Unfaithful: Web Of Betrayal

The clues were all there. He just didn’t notice it. He was ignorant, but because he thought Olivia would be the last person on earth that would ever betray him.

LUDUS. The name of the Ocean Liner that Olivia went on a solo trip a couple of years ago. What are the odds of anyone would use the same name for their Art Gallery? The building was right across from his wife’s studio and now they are business partners. That can’t be a coincidence?Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

Declan was looking at the picture of the dolphins at Roman’s second-floor gallery. The sheer white sheet is now familiar to him, it was Olivia’s. The one she often use when she was relaxing by the swimming pool to cover her bikini. He let out a long exhale to calm himself from the brewing heat inside him.

They’ve spent almost all their working hours together, who knows what they’re really doing? His behavior at the party was odd, to say the least. For someone who works close with his wife, he didn’t show his face until the announcement. But the nail to the coffin was when he saw Roman come out of the bathroom where his wife was in.

Declan stood straight, looking at the picture although his mind was roaming elsewhere. Bits and pieces of other clues are connecting in his brain. He wanted to be wrong, but who was he fooling? His deepest fear had come into reality, somehow he had expected Olivia to be unfaithful ever since his own affair, what surprised him was the man she chose to have it with. He would never have guessed she would be with someone like Roman.

“Declan? My manager said you were here … I thought I heard wrong … is everything alright? Olivia didn’t come to work today,” Roman’s voice came from behind.

Declan kept his calm still facing the picture, the center of that room, “I know … everything’s fine, actually, I’m looking for you.”

He turned to Roman, who was standing by the room separator. They looked into each other’s eyes and somehow Roman knew what it was about.

“How can I help you?” he wiped the paint from his hands.

Declan swallowed hard. He was struggling to hold the roller coaster of emotions he was feeling as he looked into that young man’s face. He curved his lips, “Funny you should ask that.”

Roman’s expression turned serious, part of him was still guessing, but the other part was sure … he was being confronted by his lover’s husband.

“I need you to stay away from my wife, Roman, I need you to help me with that.”

He folded his arms in front of him and leaned his back on the wall. He looked at Declan in silence, he has no answer to that.

“You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into … she’s confused, and hurt, … doubtful maybe … but she’s not going anywhere … she’s staying with me.”

Roman tilted his head to one side and scoffed. He’s not going to deny it. The way he left things with Olivia the other night might spook her but he was sure she was not changing her mind about divorcing Declan, “Maybe you’re the one who doesn’t know what’s really going on with her … because you’re too busy doing more important things.”

Declan looked down, he fixed his button to distract him from punching the insolent boy, “We’ve been married for more than half of your life … and we’ve been in love for years before that … you don’t know her … you might think that you do … but you don’t … not like I do.”

“And you don’t know her like I do … don’t you see, Declan? It’s not how long you know them, it’s whether or not you understand her the way she needs to be understood … it’s a surprise coming from you … I thought you’d be more experienced from your own relationship with another woman … I bet she understands you more than your wife could ever do.”

Declan walked over with a finger pointed at him, he could barely hold it together, “Listen to me, you punk … the only reason why I haven’t bashed your head into this wall is because you’re Brian Murphy’s son … you think you know what’s going on in my marriage? You have no clue about anything … I’m giving you the chance to walk away right now and leave us alone … or I swear I will make your life a living hell.”

Roman didn’t flinch, he stared deep into Declan’s eyes with the calmness that irritated him even more, “She hasn’t told you? She’s going to leave you, Declan … she’s done with your bullshit … and she doesn’t even know that you’re still seeing your mistress.”

He gasped when Declan’s forearm was pressed against his neck.

“You! It’s you who sent me those pictures? Why you son of a bitch … you think you can blackmail me? I’m telling you … leave us alone, or I will call the police for blackmail, your dad is not gonna be happy with that.”

Roman pushed him as hard as he might, he bent over to cough after his throat was released, “What pictures? Do you think I have time to play that kind of game? I don’t care what you do … I just want Olivia.”

“Don’t play stupid with me … is it money you want? Is that why you’re seducing my wife? How much? Name your price … how much do you want so you will leave my wife alone?”

He rested his hands on his knees and turned to him, he paused for a moment then he laughed. “Oh my God … you and my dad are the same … no wonder you get along so well … you think everything is about money,” he stood up straight and rested his hands on his waist, “Well … if that was the case it would be so much easier isn’t it? We’re in love, Declan, it may be the last thing you want to hear … but we are … I could punch you for that shit you just pulled on me but I spare you … I know this will hurt more than my punch.” Roman tapped him on the shoulder.

“How much?!” Declan screamed. He didn’t believe a word Roman said. He knew it was him who had terrorized his nights by sending pictures of Sienna and Damien.

“If you are so secure with your marriage … I don’t think you’d be here … keep your money, you’ll never bribe me out of this … I’m not going anywhere unless she wants me to.”

He couldn’t believe the nerve in that guy, he shook his head, “You’re so young and stupid it’s almost funny to hear you say that … you don’t know the first thing about marriage … mine especially … you think you’re so in love with each other but do you know how many times we fuck in the course of your relationship?” He challenged him with a look, “Huh? Just last night after I don’t know what the hell you say to her in that bathroom … we came home and we fuck like we never fuck before …”

“Shut up!”

Declan laughed lightly and tilted his brows, “Yeah … that’s the reality pal … forget this ‘love’ or whatever the hell you think this is … we’re going to fix this, Olivia and I, just like we fixed everything else before you or after you … you’re wasting your time.”

Roman was not one to back down, no matter how insecure he was with the relationship. He looked at Declan in the eyes, “We’ll see about that.”

The young man’s confidence irritates him, what could they possibly have with each other that made him so sure that his wife was going to choose this ‘boy’ over him? There was no use in bickering any further, if he stayed any longer, things could get physical. He walked past Roman and put his hand on his shoulder. He wanted so badly to punch him in the face for ever touching Olivia, but he squeezed his shoulder instead, almost like a fatherly pat. This may be the last time they ever see each other again.