Talk Of The Town
After finding out what his wife was doing behind his back, Gavin was fuming. In his ten years of marriage, he never could have imagined this kind of behavior from his wife.
As for what she was doing, Gavin had only heard rumors, but now he would have the chance to witness it for himself. Her whereabouts would be investigated by him.
Something Different
There was no reason for Gavin to doubt his wife of ten years. He always found his way back to Briana, regardless of their ups and downs, as all couples do.
The behavior of Briana has changed significantly over the past few weeks, according to Gavin.
Platonic Beginnings
It had been eleven years since Gavin Schafer and Briana Schafer were together. The two met in college and became friends before starting a relationship.
The rest of their relationship was smooth sailing, and Gavin knew that Briana would be his lifelong partner. It was then that he went ring shopping.
The Big Day
He planned a special proposal after finding the perfect ring. She accepted the proposal immediately and was very surprised.
The couple set a wedding date and had a perfect wedding with all of their family and friends attending. Gavin felt that he was the only one in the relationship after ten years of marriage.
Miles Away
Due to work, Gavin didn't have time to spend with Briana of late. Despite her disappointment, he promised to make it right.
Although she always made plans to see her friends, it seemed like she wasn't interested at all. Gavin became available eventually, but Briana wasn't. As far as she was concerned, she always had her own plans.
Unbothered
The thought of her always being out never crossed his mind. Having been friends with her, he knew that she was an extrovert.
As far as he knew, there were no signs that she was cheating on him, so he trusted her. It wasn't long before he started receiving messages from friends.
The Notification
After receiving several text messages from his friends over the last few nights, Gavin couldn't keep up. Briana was the focus of everything.
Another friend said she was sitting on some other guy's lap while she was being very flirty with another guy. Gavin, however, wasn't too concerned. His wife was familiar to him. Is that what he did?
Endearment
When Briana returned home to Gavin, she was her usual loving self. Therefore, he did not feel concerned. According to him, she showed no signs of cheating.
Each morning, she would go get him coffee from his favorite coffee shop, which was just a few blocks away. She was showing him her love in a very sincere way.
The Truth Revealed
Despite Briana's frequent visits to the coffee shop, Gavin did not know the real reason for her frequent visits. Whenever she returned with coffee, she would stare at her phone for a long time.
His wife was smiling from ear to ear as she drank coffee with him, but Gavin would soon discover why.
Inquisitive
Gavin became curious one day. Following Briana discreetly after she left the house was his decision. It was just to reassure himself that the rumors were untrue, for his own peace of mind.
During the trailing behind her car, he felt anxious and anticipatory, and his heart raced. Even though he couldn't believe he was doing this, something wasn't right.
A Little Cafe
Gavin watched as Briana parked her car in front of a quaint little café he had never seen before.
His heart sank as he saw her walk inside and engage in a lively conversation with a man he had never seen before. They seemed comfortable with each other, and a knot formed in Gavin's stomach.
Mind Racing
He waited outside, hidden behind a newspaper stand, his mind racing with thoughts and emotions. Who was this man? What was going on? His world was spinning out of control.
Who was this guy that his wife was meeting every morning? Maybe it was a long-time friend or a colleague. Gavin didn’t know, but he wanted to stick around and find out.
Something Was Up
Time seemed to stretch on forever as Gavin waited, feeling a mixture of anger, confusion, and sadness. Finally, Briana and the man emerged from the café, their laughter ringing in Gavin's ears. They exchanged a hug, and Gavin's heart shattered into a million pieces.
A hug didn’t necessarily mean that she was cheating, but at the back of his mind, he knew that something was up.
Uncertain
His legs felt weak as he watched them part ways, and when Briana drove off, he knew he had to confront her. He couldn't let this uncertainty fester any longer.
But what would he possibly say to her? He didn’t even know if she was cheating on him. He just saw her hug another man. It could mean a million things.
Emotional
Gavin returned home, his mind a whirlwind of emotions. He paced the living room, replaying the scene over and over in his head. When Briana walked through the front door, he couldn't contain himself any longer.
She was once again looking at her phone and had the biggest smile on her face. Gavin knew he had to ask her about her encounter with the other guy.
Anger
"What's going on, Briana?" he demanded, his voice trembling with a mixture of anger and hurt. Briana looked surprised, caught off guard by Gavin's intensity. "What are you talking about?" she asked, feigning innocence.
"Don't play games with me," Gavin snapped. "I saw you at the café with that man. You hugged him. Who is he?"
I Deserve The Truth
Briana's expression shifted from surprise to guilt, and she let out a sigh. "Gavin, it's not what you think," she began, but Gavin wasn't willing to listen to excuses.
"I followed you because I couldn't take the rumors anymore. I had several friends tell me that they have seen you with other guys. I deserve to know the truth," he insisted, his voice quivering with emotion.
An Old Friend
Tears welled up in Briana's eyes as she looked at her husband, the man she had loved for over a decade. "Okay, fine," she relented. "His name is Derek, and he's an old friend from college. We've been meeting up to catch up and talk about old times."
Gavin's anger began to subside, replaced by a mixture of relief and confusion. He wanted to believe her, but the doubt still lingered.
Jealousy
"Is that all it is?" Gavin asked, his voice softer now. "Yes, Gavin," Briana replied earnestly. "I should have told you, but I didn't want you to get jealous or worried. It's just innocent conversations, I promise."
Gavin sighed, his shoulders slumping. He felt a weight lifting off his chest, but the wounds were still fresh. "You should have trusted me enough to tell me," he said quietly.
Hurt Still Lingered
Over the next few weeks, Gavin and Briana tried to rebuild the trust that had been shaken. They attended couples therapy and spent more quality time together, hoping to mend the cracks in their relationship.
Gavin couldn't deny the relief he felt knowing that Briana wasn't cheating on him, but the hurt from the secrecy still lingered.
Nagging Doubt
However, one thing continued to bother Gavin. Despite everything, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was still something Briana wasn't telling him. He couldn't put his finger on it, but a nagging doubt remained.
He decided to be more observant, paying attention to Briana's behavior and interactions, hoping to finally put his unease to rest.
More Than Meets The Eye
Days turned into weeks, and Gavin continued to watch Briana closely. He noticed that she still insisted on going to the coffee shop every morning, even though he had made it clear that he didn't need coffee every day.
It seemed like a routine, but Gavin couldn't help but wonder if there was more to it than met the eye.
Following Her Again
One morning, as Briana got ready to leave for her usual coffee run, Gavin's curiosity got the better of him again. He decided to follow her discreetly, just like he had before.
He kept his distance, his heart pounding in his chest as he watched Briana drive to the coffee shop. But this time, instead of going inside, she parked nearby and entered a building Gavin hadn't noticed before.
Confusion
Gavin's pulse quickened as he watched the door to the building swing closed behind Briana. He gave it a moment, then cautiously approached the building.
Peering through a window, he was shocked to see a group of people gathered inside, listening intently to Briana, who was standing at the front of the room. His confusion deepened as he tried to make sense of what he was witnessing.
Misinterpreted?
Gavin continued to watch, his mind racing, as Briana spoke passionately to the group. He strained to hear her words, and as her voice carried through the window, he finally understood. She was leading a support group, a group for people struggling with various challenges in their lives.
His heart sank as he realized how wrong he had been, how he had misinterpreted her actions. He felt a deep sense of shame for doubting his wife and not trusting her.
Sorry
Gavin retreated from the window, his emotions overwhelming him. He realized the extent of the damage his lack of trust had caused to their relationship. He had pushed Briana away when she needed him the most, all because of his own insecurities.
He knew he had to make things right, to apologize and show Briana that he was truly sorry. But was Briana actually being truthful to her husband?
Pouring Out Heart
That evening, Gavin sat Briana down and poured out his heart. He admitted his mistakes, his doubts, and his regret for not trusting her. Tears streamed down his face as he bared his soul to her, laying bare his insecurities and fears.
But just as Gavin was about to open his heart to his wife, her phone rang. When she looked at the screen, she immediately got up and walked away. Gavin was left with his mouth agape.
Unexpected Interruption
Gavin's heart sank as Briana abruptly left the room to take the call. He felt a mix of frustration and confusion, wondering who could be calling at such a crucial moment.
As he sat there, his mind raced with thoughts. Was this another secret? Or another twist in the already tangled web of their relationship?
Doubts Resurface
Gavin's mind began to churn with doubts once again. The progress they had made in rebuilding trust now seemed fragile, hanging in the balance. He wrestled with his emotions, torn between giving Briana the benefit of the doubt and succumbing to his suspicions.
He desperately wanted to believe that everything was as innocent as it seemed, but the scars of recent events ran deep. "Who was that on the phone?" he asked, his voice tinged with a hint of trepidation.
Another Revelation
Briana sighed, her shoulders slumping as if she knew this moment was inevitable. "It was Derek," she admitted, her eyes avoiding his gaze.
Gavin's heart sank as his worst fears were seemingly confirmed. "Derek? The same guy you've been meeting at the café?" he asked, his voice a mixture of disbelief and frustration. Briana nodded, her lips quivering as she tried to find the right words. "Yes. He's been going through a really tough time lately, and he needed someone to talk to. I've been helping him as a friend." Gavin didn’t know what to say. Could he trust his wife?