Had Her Suspicions
Cindy had her suspicions. He had shown her all the signs that something was wrong. Then she realized that the power to get to the bottom of things. She knew exactly where to start.
He got home late again. He used the usual excuse that he had been working late and went straight to bed. Cindy knew that now she had the opportunity to find out the truth.
The Garage
Cindy walked over to the garage and flicked on the light switch. There it was, his pride and joy. The car had been owned ever since they had met. It was a nice sports car with a lot of miles on it.
But her husband always had a strange rule about when she was allowed to be in it. Tonight, she was breaking that rule once and for all.
Going Inside
She grabbed the spare keys from the kitchen bowl and carefully and quietly turned it in the door. There was a pop, and the door opened. She looked inside and saw the state it was in.
He had receipts and other disposable items that must have been accumulated over months. But she had her suspicions that there was something else hiding in the car that would point toward his wicked deeds.
Taking A Look
Cindy started carefully combing through the car when she heard a noise in the kitchen. She quickly locked the car and hid the key. She went back to the kitchen where her husband was.
She found her husband, Greg, in the kitchen, looking for something to eat. She threw off his suspicion by making him dinner and then tried getting back to the task at hand.
A "Clean up"
Cindy knew that she had to have a good excuse for what she was planning on doing. If he could see her going through his car, he would never forgive her. That's when it came to her.
She decided to do a cleanup in his car. If he caught her, she'd say it was a surprise for him. In fact, he didn't want her to have any reasons to think it was a suspicious action. It was the perfect plan.
The Next Day
The next morning, Greg went off for his Saturday run. He would be gone for forty minutes. It was just enough time for Cindy to get to the bottom of things. She climbed back in his car with a plastic bag and started cleaning it up.
She was sure to inspect every single item she found. She started doubting whether he actually had anything to hide. Then she saw it.
Wedged Between The Seats
Wedged between the seats, there was something that was supposed to stay hidden. Cindy slowly pulled it out and examined it, but once she realized what it was, her blood went cold.
She couldn't believe the secret he had been hiding from her. Now she had the evidence to prove it all, but her stomach churned. There was a lot more to it than she had initially thought.
Confrontation
As soon as Greg got back from his walk, he saw his wife leaning against his car in the driveway, with the evidence in her hand. His heart dropped, and he knew he'd been caught.
He gulped and walked up to her, ready for a confrontation like no other. She showed him what she'd found, and he couldn't defend himself from the truth. Things were going to change forever.
Cindy Bel
Cindy Bel looked back on her life and wondered how different it would be if she had made different choices. She had married her high school sweetheart at the age of eighteen and quickly moved in with him.
They both found average middle-class jobs and were excited to start their lives together. But things wouldn't always stay the same.
Difficulties
Cindy genuinely loved Greg, but things were different from how they had used to be. Ten years ago, they felt like two pieces of a puzzle. But now, they had difficulties that other couples probably didn't.
She looked back on where things had all changed. Then she realized that it was when Greg had gotten promoted.
Corporate Life
Greg had always spoken badly of corporate life when he was a desk worker at a firm. He despised the kind of men who went out after work to drink with their bosses, but then things changed.
One day, Greg broke the news that he had gotten promoted. Cindy was completely supportive of him. But over the next few months, she saw him less and less.
Coming Home Late
Greg started asserting his importance more than he used to. He grew more arrogant and self-important. Cindy would have gotten used to all of these things, but there was one that bothered her above all else.
Greg started to come home later and later in the months after his promotion. She remembered him talking about important employees going out to drink with their boss, but he denied he was doing this.
Working Hard
Greg would arrive home to find Cindy waiting by the kitchen table with a plate of cold food, or in some extreme cases, she'd fallen asleep while waiting for him by the door.
Every single time, his excuse was the same. He told her that he'd been working hard and thus working late. She was foolish enough to believe him in the beginning. But as it went on, she lost her faith in him.
Growing Suspicious
Cindy, who loved her husband, was torn apart by the loneliness of an empty house while he was out somewhere for who knows how long. She couldn't bear it any longer, so she began to grow suspicious.
She used to believe him, but recently, she'd grown cynical and suspicious, just like him. What was he really doing? But one evening, she noticed something that would convince her.
Perfume
One evening, Greg arrived home unsurprisingly late. He gave the normal excuse, but that's when Cindy caught the smallest whiff of it and only for a second - perfume.
She managed to smell a subtle aroma from Greg, and it definitely wasn't his cologne. It was the perfume a woman would wear. She nearly broke down in front of him, but she had a good poker face.
Showering
Coincidentally, Greg always insisted on taking a shower right after getting home. She used to chalk it up to him and wanted to shed the day's labor off of himself.
But then she realized that there might have been a much more sinister reason behind everyone. That's when she finally snapped. She knew she had to do something about it.
A Dark Obsession
Cindy knew that things were never going to be the same after she found what he had to hide. She felt her heart straining every day. She wouldn’t be able to even look him in the eye until she found out the truth.
She was going to do something that he’d never forgive her for - look inside of his car. But she had no idea what she’d find.
An Opportunity
Like the universe had heard her plea for help, the very next day, she saw an opportunity she couldn’t pass up. Greg always treated his car like his baby, but out of the blue, he said that he was feeling sick, too sick to drive.
Cindy grabbed the opportunity with both hands and started looking after him. That’s when she asked the fateful question.
Getting Him Meds
Cindy offered to go out and get her husband some medication. She convinced him that if she got him the meds that day on a Friday, he would feel good enough to work on the Monday.
He reluctantly agreed. But that’s when Cindy really used her quick wit to her advantage. “My car’s been giving me trouble. Do you mind if I pop out in yours?”
Hesitation
Suddenly, his sickly face seemed to change to one of hesitation. He was thinking. Normally, he’d never let her drive his car. But now that she was taking care of him, she was in control.
He seemed to finally relent, not having enough patience to hold out without medication. He gave her the keys to his car and let her go on her way. She would, of course, get him the medication he needed but also do her own bit of investigating.
Driving To The Pharmacy
Cindy drove to the pharmacy in Greg’s car. To be honest, the car did feel wonderful to drive. She understood why he cared so much about the vehicle. But she also knew that she’d find the truth to everything inside.
She got the meds from the store and then headed back to the parking lot. But that’s where she knew it was now or never. She’d have to search the car now if she wanted to find out the truth.
Opening The Glove Box
The first place that Cindy looked was the glove box. She popped it open, and a cup fell out. That wasn’t anything to worry about. Or was it?
The closer she looked, the more she understood what it was. This was an ordinary cup in a sense. But it wasn’t an ordinary cup for an adult to use.
Life-Changing Discovery
Cindy stared at the cup for quite a while, trying to understand what it was doing in her husband’s car. This cup was not just any cup. It was one that would change the image of her husband forever.
She knew that she needed to confront him about it. Hopefully, he would have the answers she was looking for.
Any Excuse
Cindy had reached her breaking point, but deep down, she still had hope. She tried to come up with any excuse she could find to defend her husband.
She wanted to believe that this was just a huge misunderstanding. That the two of them could still make it through the uphill battle they had been facing. But was that possible?
Feeling Sick
Cindy looked down at the cup again, and a wave of nausea washed over her. The evidence was so shocking that she was feeling physically ill.
But what was it about this cup that had her so upset? Why would a simple cup bring her to reconsider her marriage to her high school sweetheart? It was just a cup. Or was it?
Was She Overreacting?
Cindy started hyperventilating as her grip on the cup tightened. She was furious, but at the same time, she couldn’t help but wonder if she might be overreacting.
Over the last few months, all she had done was wound herself up. She was convinced something was up, and she couldn’t help but wonder if those ghosts were winning her over now.
Benefit Of The Doubt
Not knowing whether or not she was in her right mind, she decided to give her husband the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he had a logical explanation for all this.
Well, at least that was what she wanted to believe, but she knew that would probably not be the case. But why was that? What was it about this cup that had her considering divorce?
A Baby Cup
The issue she had was that the cup was one for a toddler. They didn’t have kids, so who was Greg seeing that did? She hoped that he would have a good explanation for everything, but she knew the chances were slim.
When she got home, she gave him the medication, which he was grateful for, but then she brought everything up.
A Work Colleague’s
“I found this in your car,” she said, holding up the baby cup. “I went over a speed bump, and the glove box opened.” But what would her husband say to defend himself?
Oh, you found that? That’s my work colleague’s. I gave him a lift home the other day, and he accidentally left it in the car. I’ve been meaning to give it back to him, but I keep forgetting.” He told her.
Skeptical
Well, okay then!” Cindy said with a smile. She had to throw suspicion off of herself even if she didn’t believe him. She was skeptical that he was telling the truth and knew there was only one way to find out more.
She needed a deeper dive into the car. She’d have to find the time when she could search it without having to rush anywhere.
Doubting Everything
The answer and the evidence only made Cindy feel more torn. She needed to understand everything that was going on, and she’d only find it by going more thoroughly through the car.
But when would she get another chance to look inside? It could take months before Greg agreed to let her use it again. She couldn’t wait that long.
Restless
That night, Cindy couldn’t sleep. She kept thinking about everything that had happened. She knew that she’d never be able to stay with Greg if she couldn’t trust him.
But Cindy couldn’t do or believe anything without solid proof. That’s why she decided that she’d get to the bottom of things once and for all.
What Is Evidence?
But what did Cindy consider to be evidence? And what would be considered solid enough for her to believe? Surely, the cup should’ve been enough, right? What more could she want?
Her husband would use any excuse in the book to get away with whatever it is that he’s hiding. So, what would she consider to be believable? And what would be considered a lie?
How Would She Get It?
Cindy didn’t know the answer to any of those questions, but she knew something would stick. He had to be hiding something that he wouldn’t be able to explain.
And she would be finding whatever that something was. But where would she even begin? Was there more in the car? Was there something she missed?
Only One Way
Cindy knew that Greg wasn’t hiding anything in the house. She didn’t know if he had another spot where he was keeping his secrets.
But she did know that he wasn’t afraid to hide things in his car since he wasn’t allowing her to get into it. So that was where she needed to start her search.
Was It Possible?
That was where the problem started. How could Cindy get access to the car without Greg getting suspicious? When would she get enough time to search the entire thing without getting caught?
She needed to do it while he was sick. That way, he’d never be able to follow her. But sadly, things weren’t going to go as planned.
Getting Better
Unfortunately for Cindy, Greg improved drastically with the help of the meds in just one evening. This meant that he would never let her use the car again. She’d have to think of another way of doing things.
But thankfully, she’d get lucky, and soon enough, she’d have the perfect plan to do a deep dive into the mysterious vehicle.
Waiting
Cindy decided to wait. The opportune moment was bound to arrive. Something would happen, as it did that weekend, and she would be able to “borrow” the car again.
What she didn’t know was that the wait would take longer than she expected. Greg was suspicious now, and he was doing everything in his power to keep her away from the car.
Days To Weeks
Hours turned to days, and before long, days turned to weeks, and Cindy still hadn’t gotten her chance. She was starting to realize that Greg was on to her, and she suspected that it might be time to change tact.
That was easier said than done, though. So much time had passed that she was starting to reach the end of her patience.
Getting Impatient
Cindy couldn’t take it anymore. This whole game had gone on for far too long, and it was starting to wear her out. At that point, all she wanted was some answers, and she was no longer willing to wait until they came to her.
Her days were filled with stress, and her nights weren’t any better. Most of the time, she was just tossing and turning as she tried to come up with another plan.
When?
One question kept repeating itself in Cindy’s mind. When… When will she get her chance? When would she get the answers she sought?
And it was that question that had her getting more restless by the day. It was the one thing she had no control over, and that was driving her mad. Would that force her to take drastic action?
Should She Try?
One day, while Cindy was at work, she went over all the events that occurred since she found that cup. And she realized that her husband’s behavior had only gotten worse.
That was what ultimately led her to wonder if the time had come to act. Maybe waiting wasn’t the best idea anymore. Maybe she should just go for it and think about the consequences later.
The Last Time
Cindy couldn't take it anymore. She convinced herself to do something at the next opportunity. That's when it arrived. Greg got home tired and wanted to shower and go to bed. She didn't stop him.
He was acting weird as usual, but that didn't stop her. She looked toward the garage door. She knew this was her chance.
Greg's Car
Cindy walked over to the garage and flicked on the light switch. There it was, his pride and joy. The car had been owned ever since they had met. He could barely afford the thing, but it made him happy. It was a nice sports car with a lot of miles on it.
But her husband always had a strange rule about when she was allowed to be in it. Tonight, she was breaking that rule once and for all.
Spare Keys
She grabbed the spare keys from the kitchen bowl and carefully and quietly turned it in the door. There was a pop, and the door opened. She looked inside and saw the state it was in.
He had receipts and other disposable items that must have been accumulated over months. But she had her suspicions that there was something else hiding in the car that would point toward his wicked deeds
Combing Through Everything
Cindy started carefully combing through the car when she heard a noise in the kitchen. She quickly locked the car and hid the key. She went back to the kitchen where her husband was.
She found her husband, Greg, in the kitchen, looking for something to eat. She threw off his suspicion by making him dinner and then tried getting back to the task at hand.
Needed An Excuse
Cindy knew that she had to have a good excuse for what she was planning on doing. If he could see her going through his car, he would never forgive her. That's when it came to her.
She decided to do a cleanup in his car. If he caught her, she'd say it was a surprise for him. In fact, he didn't want her to have any reasons to think it was a suspicious action. It was the perfect plan.
Feeling Fine
It was incredible how Greg felt fine that evening. The meds really had done him good, and he seemed ready for his normal Saturday routine. That’s when she remembered a key detail about the weekend.
She knew that there was a time every Saturday when Greg wouldn’t be out with his car. She had to use that to get what she wanted, else she’d have to wait another week. It was now or never.
Saturday Run
The next morning, Greg went off for his Saturday run. He would be gone for forty minutes. It was just enough time for Cindy to get to the bottom of things. She climbed back in his car with a plastic bag and started cleaning it up.
She was sure to inspect every single item she found. She started doubting whether he actually had anything to hide. Then she saw it.
Found It
Wedged between the seats, there was something that was supposed to stay hidden. Cindy slowly pulled it out and examined it, but once she realized what it was, her blood went cold.
She couldn't believe the secret he had been hiding from her. Now she had the evidence to prove it all, but her stomach churned. There was a lot more to it than she had initially thought.
Undeniable
Greg had already denied the truth with the sippy cup, but now she would be able to shove proper evidence into his face. How would he deny the receipt as well? He couldn’t say it was a colleague’s, not this time.
She felt anger and sadness shoot through her as she considered what the future would hold for her. Would things be repairable?
Coming Back From His Walk
As soon as Greg got back from his walk, he saw his wife leaning against his car in the driveway, with the evidence in her hand. His heart dropped, and he knew he'd been caught.
He gulped and walked up to her, ready for a confrontation like no other. She showed him what she'd found, and he couldn't defend himself from the truth. Things were going to change forever.
A Necklace
Cindy held the evidence in her hand; it was a receipt for a diamond necklace. Tears rolled down her cheeks. "Who is she? I don't even get such expensive gifts!" She shouted through tears.
Greg froze up. He didn't seem to know how to respond. He was sweating bullets. "Let me explain." He said, but how was he going to worm his way out of this one?
Didn’t Want To Hear It
Cindy didn’t want to hear any excuses this time. She sobbed and stood frozen in place. Greg could tell that no matter what he said, he wouldn’t be able to convince her. That’s when he did something she didn’t expect.
The desperate husband could only think of one way to silence his wife. He had an unexpected surprise hidden in his trunk. He had to use it now.
Reaching For Something
Greg started walking slowly to his car, where he popped the trunk. Cindy jumped back. What did he have planned for her? Her heart started beating faster and faster. Was he really going to do something bad?
Then Greg slowly reached a hand into the trunk, and she heard a click. He had opened a secret compartment. Then he grabbed something from inside.
The End?
Dozens of thoughts raced through Cindy's mind. Was this really the end? She prepared herself for the worst. It was either going to be divorce papers or something much more sinister.
Through teary eyes, it was hard to make out what he had in his hand. But once it came into focus, she couldn't believe what he was holding. Her heart nearly blew out of its chest.
All Over
She knew it was all over. But maybe it was for the best that they got a divorce. That’s at least what she hoped that he would be giving her. If it was something a little more sinister, then she really didn’t know who he was.
Either way, she got ready to face the music and closed her eyes. But he spoke for the first time. The words were not what she expected.
A Gift
"It's for you," Greg said as he held out his arm. "It's a gift for our anniversary in a month, but I wanted to buy it early." He smiled the old smile he used to have before the promotion.
He continued, "It's part of a bigger gift, actually. Maybe I should just tell you about that one too." Cindy was still suspicious as she held the beautiful diamond necklace in her hands.
Going Back To How Things Used To Be
"I'm going back to how I used to be. I worked really hard the last few months to make up enough money that I don't need to work at this company anymore. I'm quitting so that you and I can go back to how things used to be. The corporate world isn't good for me." He finished his explanation, but was it good enough?
Cindy stood awestruck. She had grown so suspicious of him over the last few weeks. Should she believe him?
Reconciling
Cindy approached Greg and gave him a hug. "You better keep to that promise. This house is lonely without you. What about the perfume, though?" She asked.
"I thought you might have smelled it. At the place where I got the necklace for you, they wanted me to sample some of their perfumes. I didn't end up getting you any, but It was inevitable that some would rub off on me." He explained. It was good enough for Cindy, and the two could start reconciling.
This story was handcrafted with love by a creative novelist to thrill and entertain, mirroring real-life situations to awaken your imagination and evoke profound emotions. All events, places, and characters are products of the author’s imagination, and all images and videos are used for illustrative purposes only. We hope you enjoyed reading it just as much as we enjoyed writing it!