chatty, she gave me your number. I've been trying to call you but I was waiting for the right time to do that and I figured the right time is now.” He paused, waiting for a response but he got none. Allyson was awfully quiet.

“Can you hear me?” He asked.

“Ye…yes I can hear you,” she sounded distracted. “ I'm so happy to hear from you Liam.”

“Likewise, maybe we should meet up for drinks and you know catch up. What do you think?” He asked, although he wasn't expecting her to say yes. He knew her too well.

“I don't think that's a good idea Liam, and just so you know, I'm m…” she heard footsteps, it had to be Roderick and he was coming up to their bedroom.

“Thank you so much for reaching out to me Liam, I have to go now.” She immediately hung up. Sitting up straight on the bed, Allyson turned her eyes towards the door.

Roderick walked into the room, paying no attention to her he took off his shirt and walked into the shower.

“Baby, we need to talk.” Allyson said softly, now standing close to Roderick, who was drying his wet hair.

“I really have nothing to say to you, and I have to be in the office in time for my meeting. So I don't have the time of day for causerie.” He was picking out a fresh tie, he reached out for his favorite ocean blue tie, with grey polka dots. That was a present from his dad before he died.

“I want us to talk about what happened earlier. Is there anything I'm supposed to know? I promise I won't freak out.” Allyson interjected smoothly, her soft voice pleading.

“It's just work. There was an incident that happened at the office yesterday, it's been taken care of. Now can I be left alone?” He sounded dismissive.

“Fine. Please promise me you'll always talk to me about anything that bothers you,” her plea laced with a tender fragility.

“Hmm,” he turned away from her.

There was an incident at the office? Was that the reason he came back home late and left her alone last night? Maybe she was just being paranoid, Roderick cares so much about her and he doesn't want to bother her with his work problems. Hope nobody was hurt?

Roderick got dressed, picked up his suitcase, kissed her goodbye and left for the office.

Allyson needed to know what happened at Roderick’s office that got him so worked up.

She picked up her phone and called Abigail. Abigail was the front desk attention at Roderick's company, and she's a really nice lady. She's always chatty and doesn't think twice about keeping Allyson updated on all office gossip. Allyson knew if anything were to happen in Novaspire, she would be able to tell her.

“Hello Abigail.”

“Mrs Chester, it's so nice to hear from you. How have you been?” Abigail sounded very excited, Allyson is certain Abigail won't stop yapping about her relationship with The Mrs Chester, the call is enough evidence. But Allyson doesn't care about that.

“Very well and you?”

“Good thank you. If you're calling to know if Mr Chester is here yet, he's not. But I'm certain he'll be able to make it today since he wasn't here yesterday.”

“He wasn't at the office yesterday?” She asked, flabbergasted by this revelation. What incident was he referring to when they talked earlier?

“No ma'am, is there a problem?” She asked, concerned.

“No, thank you Abigail.” Hanging up the call, Allyson couldn't hold back the rage, she screamed at the top of her voice, with her hand balled into a tight fist.

Roderick lied again, and again and again.