I opened a bottle of wine and lit the leftover candles from before, the firelight reflecting brightly in his eyes.
"Do you have someone else outside?" I finally asked, my tone much calmer than I had imagined.
"No," he shook his head, eyes on the table.
"Then why?" He looked at me, shook his head again without saying a word.
My husband was slow by nature but steady in his actions. I had always considered this his strength, but his unwillingness to communicate was driving me crazy.
"I know you're unhappy, but today you must tell me clearly why you've suddenly become so distant. What did we do wrong?"
Perhaps my slightly accusing tone changed his expression instantly.
"Why? How dare you ask me why? Don't you know in your heart?"
His sudden strong attitude left me stunned. I couldn't recall him ever speaking to anyone this way.
"Explain clearly, what did I do?"
I was at a loss. Since giving birth, my focus had been entirely on our little family. I didn't dare take on too much work, fearing I wouldn't be able to care for our child.
I never expected him to think I wasn't doing well enough.
He downed several glasses of wine in one go and then slammed the glass down on the marble table.
"Gloria, how could you betray me like this? I've been so good to you and our daughter, yet you do this to me."
He only dared to question me so boldly under the influence of alcohol.
After repeatedly questioning him, I finally understood where his suspicions came from.
Before I was with my husband, I had a boyfriend. He was successful in his career and good-looking, but we broke up due to the long-distance relationship.
A few years ago, he returned from abroad, and we met a few times.
I remember once meeting him at a café, and my sister-in-law accidentally saw us. My husband questioned me about it for a long time.
Later, I was facing unemployment, and my ex-boyfriend's company happened to be hiring, so I switched to his company. I didn't tell my husband about this.
"How dare you act innocent? You told me he was abroad, but you've been secretly keeping in touch with him, being ambiguous. I've been lenient by not accusing you. What more do you want?"
He was furious, no longer speaking in his usual gentle tone, as if he had already determined I had betrayed him.
"In the end, you just don't trust me. I didn't tell you because I was afraid you'd misunderstand."