It was a peaceful evening when something sparked my curiosity. I had just entered the supermarket’s parking lot when thoughts of my husband, Dylan, crossed my mind. He often shopped here after work, so I decided to call him. However, he didn’t pick up, and a message came through: “Still at work. Talk to you later.” I sighed, disappointed that I couldn’t grab a coffee with him.
As I walked through the rows of parked cars, a black SUV caught my eye. It was undoubtedly Dylan’s car, identifiable by a scratch on the rear bumper. I approached it curiously and peered inside through the tinted windows, but it was empty. Why was Dylan’s car here if he was supposed to be at work? Confusion filled my mind as memories of whispered phone calls, late nights at work, and changes in his behavior flooded in.
Without thinking, I returned to my car and decided to wait for him, hoping to confront him when he returned. But as I sat there, an old, beat-up sedan parked nearby caught my attention. My jaw dropped when Dylan stepped out of it. Instead of his usual work attire, he was wearing ragged clothes. He cautiously looked around before opening the SUV trunk and changing into his work suit right there in the parking lot. He tossed the old clothes into the battered sedan, locked it, and drove away in his SUV.
Confused and intrigued, I drove home, determined to act like everything was normal. That evening, as we sat down for dinner, I couldn’t help but notice that Dylan lacked his usual enthusiasm. I asked about his day, but his answers seemed rehearsed. I sensed something was off. I wanted to confront him about his lies, but without any evidence, I kept my thoughts to myself. We finished dinner, tidied up, and went to bed, but a feeling of unease lingered.
The next morning, I woke up with a plan. I headed to the supermarket’s parking lot early, intending to wait for Dylan’s arrival. When he questioned my early departure, I lied, saying I had an early morning massage appointment due to my back pain. I watched attentively as Dylan arrived in his SUV, but as he switched to the old car, I discreetly followed him.
At one point, our eyes almost met in his rearview mirror, sending a wave of panic through me. Thankfully, a passing bus blocked our line of sight, and I blended into the traffic, ensuring I remained unnoticed. We ventured into the outskirts of the city, onto a poorly maintained road, and eventually arrived at a forested area. Dylan turned onto a dirt road that led to an old wooden house.
Parking at a safe distance, I decided to continue on foot, quietly navigating through the forest in search of answers. It felt like an eternity before the dense foliage gave way to a clearing, revealing the old sedan parked near the weathered house. Concealed behind some bushes, I witnessed Dylan conversing with a man dressed in ragged clothing on the porch.
Unable to contain my frustration, I yelled, demanding an explanation. Dylan’s shock was evident in his reaction, and it was clear that Harry, the man he was talking to, was equally taken aback. The truth started pouring out as it became apparent that Dylan had been keeping secrets. He had never mentioned having a wife to Harry, claiming to be a poor man working at a gas station instead.
The situation quickly escalated, leading to a violent outburst from Harry. He struck Dylan with a bottle, rendering him unconscious. Panicking, I shouted, but Harry turned his anger towards me, and everything went dark. When I regained consciousness, I found myself tied to a chair in a basement. Dylan, also bound, began to explain everything.
Dylan revealed that he had a son, a secret he had kept hidden from me. His son was diagnosed with a rare condition years ago, requiring an expensive surgery worth $100,000. The child’s mother had abandoned them, leaving Dylan desperate to save his son’s life. That was when he turned to Harry, a friend involved in shady dealings.
Desperate for the money, Dylan became the getaway driver for a bank robbery orchestrated by Harry and his crew. However, things took a turn when Harry’s gang didn’t show up. Left alone in the car with the stolen money, Dylan drove away, narrowly escaping the police. He then used Harry’s portion of the loot to pay for his son’s surgery, but sadly, the child didn’t survive.
Meeting me changed everything for Dylan. He felt like he could start a new life and believed that Harry would never find him, especially after 20 years. That’s why he had lied about his past. But when Harry contacted him, claiming to be out of prison, Dylan knew he had to come up with a plan to deceive him.
An argument ensued between Dylan and Harry, culminating in a risky decision. Dylan proposed driving Harry to the bank and handing over a million dollars from his own account to appease him. In doing so, he hoped to ensure my safety, even if it meant facing the consequences of his past actions.
At the bank, Dylan made a bold move, revealing the truth about the robbery to the security personnel. It was a calculated risk to protect my life. As the authorities took Dylan away, I was left with a mix of emotions. We hired a skilled lawyer, and soon Dylan was released.
It has been a challenging journey for both of us, but we are determined to move forward together, supporting each other and rebuilding our trust. Dylan’s past may haunt us, but we believe that love and forgiveness can overcome any obstacle life throws our way.
