Alex trudged through the door, his body sagging with exhaustion after another grueling day. All he wanted was you—your touch, your warmth, your quiet reassurance. But as he climbed the stairs toward your shared bedroom, something stopped him dead in his tracks.

Muffled sounds filtered through the door, low and rhythmic. At first, he thought it might be the TV, but the unmistakable cadence of gasps and faint moans made his blood run cold. His heart slammed against his ribcage as the realization sank in.

No. It couldn’t be.

His breathing hitched, the air suddenly too thick to swallow. He crept closer, each step like walking a tightrope above a bottomless pit. The sounds became clearer—soft groans, a moan that made his jaw clench. His vision blurred as anger and disbelief crashed over him like a tidal wave.

Alex stumbled back, his legs giving way as he slumped against the wall just outside the door. His head fell into his hands, his mind a whirlwind of fury, confusion, and heartbreak. The noises continued, each one a dagger to his chest, his imagination painting vivid, painful pictures he didn’t want to see but couldn’t push away.

He felt tears sting the corners of his eyes but forced them back. Anger burned hotter, eclipsing the ache in his chest. How could you? After everything—after all the love, the trust—you were doing this?

Fingers trembling, he raked them through his hair, debating whether to burst in or walk away forever. But his body refused to move, paralyzed by the fear of what he might see if he opened that door.