C357 The Secret

Samantha lowered her eyes before beginning. "Yesterday, after work, Faith and I stayed behind to train. We were practicing in the boxing ring like we usually do." Sarah listened quietly. "We were sparring," Samantha continued. "At one point I managed to trap her in a hold. I thought she would tap out." "And?" Samantha's cheeks turned slightly red. "Instead... she kissed me." Sarah nearly jumped from her chair. "What?!"

Samantha nodded helplessly. "I didn't expect it at all. I froze. I couldn't even think properly." Sarah stared at her sister as if she had grown another head. "And then?" "I panicked and left." Samantha rubbed her forehead. "I drove home without saying anything. I couldn't stop thinking about it." Sarah remained silent. Samantha continued softly. "The strange thing wasn't the kiss itself. It was what it made me feel." Sarah's expression hardened. "What exactly did it make you feel?"

Samantha hesitated. "It reminded me that I'm still human." The room became quiet. For a moment, Sarah understood exactly what her sister meant. For years Samantha had lived a lonely life. She had been a wife in name only. A mother. But she had buried most of her own emotions. Samantha looked down. "I kept thinking about it after the video call last night." "And then i found myself going to Ben's room." A small smile escaped Sarah. "So that's why he was acting strangely this morning." Samantha sighed. "I don't know. Maybe."

She paused before continuing. "After whatever Ben and I did, I thought everything would return to normal." "But it didn't." "No." Samantha shook her head. "Today during lunch, Faith came to see me." Sarah remembered what she had walked in on earlier. "She brought my gun." "I forgot it at Lucia Goods." Samantha sighed. "She also brought lunch and asked me to eat with her." Sarah listened carefully. "I was still confused about everything that happened yesterday. So I decided to ask her directly." "What did you ask?"

Samantha hesitated. "I asked if she liked women." Sarah blinked. "And?" Samantha looked away. "She said no." Sarah frowned. "Then what's the problem?" Samantha gave a bitter smile. "She said she had never fallen in love with a woman before." The office became quiet again. Samantha continued. "She said she felt something after that kiss." Sarah's eyes narrowed. Samantha's voice became almost a whisper. "I felt something too." Sarah closed her eyes. For a few seconds, she said nothing. Then she opened them again. "So you kissed her."

Samantha slowly shook her head. "No. She did." "You didn't stop her?" "No." "You weren't confused at that exact moment?" Samantha remained silent. Sarah already had her answer. The silence stretched between them. Finally Sarah spoke. "Samantha, whether you intended it or not, that's still cheating." Samantha lowered her head. "I know." "You can't tell me I imagined what I saw." "I know." "You kissed another person." "I know." Tears began gathering in Samantha's eyes. "I'm sorry."

Sarah stared at her sister. The disappointment in her eyes hurt far more than any angry words. "What do you plan to do now?" Samantha looked up. "I don't know." "Are you planning to be with Faith?" "I don't know." "What about Ben?" Samantha closed her eyes. "I don't know." Sarah shook her head. "That's not an answer." Samantha's voice trembled. "Because I genuinely don't know." The confession was painfully honest. She wasn't defending herself. She wasn't making excuses. She truly didn't understand what was happening inside her heart.

Sarah sighed heavily. "What about your marriage?" Samantha looked away. "After Ben and I... after last night... I told him the truth." "What truth?" "That I still don't love him." Sarah rubbed her forehead. "And yet you slept with him." Samantha winced. "I know how bad that sounds." "It sounds terrible." "I know." Sarah stood up and walked toward the window. The city stretched outside beneath the afternoon sun. For several minutes she simply stood there. Finally she spoke. "You've disappointed me."

Samantha's shoulders trembled. "I'm sorry." Sarah turned around. "But you're still my sister." Samantha looked up hopefully. "Sister..." Sarah raised a hand. "I'm not promising anything." The hope in Samantha's eyes immediately faded. "I need time to think." She returned to her chair. "What you told me today affects more than just you." Samantha nodded. "I understand." "It affects Ben." Another nod. "It affects Monica." A third nod. "And it affects our entire family." Samantha looked down. "I know." Sarah exhaled slowly. "I need time."

After hearing those words, Samantha realized there was nothing else she could say. She stood up. "Thank you for listening." Sarah didn't respond. Samantha turned and slowly walked toward the door. Just before leaving, she stopped. "Sister." Sarah looked up. "Please don't tell Mom and Dad." "At least if you intend to, please let it be me who tell them." Sarah remained silent. After a few seconds she answered softly. "I'll think about it." It wasn't a promise. But it wasn't a refusal either. Samantha nodded. Then she quietly left the office.

Outside, Samantha walked down the corridor alone. Every step felt heavier than the last. Her mind replayed everything that had happened. Faith's first kiss. Her own confusion. Sleeping with Ben. The second kiss. Sarah's disappointed expression. "If only I had refused lunch," she whispered. "If only I had walked away." But regrets changed nothing. The damage had already been done. Later that afternoon, Lucia Goods became lively once again. Employees began gathering in the training hall.

Alicia and I arrived first. Soon Angus the Hammer and the other coaches entered. One after another, the participants arrived. Chris. Laura. Faith. Samantha. And finally Sarah. Training began as usual. Yet anyone paying attention could immediately notice something was different. Sarah and Samantha barely spoke to each other. Even when they stood near one another, an invisible wall seemed to separate them. Alicia noticed it almost immediately. She frowned. "What's wrong with you two today?"

Before either sister could answer, Chris pointed toward Samantha. "I wanted to ask the same thing." He grinned. "She didn't even eat lunch with us today." Samantha nearly choked. Her eyes instinctively moved toward Sarah. Sarah understood exactly what that look meant. It was a plea. A request. A reminder of the promise she hadn't yet made. Nearby, Faith noticed the awkward atmosphere. She looked at Samantha. Then at Sarah. Then back at Samantha. A strange feeling settled in her chest.

She stepped forward. "Director." Alicia looked at her. "Yes?" "I'll go practice on the punching bags." Alicia nodded. "Alright." Faith quickly left. Sarah watched her walk away. Then she laughed softly. "It's nothing serious." Everyone turned toward her. "I'm just annoyed because she left home early this morning without waiting for me." Samantha immediately coughed. Chris laughed. "So that's it?" Sarah nodded calmly. "That's it." Nobody suspected anything. Except Samantha. And perhaps Faith.

The training session continued. Sarah noticed that she wasn't doing anything she sighed and said. "I will go back home and have a rest, keep training guys." Everyone nodded while they kept their focus on training. Chris focused on his shooting practice. Laura worked on her stance. The employees followed instructions from the coaches. Angus moved from group to group, correcting mistakes and offering advice.

Meanwhile, Sarah was already driving home. The roads were quieter now. Her mind remained occupied by everything Samantha had told her. She still didn't know what to do. "Should I tell Ben?" "Should I tell my parents?" "Should I keep the secret?" The questions circled endlessly inside her head. "If I keep it a secret then I would be betraying my brother." "And If I tell them I would be betraying Samantha. Her thoughts were interrupted the ringing of her phone. Sarah glanced at the screen. An unfamiliar number.

Immediately, she remembered Ben mentioning Jack. Her grip tightened slightly on the steering wheel. Could this be him? After a moment's hesitation, she slowed the car and answered. "Hello?"