"You lied about working because you knew I'd find out."
"You'd overreact, like now!" she shot back. "Not everything is cheating."
Ryan's chest burned, but he stayed calm. "So, kissing another man is fine in our marriage when it doesn't mean anything?"
"Yes! You need to grow up."
Ryan inhaled deeply, controlling the rage clawing inside him. "Pack a bag. Stay somewhere else tonight. We'll talk when you're ready to be honest."
She laughed. Actually laughed. "I'm not leaving. If you're so bothered, you can leave. My name's on this lease, too."
"You're right. I can't force you out. But I can end this now. Either leave for the night, or we're done."
Her eyes narrowed. "You're pathetic. Three years wasted over nothing."
"Three years of lies," he replied coldly.
She stomped into the bedroom, shoved clothes into a bag, and slammed the door behind her.
Ryan sat in the quiet, staring at her untouched plate on the table. His chest should have felt shattered, but beneath the pain, something darker stirred. He wasn't going to collapse. He wasn't going to beg. He was going to find the truth. And when he did, Madison would wish she'd never mistaken his silence for weakness.
Madison didn't return until late the next morning. She walked into the apartment like nothing had happened, her bag slung over her shoulder, her expression a blend of irritation and entitlement.
"I've thought about it," she announced, not even knocking before barging in. "And I've decided to forgive you."
Ryan, who had barely slept, looked up from his coffee. His eyes were hollow, but his voice was calm. "Forgive me?"
"For embarrassing me," she said sharply, throwing her bag down on the couch. "For overreacting. For making me leave my own home. For being controlling."
Ryan leaned back in his chair, his fingers tightening around the mug. "Madison, you lied about working. You kissed another man. That's not me being controlling. That's you breaking trust."