Chapter 1: The Permission He Never Thought She'd Use
My husband asked for an open marriage because I "bored" him — I smiled and agreed, but my one condition made his face go gray.
Sean and I had been married for ten years, and we had two wonderful sons.
I did everything I could to keep our love from going cold.
Lately, Sean looked at me like I was part of the furniture.
One Friday, he leaned against the counter and said,
"I want an open marriage."
For a second, I thought I had misheard him.
"You mean you want to betray me?"
He smiled like I was a child struggling with math.
"You bore me," he said.
"I want to feel like a man again.
Like a hunter.
I want to date the women I choose.
It'll bring our marriage back to life."
Tears burned behind my eyes, but I swallowed them down and looked at Sean with a smile.
"Okay," I said.
"But I have one condition."
Sean stared at me with his mouth half open.
"You're agreeing that easily?"
"My condition is simple," I said.
"I get to date whoever I want, too.
Whenever I want."
He laughed, pleased with himself.
And only then did I begin forming the plan that would show Sean what happens when a man betrays his marriage without a shred of guilt.
Everything went on as usual, except for one small detail.
Sean started coming home after midnight, smelling of women's perfume.
I endured it.
I swallowed the irritation, the humiliation.
Because one Friday, while he was home, I finally began getting ready for my own date.
I had been preparing for weeks, because this wasn't an ordinary date.
I slipped on my best red dress, stepped into high heels, and did my makeup.
For the first time in months, I looked in the mirror and remembered that I was still a woman.
A beautiful woman.
Sean watched me from the hallway, completely forgetting whatever he had been doing.
"Where are you going?"
"On a date."
"With whom?"
"That's none of your business," I said with a smile.
His jaw tightened.
His eyes went dark.
Good.
So far, everything was going exactly as I had planned.
I picked up my phone and made one call.
"Hi," I said calmly.
"I'm ready.
Please come to the front door.
I can't wait to see you."
"He's here, isn't he?" Sean shouted.
"Your lover?"
Sean stormed over and pulled the door open.
A minute later, he came back gripping the wall, his face as white as the paint behind him.
Because what he saw was something completely different from what he had expected.
"How could you do this to me?" he whispered.
"What am I supposed to do now?"
---
May you like
Who was at that door — and why did it drain every drop of color from Sean's face?
Comment **"NEXT"** if you want Part 2.
