Chapter 87 - Trust and Jealousy

Chapter 87: Chapter 87 - Trust and Jealousy

Ashley stared at the messages on Clara’s phone, unsure of what to do.

If she went through Clara’s phone and discovered that Clara really was cheating on her, the truth could shatter her and cause even more damage to their already fragile marriage. But if she ignored it, she would have to keep living with the doubt, constantly wondering whether Clara’s heart was truly with her.

Ashley had spent so much time trying to rebuild Clara’s trust and repair their relationship. The thought of Clara secretly giving that affection to someone else while Ashley was doing everything she could to make their marriage work was unbearable.

She didn’t want to invade Clara’s privacy or find something that would hurt them both. But after everything they had been through, Ashley couldn’t simply pretend the messages meant nothing.

She needed to know the truth. Whatever she found, knowing would be better than spending every day trapped in doubt.

"What are you doing with my phone?"

Clara’s voice suddenly came from behind her, making Ashley jump.

Ashley had taken too long to make up her mind. Clara had already returned by the time she unlocked the phone.

"Nothing. I was just checking the time," Ashley lied, quickly placing the phone back on the table.

"Couldn’t you check the time on your own phone?" Clara asked suspiciously.

"Yes, but your phone was closer, so..."

"Why all these questions? Do you have something to hide?" Ashley asked in return, looking directly into Clara’s eyes as she searched her face for any sign of guilt.

"Of course not. What would I have to hide?" Clara retorted.

Ashley didn’t answer. Instead, she turned her attention back to the movie, even though she couldn’t remember anything about it.

"I’m going to bed," Clara announced as she picked up her phone.

Then she left without even saying goodnight to her wife.

Sitting on the couch, Ashley nervously bit her nails. She was desperate to know who had sent those messages to Clara.

She wouldn’t have been surprised if it had been another woman. Clara had been involved with other women before.

But back then, they hadn’t been married or had a child. More importantly, Clara had only cheated on Ashley for fun before returning to spoil her with affection afterward.

This time would be different.

They were married. They had a daughter. They had built a life together.

And Ashley was desperately trying to repair their relationship.

The thought of Clara giving that kind of attention to another woman while barely speaking to her made Ashley’s chest tighten.

That night, she went to bed frustrated, unable to stop thinking about it. It took her more than an hour to finally fall asleep.

But even after she managed to doze off, Catlyn woke her in the middle of the night, crying as usual.

After several months, Ashley had grown accustomed to waking up multiple times during the night. When Regina was still living with them, Ashley didn’t have to worry about getting up every time. She could sleep peacefully because her mother-in-law, who never seemed to sleep herself, always took care of Catlyn.

But now that Regina was gone, Ashley had no choice but to wake up and take care of her daughter herself.

After preparing a bottle, Ashley fed Catlyn. Once the baby finished eating, Ashley gently rocked her in her arms.

"Come on, my princess. Mommy needs some rest," she murmured.

Catlyn’s eyes slowly closed as she drifted back to sleep.

Ashley yawned several times, fighting her exhaustion, until her daughter finally fell into a deep sleep.

Ashley left the baby’s room completely drained.

However, when she passed by Clara’s bedroom, she couldn’t stop thinking about the messages.

She needed to know the truth.

Standing in front of the door, Ashley slowly turned the doorknob.

To her surprise, Clara hadn’t locked it as she usually did.

Ashley carefully pushed the door open and stepped inside, trying not to make any noise.

She quietly closed the door and walked toward the nightstand.

She could see Clara lying in bed with her back turned toward her.

Ashley took a few careful steps forward.

She was almost at the nightstand when Clara suddenly spoke.

"What are you doing?"

Ashley jumped in fright. Her heart nearly jumped out of her chest.

"I..."

She quickly looked at Clara, who had turned her head toward her.

"I wanted to..." Ashley struggled to find an excuse.

Clara stared at her suspiciously.

"I wanted to sleep with you."

The excuse came out before Ashley could think of anything better.

Clara remained silent.

Ashley swallowed nervously.

"I know it’s late, but... I don’t want to sleep alone tonight."

For several seconds, Clara simply looked at her.

Ashley expected her to refuse.

But eventually, Clara sighed.

"Fine."

Ashley couldn’t hide her relief.

"Really?"

"Yes. Just go to bed."

"Okay."

Ashley quickly walked around the bed and climbed under the covers.

For the first time in weeks, she was sleeping in the same bed as her wife.

But it wasn’t the reunion she had imagined.

Clara immediately turned her back to her.

Ashley stared at her in the darkness.

She wanted to move closer and wrap her arms around Clara’s waist, but she was afraid Clara would push her away.

So she remained still and tried to sleep.

But her mind couldn’t stop thinking about those messages.

Who was that woman?

Why had Clara spent the day with her?

Why did she keep messaging Clara?

And why had Clara never mentioned her?

Those thoughts kept tormenting Ashley, but she eventually fell asleep.

She only slept for a few hours before waking up again.

The room was quiet. Clara was still asleep beside her.

Ashley slowly opened her eyes and looked at the nightstand.

Clara’s phone was there.

Her curiosity immediately returned.

She knew she shouldn’t. She knew going through Clara’s phone was wrong.

But the questions in her mind had become unbearable.

Ashley carefully sat up and looked at Clara.

Still asleep.

She reached for the phone and quietly took it.

She didn’t want to read the messages beside Clara, so she left the bedroom and went to the bathroom.

Once inside, she locked the door, turned on the light, and stared at the phone in her hands.

Her heart was beating rapidly.

"Okay..." she whispered.

She unlocked the phone and immediately opened the messages.

Her eyes went straight to the conversation she had seen earlier.

She read the first message again.

I had a really good time today.

Then the second.

Hopefully, if you’re available.

Ashley scrolled through the conversation.

She was relieved when she realized the messages were nothing like what she had imagined.

There was no romantic conversation.

No secret meeting.

No confession of love.

But that didn’t reassure Ashley.

In fact, it made things worse.

Normally, Clara never became attached to the women she cheated on Ashley with. But from these messages, Ashley realized that Clara was starting to become attached to another woman.

Then she saw a photo of the woman at a shooting range, holding a gun.

’Who is that bitch trying to steal my wife?’

Ashley felt her anger rising.

She wasn’t angry because Clara was cheating on her.

She was angry because Clara seemed capable of talking so naturally with another woman while barely speaking to her.

Ashley had spent weeks trying to get even a few words from her. She had apologized, tried to get closer, started therapy, taken her medication, and tried to give Clara space.

Yet Clara could spend time with another woman at the shooting range and happily message her afterward.

Ashley knew she was being jealous. She knew it wasn’t entirely fair.

But she couldn’t help it.

At least Clara wasn’t cheating on her.

That should have been enough.

But it didn’t stop the jealousy from burning inside her.

Eventually, Ashley unlocked the bathroom door and stepped out.

She quietly walked toward the nightstand, intending to put the phone back exactly where she had found it.

But before she could, Clara’s voice stopped her.

"Are you serious?"

Ashley froze.

She slowly turned around.

Clara was sitting up in bed, staring at her.

"What are you doing with my phone?"

Ashley opened her mouth, but no words came out.

Clara looked at the phone in Ashley’s hand and immediately understood.

"You went through my phone?"

"I..."

"You actually went through my phone?"

Clara’s voice became sharper.

Ashley finally snapped.

"Yes, you’re right. I wanted to know who that woman was—the woman you replaced me with."

Clara stared at her.

"I’m not cheating on you," Clara immediately defended herself.

"Not yet. But judging by the way you’re talking to her, it won’t be long," Ashley retorted, unable to hide her frustration.

"Don’t be so dramatic. We’re just friends. I’m friends with her because she’s a good listener when I talk about my problems," Clara said, trying to downplay her relationship with the woman from the messages.

"If you need someone to talk to, go see a therapist instead of flirting with another woman," Ashley snapped.

Clara went silent.

She didn’t seem interested in arguing with Ashley or even talking to her anymore.

Clara picked up her phone and tapped on the screen.

"I blocked her number. Are you happy now?" Clara asked in a rather hostile tone.

"No. I didn’t ask you to block her. I don’t want you to think I forced you to do anything. If you want to talk to her, then go ahead," Ashley said before leaving the bedroom.

She was too frustrated and hurt to continue a discussion that seemed to be going nowhere.

When Ashley reached her room, she collapsed onto her bed and cried with all the tears she had been holding back.

All she wanted was to reconcile with Clara.

She was doing everything she could to make their marriage work.

But now, instead of getting better, it seemed like the situation had only become worse.