Ethan’s world turns upside down when he rushes back from a business trip to find his wife in the ER. His heart races with worry, but nothing prepares him for the sight of another man sitting by her bed. The man’s revelation threatens to unravel everything Ethan thought he knew about his marriage. Who is this stranger, and what secrets does he hold?

Life seemed perfect.

A smiling man | Source: Pexels

I’d been married to Isabel for eight years. We had a beautiful home, and I thought we had an ideal life.

Every morning, I woke up early to head to work, making sure I did my best to provide for us. Isabel and I had built a comfortable life together, and I believed that my hard work kept her happy.

Isabel was more than just my wife; she was my best friend. We’d laugh together, share our dreams, and talk about our future. I tried to be a good husband, doing everything I could to make her feel cherished.

A cozy couple | Source: Pexels

One evening, as I sat on our porch, I watched the sunset and felt a wave of contentment.

“We really do have a great life, don’t we?” I said to Isabel as she joined me. She smiled and nodded, but there was something in her eyes I couldn’t quite read.

“Yeah, Ethan, it’s wonderful,” she replied softly.

Two people in love | Source: Pexels

I didn’t press her. I figured she was just tired from the day. We had our ups and downs, like any couple, but I always believed we’d work through anything together.

I was wrong.

I was about 40 miles out of town on a business trip, driving down the highway, when my phone rang.

A man driving a car | Source: Pexels

I didn’t recognize the number, but something told me to answer it. “Hello?”

“Is this Ethan?” a woman’s voice asked.

“Yes, who’s calling?”

“This is Nurse Karen from the local hospital. Your wife, Isabel, is in the ER. She’s unconscious.”

A nurse on a phone call | Source: Midjourney

My heart stopped. “What happened? Is she okay?”

“She was brought in a little while ago. I don’t have all the details yet, but you need to come to the hospital as soon as possible.”

Panic surged through me. “I’ll be there right away.”

A man on phone call | Source: Pexels

I hung up and immediately pulled off the road, my hands trembling as I tried to steady my breathing. Isabel was in the hospital, unconscious. My mind raced with worry. What could’ve happened? She was fine when I left this morning.

I turned the car around and started driving back to town, my foot heavy on the gas pedal. The usually scenic drive now felt like a nightmare. Every mile seemed longer than the last, my thoughts consumed with fear for Isabel.

A fast moving car | Source: Pexels

I kept imagining the worst-case scenarios, each one more terrifying than the last.

“Please be okay, Isabel,” I whispered to myself, gripping the steering wheel tightly. The road ahead blurred as tears welled up in my eyes. I wiped them away, trying to focus on getting back as quickly as possible.

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I called the hospital again to get more information, but they could only tell me that she was still unconscious and being treated. The uncertainty was killing me. My thoughts kept jumping to what could’ve gone wrong. Was it an accident? A sudden illness?

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I reached the town limits. The hospital was just a few minutes away now. I prayed silently, hoping and begging for Isabel to be okay. I couldn’t lose her. Not like this.

A building with emergency sign | Source: Pexels

As soon as I arrived, I raced through the hospital doors, my heart pounding.

“Where is my wife?” I asked frantically at the nurse’s station. “Isabel Williams. I got a call that she’s here.”

The nurse looked puzzled. “That’s odd. I thought her husband brought her in. He’s with her now.”

A confident nurse | Source: Midjourney

My confusion grew. “I’m her husband,” I insisted, my voice rising with panic.

She pointed down the hall. “Room 12.”

I hurried to the ward, my mind spinning. When I entered the room, I saw a man sitting next to Isabel’s bed, holding her hand. He looked up as I approached.

A man sitting beside an unconscious woman | Source: Midjourney

“Who are you?” I demanded, my voice shaking with anger and fear.

“I’m Logan,” he replied calmly. “Her… lover. We’ve been dating for a year. We got into an accident while you were on your business trip. I brought her here and asked the nurse to call you.”

My fists clenched, and I felt a surge of anger. I wanted to hit him, to yell, to do something. But I forced myself to stay calm. “You’re her lover?” I asked, struggling to keep my voice steady.

An angry man | Source: Midjourney

“Yes,” Logan said. “But I know she loves you. She just felt neglected because you were always so busy with work.”

I stood there, trying to process what he was saying.

Isabel had a lover? She felt neglected? I couldn’t believe it. I looked at her lying there, unconscious, and my heart ached.

An unconscious woman in hospital bed | Source: Midjourney

As we waited for Isabel to wake up, Logan continued to talk. “I care about her a lot, Ethan. But she always talked about you, how much she missed the way things used to be. She felt like you were drifting apart, and she didn’t know how to tell you.”

His words cut deep. I had been working so hard, thinking I was doing the right thing for our family. But I had been blind to Isabel’s feelings. I glanced at Logan, seeing the sincerity in his eyes, and felt a mixture of anger and guilt.

A sad man | Source: Unsplash

“Why didn’t she talk to me?” I asked, more to myself than to him.

Logan shrugged. “Maybe she was afraid. Maybe she thought you wouldn’t listen. I don’t know. But she’s here now, and she needs you.”

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my emotions. I had to focus on Isabel and getting her through this.

A sad man lost in thought | Source: Pexels

“She wanted attention and affection,” Logan confessed, his voice soft. “That’s why she cheated.”

A deep pain pierced my heart. I felt like I couldn’t breathe.

“I love her,” I said quietly, my voice barely a whisper. “I thought working hard was the best way to take care of her. I was wrong.”

“I get it, Ethan. You were doing what you thought was right. But she needed more than that.”

A man looking serious | Source: Unsplash

I looked at Isabel, lying there so still, and my heart ached. How had I missed it? How had I not seen what she needed? The guilt and sorrow weighed heavily on me.

Logan sighed. “I’m the one who told the nurse I was her husband. I didn’t want to complicate things when I brought her in. I’m sorry for the confusion.”

A man in a black leather jacket looking sad | Source: Unsplash

I shook my head, trying to process everything. “I appreciate that you brought her here,” I said, even though it was hard to get the words out. “But this is something Isabel and I need to face together.”

Logan nodded again. “I understand. I’ll step back. She needs you now.”

Suddenly, Isabel’s eyes flutter open, her gaze unfocused at first. Then, she looked around with confusion before her eyes settled on me.

A woman in the hospital bed | Source: Midjourney

“Ethan,” she said, smiling weakly. Relief washed over me.

“I’m here, Isabel,” I said, squeezing her hand gently.

She turned her head and saw Logan. “Who are you?” she asked, her voice soft.

Logan smiled gently. “I’m your husband’s work colleague,” he lied smoothly. Then, leaning close to me, he whispered, “Make her happy.”

A man in black coat | Source: Pexels

I nodded, appreciating his understanding. Logan gave Isabel one last look before leaving the room. His words echoed in my mind. Make her happy. It felt like a second chance, a fresh start.

I turned back to Isabel, who was watching me with a mix of confusion and trust.

“How are you feeling?” I asked softly.

“A bit disoriented,” she admitted, “but I’m okay. What happened?”

A woman sitting in a hospital bed | Source: Midjourney

“We’ll talk about it later,” I said, brushing a strand of hair from her forehead. “Right now, just rest. I’m here with you.”

She nodded, her eyes closing again as she relaxed.

What should I do? Should I tell her the truth?

A man with a sad expression | Source: Midjourney