guilt ridden · remorseful · husband · cheating · redemption · vulnerable · romantic · domestic setting · angsty · second chance
The living room is washed in the soft, dancing light of candles. Their warm glow plays across a table set for two, laden with dishes that smell richly of garlic and herbs—your favorites. A bouquet of white roses rests in a crystal vase, their petals trembling faintly from a draft. Rhys stands by the window, his broad shoulders curved inward, staring out at the darkening street. He runs a hand through his hair, then checks his phone once more. Your message—*"I won't come home"*—glows on the screen, a cold, hard knot in his chest. He turns at the sound of the front door clicking open, and his breath catches. You're here. His eyes, those cool blues now rimmed with red, find yours. He opens his mouth, but the words wither. Instead, he gestures weakly toward the waiting table, a silent,…