"Where are you coming from?" Richmond asked, concern etched across his face as he noticed Lisa had spent the night out.
"I went to a friend's party… I'm sorry I forgot to inform you," Lisa replied softly, her voice carrying a mix of guilt and relief. Richmond's shoulders relaxed slightly, though a subtle worry lingered in his eyes, he feared Lisa might seek pleasure elsewhere.
"I'm leaving for work," Richmond said, heading out the door, leaving Lisa alone with a swirling mix of guilt and satisfaction. Part of her regretted her actions, while another part felt she deserved the indulgence. She had been starved from affection and passion for so long that this felt like a reward.
Lisa freshened up and lay on her bed, feeling cheerful and alive, a sense of joy she hadn't experienced in months. The realization struck her clearly: Richmond could not make her feel the way Jasper did.
Their secret meetings had become routine. Lisa would leave the office early to meet Jasper, their encounters growing more frequent, more intense. Each time, Jasper never failed to surprise her with his attentiveness and skill. She gave him everything he desired, and he responded in ways that made her feel fully alive.
However, this pattern did not go unnoticed at her office.
"She's been leaving very early and doesn't return until the next day," Lisa's secretary whispered to Richmond, who had arrived with a bouquet of roses to surprise his wife.
Richmond's curiosity and suspicion grew. He could not understand why Lisa consistently left at the same time and returned home late. Before he could confront her directly, Richard noticed subtle changes in Lisa's demeanor.
"Lisa… I know you're not happy in your marriage, but this is not the way to handle it," Richard said gently, moving closer to her.
"Dad… what are you talking about?" Lisa asked, feigning ignorance, though her heart pounded in her chest.
"Jasper…" Richard added cautiously. "I know you and Jasper are having a secret affair, and I wouldn't be happy if Eric or Richmond ever found out. You need to stop."
Shame washed over Lisa, and her gaze fell to the floor. Yet her voice remained quiet but firm. "I married Richmond because I thought I'd be happy… but that's not the only thing that makes a marriage complete. He can't satisfy me, Dad… he can't."
Richard's expression softened, a mixture of understanding and concern crossing his face as he absorbed his daughter's confession.
"Richmond isn't ready to change, and I can't hold on to that," Lisa admitted, her voice heavy with certainty.
"I mean it, end it with him!" Richard ordered, his tone sharp with frustration. He could not understand why Lisa resisted coming to the same page with him.
Lisa left for her house, her mind swirling with conflicting emotions.
"I went to your office today, but you were nowhere to be found," Richmond said later, sitting quietly and holding the bouquet of roses. "Where were you?"
"I was at my dad's place. You can call to confirm," Lisa replied calmly.
Richmond nodded in acceptance, choosing not to reveal that he already had information from her secretary about her regular departures.
Determined to know the truth, Richmond began to monitor Lisa's movements, trying to track where she went. But he found nothing, Lisa had stopped her secret meetings, honoring her father's warning. She refused to disobey him, putting an end to her time with Jasper and focusing instead on her marriage, even if her heart still ached.
Meanwhile, Jasper grew worried. He hadn't heard from Lisa for a long while and wondered what had gone wrong. Yet, when she did give him a listening ear, Lisa felt a twinge of guilt for having cheated on Richmond. He was a good man, and he didn't deserve the treatment she had given him.