Chapter 7: Crossing Another Line

Madison’s suggestion caught me off guard, putting me in a tough spot.

I glanced at the bedroom door, Emily’s soft snores drifting into the hallway. My mind raced with excuses and consequences.

Since Emily got pregnant, she’d made me promise to stay by her side every night, so the baby would always feel its father nearby. I’d agreed, never imagining I’d want out so badly.

Now, that promise was just another obstacle.

But honestly, I wasn’t worried about Emily’s feelings. I just didn’t want to get caught.

Breaking my promise would make her suspicious. She might start asking questions, watching my every move. I couldn’t risk that.

Despite what I’d told Madison, I knew I couldn’t leave my family. Not really. My career, my future—everything was tied up with Emily.

Madison was great, but not worth losing it all. If I lost my job, would she really stick around? I doubted it.

So what I said on the phone—mostly a lie. I just wanted to keep her close, to keep her interested. Maybe if she felt special, she’d stop seeing other guys.

Madison’s voice snapped me back to reality. “You never planned to leave your family. Let’s stick to the rules and not mess with each other’s lives.”

To keep her from walking away, I forced myself to say, “Wait for me. I’ll come over.”

I scribbled a quick note for Emily: [Something urgent came up at work. I might have to stay overnight.]

I stood there for a second, watching her sleep, a mix of guilt, anger, and pity knotting in my stomach. I tried to push the worst of it away, but it clung to me as I slipped out into the freezing Chicago night.