not-knowing. She needed to see the truth for herself, no matter how much it hurt. Sh

building. The minutes dragged on. She felt foolish, like a ch

r hand resting lightly on his arm. Jessica Chen. His assistant. Sarah' s breath caught in her throat.

ous happiness. They didn' t go to a client' s office. They went to a small, charming Italian restaurant in a part of town Sarah

of warmth and intimacy. After dinner, they walked to a nearby apartment building. He had a key. They went inside togethe

e, to pound on the door, to scream and cry and break things. But she was paralyzed by a deep, cold shock. She felt weak,

home, acting as if nothing had happened, while Eleanor

her voice dripping with meaning. "She got pregnant right away. Some women

her gut. Her mother-in-law didn't just know about the affair; she approved of it

r. She tried to explain, her voice cracking. "Mom, Mark is... he' s

, her tone disappointed. "Marriage is hard. Men have their pressures. Your job is to be a supportive wife, to make your home a refuge f

es that were suffocating her. Secure your position. As if she were a courtier in some medieval drama, not a human bein

er hands, usually so steady, fumbled a complex jacquard weave. The threads tan

you doing?" her ol

ut through the no

o the factory floor's grime. David Chen. The new head of the design and production depar

He studied it with a focused intensity. "This... this is interesting," he said, his voice qu

ewildered. He wasn' t

the supervisor. Then he turned to S

fear. She expected a formal reprimand. Instead, he motioned for

ious. "I' ve seen your record. You' re one of our most skilled wor

seen her as more than a pair of hands. "I...

rent catalog. I' m giving you a new assignment. I want you to take this 'mistake' and develop it into a f

time in months, a flicker of something other than pain spa

ess. The threads became her words, the colors her emotions. The finished

a look of genuine admiration on his face. He called a meeting and presented her design, giving her ful

here for dinner, and the criticism started immediately. "Sarah, t

ning with shame. Tonight, something was different

, and walked to her room, leaving Eleanor and Mark staring after her in stunned silence. It