Unraveling the mystery

Chapter 3

As months passed, Alex's behavior wasn't changing The next day, Tina's worries resurfaced as she couldn't stop thinking of Alex’s behavior, so she decided to visit Dr. Martin, a marriage psychologist, to discuss her growing unease.

"Alex is perfect,  like close to perfect she said quickly in the act of correcting herself, but sometimes I feel like he is hiding something from me," Tina said while settling into the wooden couch.

As Tina settled into the wooden-designed couch in Dr. Martin's office, she couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation. She had been struggling with her worries about Alex's behavior for what felt like an eternity, and she wasn't sure if she was just being paranoid or if there was something more to it. But as she looked into Dr. Martin's warm and reassuring smile, she felt a sense of relief all over her.

Dr. Martin's office was a cozy and inviting space, with soft lighting and comfortable furniture. The walls were adorned with framed certificates and degrees, and the air was thick with the scent of old books and leather. Tina felt a sense of calm running over her as she took in the unfamiliar surroundings, and she began to relax on the couch.

"So, Tina, tell me more about what's been going on," Dr. Martin said, his voice low and soothing. "You mentioned that Alex is perfect, but you feel like he's hiding something. Can you elaborate on that?" he asked

Tina hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to articulate her feelings. She didn't want to sound crazy or paranoid, but at the same time, she couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off.

"It's just...sometimes I feel like he's not telling me everything," Tina said, her voice barely audible. "He's always been very private, but lately, I've noticed that he's been getting these mysterious phone calls and messages. And when I ask him about it, he just brushes it off and tells me not to worry about it."

Dr. Martin nodded thoughtfully, his eyes never leaving Tina's face. "I see," he said. "And how does that make you feel?"

Tina took a deep breath, trying to put her emotions into words. "It makes me feel...anxious, I guess. Like I'm walking on eggshells, waiting for something to happen. And sometimes I feel like I'm just being paranoid like I'm reading too much into things."

As she spoke, Tina's hand instinctively went to the diamond ring on her finger, her thumb rubbing against the smooth surface. It was a habit she had developed over the years, a way of comforting herself when she felt anxious or uncertain.

Dr. Martin noticed the gesture and nodded sympathetically. “Understandably, you would feel that way, Tina," he said. "But it's also possible that your intuition is trying to tell you something. Sometimes, our subconscious mind picks up on things that our conscious mind doesn't."

Tina felt a sense of comfort running down her spine as Dr. Martin's words resonated with her. She had always trusted her instincts, and now she was beginning to wonder if she had been ignoring her intuition for too long.

"Maybe I'm just stressed out from work," Tina said, trying to rationalize her feelings. "Or maybe I'm just being paranoid because of all the stress we've been under lately."

Dr. Martin leaned forward, his eyes locked onto Tina's. "It's possible, Tina," he said. "But it's also possible that there's something more to it. And I'm here to help you explore that, to help you get to the bottom of what's going on."

As Dr. Martin spoke, Tina felt a sense of relief all over her. She knew that she had come to the right place and that she was in good hands. With Dr. Martin's help, she was determined to uncover the truth and break every upcoming problem in her marriage and also know how to approach  Alex's behavior.

Tina took a deep breath and began to open up more about her concerns: Alex's increasing secrecy, his mood swings, and the mysterious and frequent calls.

Dr. Martin listened attentively, his expression empathetic. "We'll work through this together, Tina. I promise." he held her hands parting them with empathy.

Tina left the session feeling reassured and relieved hoping this would help her marriage improve.

As days passed, Tina's anxiety grew, like a slow-burning fire that refused to be extinguished. She couldn't shake off the feeling that something was wrong and that Alex was hiding something from her. His behavior had become increasingly suspicious, and she couldn't help but wonder what was going on behind those piercing blue eyes.

It started with small things. He would receive calls, excuse himself, and return with a distant look in his eyes. At first, Tina thought it was just work-related stress,  as he usually tells her but as the days went by, the frequency of these episodes increased, and she began to feel a growing sense of unease.

She tried to bring it up with Alex, to ask him what was wrong, but he just brushed her off, telling her she was being paranoid, that everything was fine. But Tina knew what she saw, and she knew that something was very wrong. She could sense it in her bones, a nagging feeling that refused to go away.

One evening, Tina decided to confront him. She couldn't take the uncertainty anymore, not knowing what was going on. She walked into the living room, where Alex was sitting on the couch, staring at his phone. His expression was distant, his eyes glazed over, and Tina felt a pang of fear.

"Alex, what's going on?" she asked, her voice firm but shaking slightly. "You're scaring me."

Alex's expression softened, and he pulled her close. "I'm sorry, Tina. I'm just dealing with some business issues. It's nothing to worry about," he said, his voice reassuring, but Tina wasn't convinced.

She wanted to believe him, she did. But his actions were saying something different. The way he avoided her eyes, the way he brushed her off, it all seemed so... suspicious. But she knew she would get to the bottom of this.

That night, as they lay in bed, Tina struggled to sleep. Her mind was racing, deep in thought, wondering what was going on with Alex. She felt like she was losing her grip on reality like she was living in a dream world where nothing made sense.

Suddenly, she felt Alex's phone vibrate under his pillow. She hesitated, wondering if she should pick it up, but her curiosity got the better of her. She gently lifted the pillow and took the phone, her heart racing with anticipation.

A text message flashed on the screen: "Meet me at the usual place. -L"

Tina's heart skipped a beat. Her hands trembling, Who was L? What did they want with Alex? She felt a wave of fear wash over her, followed by a sense of anger. Why was Alex keeping this from her?

She looked over at Alex, who was still fast asleep, oblivious to the storm brewing inside her. She wanted to wake him up, to demand answers, but something held her back. Instead, she carefully placed the phone under the pillow, trying not to disturb Alex.

She lay back down, her mind whirling with thoughts and questions. As she lay there, she couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. Alex was hiding something from her, something big.

She tossed as many times as she could, then turned, unable to sleep; her eyes kept drifting back to Alex's phone, wondering who L was and what they wanted. The thought of Alex cheating on her was something she was avoiding, not wanting to think about, but she knew his restlessness was something big. Could he be sick? She murmured to herself as she watched Alex in deep sleep, unconsciously placing her hands on his head to feel his temperature.

As the night wore on, Tina's anxiety grew, her mind racing with scenarios, as she could hear her heart beating so fast, her thoughts each were more terrifying than the last. She felt like she was living in a nightmare, and she didn't know how to wake up.

The darkness outside seemed to press in on her, making her feel claustrophobic, trapped. She felt like she was losing control, like her world was spinning out of control.

And then, just as suddenly as it had started, everything went quiet. The phone stopped vibrating, Alex's breathing slowed, and the room was plunged into silence.

Tina lay there, her heart still racing, her mind reeling with thoughts and questions. She knew she had to confront Alex. to demand answers, but she was scared. Scared of what she might find out, scared of losing the man she loved.

As the night wore on, Tina's eyelids finally dropped, exhaustion taking over. But even in her sleep, she knew that nothing would ever be the same again. The seeds of doubt had been sown, and she knew that their relationship would never be the same until she got a reasonable answer from him.