Chapter 5

Heather looked at Annie sleeping peacefully in her bed from the door and then closed it silently. She went downstairs to the living room, filled a glass with liquor and looked at herself at the golden mirror behind the bar. She was young, beautiful and elegant, a woman that any man would be proud to call his wife. 'Isn't that so?', she wondered. 'So, why does he treat me this way? Why does he keep humiliating me like this?'. She sighed lowering her head and then lifted it up again. She was too proud to give up on herself. Finally, it was time to put an end to it. She would make it clear that she had put up with this humiliation for long enough. After she emptied her glass and refilled, she wiped angrily a tear she felt falling down to her cheek, sat on an armchair with the glass on her hand and sipped slowly this time. She had just finished it, when she heard keys at the front door.

''Darling, I'm home'', Dean said putting down his suitcase. ''Where is Annie?''

''Welcome'', Heather said turning to him and leaving the now empty glass on the table. ''Annie went to bed a while ago. How was your trip?''

''Great. I've made the deal I had been working on for months. Tomorrow night we go to your favourite restaurant to celebrate it''. Dean kissed her tenderly on the neck smelling the expensive perfume he had recently bought her. ''I missed you so much…'', he whispered caressing her hair. ''What's going on?'', he wondered seeing that she remained somewhat cold to his touch. ''I thought you liked that…''

''I do. I'm just not in the mood'', she said and moved away from him. She stood in front of the window and looked at the large garden that adorned their villa with the fresh-cut grass and the pool. Luxury all around. That's what this marriage had offered her. But what Heather craved for was her husband's love. She wanted him to be totally committed to her as she was to him. It was not an absurd thing to ask. She was simply asking for him to reciprocate her feelings. Dean moved slowly towards her and wrapped his arms around her waist bringing her body close to his.

''You are not in the mood the night your husband returns from a trip?''

''What surprises me is your mood'', replied Heather stepping away from his embrace. ''Hasn't your secretary satisfied you enough?''

''What are you talking about?'', Dean said laughing like he had just heard the most absurd thing.

''Stop laughing, Dean, you irritate me even more!''

''And is it my fault that you're upset?''

''No, of course not! Why would it be your fault? You are always the innocent party!''. Dean folded his arms and took a deep breath.

''What's the matter, Heather? What kind of welcome is this?'', he asked causing her a nervous laughter.

''Oh, forgive me, your Majesty, for not welcoming you as you'd wish!''

''You're drunk'', he said.

''Not much. I've had a couple of drinks''.

''Then, it would be best to speak tomorrow, when you'll be sober'', he said and got to the staircase. Before he even reached the first step he heard the sound of a glass breaking. He turned around and saw Heather looking provocatively at him trembling. ''Oh my God! Have you lost your mind? You'll wake Annie up!'', he said as he came close to her.

''I have not lost my mind at all, Dean. Stop patronizing me'', she demanded fighting hard to hold back her tears but she failed. ''You think I don't know what's going on at work? You think they haven't told me?''

''Who said what?''

''It doesn't matter'', Heather whispered. ''I know everything, Dean. Even when I don't say anything, even when I act like there is nothing wrong, I know… I know you are cheating on me''.

''Heather, darling…''

''Don't lie to me!'', she interrupted him. ''Admit the truth for once. For once look me straight in the eyes and tell me… Tell me that you don't want me anymore… Tell me that you love somebody else''. Earlier she had decided to take the high road but she failed miserably.

''Heather…'', he said approaching her with caution and seeing that she did not push him away, he hugged her. ''I adore you, sweetheart. Tell me that you never doubted it'', he said with a kiss. ''Fine, I can't deny that I have made my mistakes but I have never put anyone else above you. No one compares to you. How can you believe that I don't want you anymore? You, my life? How could you think that I would ever leave you? Don't you know it yet? Heather, you are my wife, mother of my child. I only want you by my side. You and our daughter matter more to me than anything. Please, don't let this ruin our family. They are trying to destroy our happiness with their lies, can't you see that? Don't allow these people to fill your mind with suspicion. Because you know better than anyone how much I truly love you''.

Slowly, she lowered her defences. Every caress, every word cleared the clouds from her mind and she let him conquer her again. It was impossible to remain angry at him. She couldn't find the strength to get him out of her life. Her deepest fear was that maybe one day, Dean would be tired of her and abandon her. That's why every time he reassured her this would never happen, Heather always forgave him. Although deep down she was certain that there were other women in his life. But she could not bear to admit it and she did not want to. 'Let him have as many mistresses as he likes. The only thing that matters to me is to be close to him', she was thinking just before she fell asleep in his embrace.