Wife’s Betrayal Led Me To Track Down Her Lover: A Story Of Revenge, Regret, And Unseen Consequences.

wife's betrayal led me to track down her lover a story of Revenge regret and unseen consequences I'm Tom jod and my wife is Linda I stand at 5' 10 in tall and weigh 165 lbs but I have my strengths we first met in college when I was 23 and she was 21 while pursuing a double degree in economics and accounting I also served in the Army although my Army service didn't always entail being in the midst of conflict it was nonetheless perilous our unit was tasked with executing individual missions often involving dealing with supposed allies essentially we were trained as executioners with my specialization lying in planning and close combat after graduating at 25 I left the Army 2 years later and married Linda within four years we welcomed two daughters I managed accounting for local businesses from home and engaged in some sales as well Linda took care of the children but when our marriage reached its 10th year she secured a position at a nearby laboratory affiliated with the college with both girls in school and me working from home she was able to return to a job she enjoyed we resided in the same house where I grew up having acquired it from my parents when they relocated to Florida during my college Years some of our army missions provided lucrative rewards which we divided among the unit this enabled me to afford necessary expenses one February evening we decided to dine out and hit the dance floor at a club with our neighbors accompanied by babysitters for the kids eight of us ventured out Linda and I booked a room room at a hotel linked to the dance club she looked stunning a slender 5' 6 in figure adorned in a blue silk dress we had an enjoyable dinner and were immersed in dancing at the club when a group of six individuals joined us one of them was a hefty blond-haired man named Mark Stevens a professional midfielder for the local Team every woman at our table immediately took notice of him Stevens was accompanied by a Charming blonde sporting what seemed to be a sizable wedding ring on her finger they danced together our friend Jun mentioned she was a cheerleader for the team and engaged to Stevens after some time I observed Stevens glancing over at our table he rose and made his way toward us he directly approached Linda and simply asked her to dance without acknowledging me I placed my hand on her shoulder in an attempt to Halt her but she Rose from the table and joined him she didn't even glance back at me I felt more than a little irritated my annoyance grew when after two Lively dances it was time for a slow one and she seemed to melt into Mark's Embrace I stood up and headed to the bar passing by them directly the women at our table disapproved of my action and they made it clear nonetheless I proceeded Linda didn't seem to notice me passing by at all I ordered coffee when the slow song concluded they separated and Linda returned to our table I remained at the bar sipping my coffee I saw her glance around for me and spot me there she appeared somewhat concerned she sat down beside June I approached and as I drew nearer they both stood up did you you enjoy yourself I inquired I'm sorry perhaps I got a bit carried away Linda added maybe so June interjected Tom it was just a little dance nothing significant Linda remarked I found it disrespectful towards me I said as I took a seat June and I are stepping out to the restroom wek be back shortly Linda said they departed and Mark exited through the front door alone without the blonde June returned but Linda wasn't with her I inquired where is she Tom Linda's not here anymore she left with Mark June responded are you joking I rushed outside and witnessed Linda getting into the red Escalade which then began to move returning to the table I found June conversing with the others did you all know what she was up to I questioned June replied Tom you have to let her have the night she'll come back to you tomorrow no I don't want her to return make sure she knows this when you speak with her we're done I declared prompting a collective uproar at the table they deemed my reaction too severe so I snapped at them I want nothing to do with any of you anymore you all knew and didn't warn me so maybe I could have intervened now she'll jeopardize everything for a night of passion I headed to the front desk but noticed a blonde woman at a nearby table with the other four individuals who had accompanied Stevens she appeared distraught I approached her are you his girlfriend I inquired yes I was his girlfriend but not anymore where did they go she replied to our house on Lane he promised he wouldn't do it once we were engaged she disclosed excuse me was that your wife I muttered cowardice is the theme Here I muttered damn it sort things out in the morning and take her home he enjoys flaunting his conquests what a fool at this two other men one black and the other white both sizable took offense I paid them no mind I handed the woman my business card and requested her to give me a call she smiled but tears streamed down her face I walked off grabbing my coat but leaving Linda behind upon reaching the hotel room I retrieved my suitcase while leaving Linda behind then proceeded to check out driving home a well-formed plan began to take shape in my mind this scenario wasn't unfamiliar to me reminiscent of my military days which had kept me alive I wished I had devised a plan earlier before Linda's departure parking my car in the garage I activated the security system before heading inside in the basement I retrieved the Rope I had stashed away for years returning upstairs I undressed and ascended to the second floor Dawning black underwear a hoodie dark gray sweatpants old sneakers two pairs of gloves and a balaclava I made my way to the attic with the Rope securing it to the beam as I did in childhood I climbed out of the narrow window and descended the house wall on the other side dense forest awaited sprinting I hurdled the fence and made my way to the adjacent Workshop inside I gathered a backpack extra wool socks a pocket knife and an old handaxe stuffing them into the backpack I retrieved my bike and pedal toward the river through the surrounding Woods Crossing the river bridge I headed toward Cherry Lane spotting a house adorned with a football player statue and a red Escalade parked outside I approached with Axe and knife in hand I leaped over the fence and dashed past the SUV employing the axe I shattered the passenger side window triggering the alarm taking cover behind a nearby column I waited briefly as the porch light flickered on the door opened revealing the unsuspecting Target he stepped outside armed with a semi-automatic pistol swiftly I struck him on the head with the axe causing him to stumble and crawl delivering a final decisive blow with both hands I incapacitated him before swiftly retreating and shutting the front door behind me racing away I vaulted over the stone wall and returned to my waiting bike I dawned wool socks and packed the axe knife gloves and shoes into the backpack then zipped it shut mounting my bike I sped towards the river upon reaching the bridge I halted and hurled the entire backpack into the swiftly flowing water propelled by the rain from the previous day retracing my path through the nearby Forest I pedal back toward the house arriving at the workshop I entered swapped my socks for a fresh pair of sneakers and sprayed the bike's handles and pedals with an ammonia solution wiping them clean returning to the house I scaled the side fence and climbed through the small window a more challenging task than anticipated I coiled the rope and wiped the window sill with a rag before dashing to the basement stripping off my clothes including the mask and gloves I tossed them into the washing machine after a thorough shower I dressed in gym shorts and ascended to the main floor leaving the basement door a jar for monitoring once the washing machine cycle completed I retrieved the club attire I wore the previous night downstairs again I transferred The Damp clothes to the dryer then returned to prepare a snack and pour a glass of whiskey pondering my actions I awaited the dryer's signal when it finished I collected the dried clothes and restored everything to its place the balaclava found its spot at the rear of the closet glancing at my watch it read 2:50 a. m. marking the culmination of events since entering the house having returned from the club at midnight I settled onto the sofa downstairs sipping more whiskey until sleep overtook me I woke to the doorbell ringing at 6:02 a.

m. glancing at the door camera display I spotted an African-American woman and a white man with short hair cops the doorbell chimed again prompting me to open the door who are you you look like a police officer I remarked I'm detective asper and this is detective Logan the black woman responded flashing their badges is this about Linda he didn't injure her did he I inquired anxiously no she wasn't physically injured but MrStevens was attacked may we come in detective asper inquired certainly I acquiesced where is Linda did you bring her with you the white detective asked no sir shek in the hospital receiving treatment for shock I informed them pausing briefly our gaze locked momentarily a silent exchange of questions please have a seat I gestured toward the sofa though they opted for separate chairs with rigid backs leaving the sofa for myself I believe it's best if you explain what occurred I suggested what have you been doing since your wife left the club with Stevens detective Logan pressed just tell us what happened detective asper interjected no you simply need to answer the question I retorted I returned to our hotel room packed my belongings checked out and came straight here I ended up drinking myself to sleep on this sofa you've just woken me I disclosed is there anyone else here asper inquired no the children are with the nanny for the night I affirmed did you make any calls contact anyone to verify your whereabouts detective Logan probed no but I never left I replied asper surveyed the room I notice you have a security system can you provide details she asked it covers all the doors I can prove my presence here I assured them letun head upstairs I suggested leading them to the office seated at the computer desk I demonstrated the security system uploading data from 6 p. m.

until their arrival they briefly reviewed the evidence the security system was configured to monitor all three doors the front entrance side door and sliding patio door leading to the pool the side lacking a door overlooked the woods and featured two non-opening large Windows rendering it unsupervised wek need to confiscate this computer Logan declared why you witnessed me downloading security data I countered because you could have tampered with it before our arrival he explained all right but I can't be without it for more than a day this is a work computer and I rely on it I have a replacement but it's not a long-term solution I explained watch me I'll transfer some files onto this external drive including the data you received and it's done I assured them they expressed a desire to inspect the premises and I consented emphasizing the importance of them staying together and remaining in my presence after snapping a few photos they departed at 7:10 a. m. I reached out to Linda's parents John and Stephanie who resided next door but were currently at their lakefront property detailing the events to them I relayed the police's information that Linda was in the hospital in a State of Shock Jon was taken aback by Linda's actions while Stephanie appeared less surprised are you planning to visit her Stephanie inquired no I won't that's why I called you I really want to distance myself from her after what she's done while it's regrettable that the man was attacked it's not my responsibility apparently he's engaged in such Behavior multiple times when she's released from the hospital she needs to stay away from me and the house we can arrange for her belongings to be relocated I explained why not consider moving yourself she can't stay the children have grown up in that house this is my home it's not marital property Jon being a lawyer proposed hinting at a potential legal resolution you should have waited he remarked that's pretty harsh Tom not as harsh as what she did to me with that the conversation concluded I then phoned my parents in Florida recounting the events as best I could they too were taken aback by Linda's actions my father switched on the TV informing me about news concerning Stevens according to reports he was attacked and eliminated in his home this came as no surprise to me as I hung up the landline rang it was Judy Tom where's Linda we heard about Mark's passing she's in shock at the hospital as the police told me have you seen her which hospital she inquired I'm not sure and I have no intention of seeing her I won't be offering any support I replied firmly don't be like that she needs you Judy pleaded she won't get any support from me I don't care if her big night was ruined if it was ruined then good I retorted you're heartless Judy accused did you liquidate mark no but I don't regret it good riddance I responded before Judy hung up after another shower I dressed and headed to pick up the kids from the babysitter around 8 upon arrival I learned learned they hadn't heard about the previous evening's events we returned home and they inquired about Linda's whereabouts I don't think she'll be here today she has something to attend to anyway let's spend the day enjoying football I informed them taking them to the soccer complex for their noon and 1:30 games I relaxed as I watched them play Michelle the youngest played well while Laura though less skilled gave it her all it was good exercise for them after the games we indulged in ice cream before heading home my mobile phone had several messages but I had muted the sound while spending time with the girls one was from Linda's parents informing me she was at St Jude and unresponsive another was from a hospital doctor requesting a call back Judy left a message mentioning Linda was at the police station and uncommunicative suggesting I bring the girls to her I explained to the girls that their mom was at the hospital emotionally shaken by events from the previous night they were curious so I reluctantly revealed that she had accompanied a famous football player to his house resulting in a traumatic incident despite their uncertainty I encouraged them to get ready to visit her returning the doctor's call I spoke with Laura Thompson who disclosed that Linda was in a catatonic State due to trauma I inquired about bringing the kids to which she hesitated do you plan to visit her she asked I'd rather not for reasons you probably know but I can bring the girls if it might help do they understand what happened I responded you mean about Linda and the football player she clarified yes they're ready to go if it might benefit Linda I confirmed all right meet me in room 311 in 30 minutes she instructed we arrived and DrThompson a psychiatrist in her late 40 seconds briefed us before allowing the girls to enter she explained Linda's State and suggested their presence might be beneficial approaching Linda cautiously Laura touched her hand and addressed her as Mom but there was no response Shelley followed suit but with no reaction from Linda she began to cry approaching Linda I embraced her but there was no response taking Laura's hand I guided them toward the exit well we gave it a shot I remarked will she wake up Laura inquired certainly someday I reassured her perhaps you can visit her again soon when she regains Consciousness you'll have the chance to see her but what if she doesn't wake up Shelley whispered anxiously I assured her that she would wake up maybe not right away the doctor interjected girls I'll be sure to inform you when she regains Consciousness with that we left the hospital both girls fearful in the car I questioned whether it was a mistake to bring them along despite my anger at Linda's betrayal I didn't wish this upon her though she deserved consequences not like this tears stream down my face back home I prepared scrambled eggs and toast involving the girls in cooking pretending I needed their help they eagerly assisted reving in the opportunity to help me then I put on a movie for them and retreated to my office I phoned my friend a public defender hoping to glean information about the events at the Steven's house after I left while he couldn't access police reports he suggested ambulance mileage reports as a potential Source we ended the call and I returned to the living room absent-mindedly watching a movie pondering the uncertain future an hour later my lawyer friend returned my call he informed me via email about the ambulance call details I recounted the police visit to him he suggested that if the security system indicated no entry or exit I likely had nothing to fear however he cautioned that the police might seek a search warrant or wish to interview me again advising to consult a lawyer if necessary though I initially felt I didn't need one I decided to contact the recommended lawyer Joan Drke upon reviewing the ER report I learned that police found Linda with Steven's head in her lap covered in blood and wearing only a thin robe repeatedly muttering no in distress she remained unresponsive during transport to the hospital despite an officer's efforts to obtain information the ordeal left me feeling sick pondering if she would ever recover I researched PTSD having previously studied it for myself along with shock induced Catatonia while individuals typically recovered from a catatonic State PTSD could persist for years lawyer Joan Drke scheduled an appointment for Monday morning at 9: 30 a.

m. providing her mobile number in case of early police arrival though they did not show up on Sunday the girls and I spent the day goofing around as I reassured them that Linda would eventually return still needing our support as for myself I wondered how she would react to me when she recovered I doubted she saw anything but if she did it would likely be a masked figure in Black attire perhaps she might suspect me uncertainty lingered I doubted she had any prior experience with me that would lead her to seriously consider I was capable of what I actually did on Monday I escorted the girls to school I kept track of the local news coverage regarding Steven's homicide though Linda's name wasn't mentioned it was reported that Stevens was expecting a married woman when he was attacked outside his home a neighbor alerted the police upon hearing Linda's screams until then no one aside from the authorities had connected Linda or me to the homicide however I anticipated this perception would evolve over time meeting with Joan Drke a poised blonde around 45 she displayed the same sharpness my friend mentioned I recounted the story from the beginning providing her with a copy of the ambulance report which left her visibly stunned assertively I mentioned the unaltered CCTV footage that demonstrated no one entered or exited between my return home and the police's arrival I requested the return of my computer for work purposes and provided the advaned payment as she dialed the police station requesting detective asper I gestured that I would handle it she agreed arranging for someone from her office to retrieve the computer the following morning after the call I informed her I wouldn't engage with the police and would record any conversations if necessary later that afternoon I Departed the girls arrived home from school and immediately inquired about Linda I had already come contacted the doctor but there were no significant updates they proceeded with their homework and later we ordered pizza for dinner I jok that if their mother didn't return soon I would need to brush up on my cooking skills eliciting laughter despite never cooking at home I assured them I was a capable cook when Laura's sister joined us upstairs Laura asked if I could forgive mom for her infidelity maybe I replied honestly right now I just want her to recover then the landline rang and it was Jim Beeman from the newspaper MrJoe this is Jim Bean from the Tribune hello we've received information that your wife Linda was with Mark Stevens when he was eliminated can you confirm I'd prefer to keep this private my kids are at school and I don't want them involved Jim persisted so you confirm it how do you feel about your wife's lovers passing I understand where you're going with this if your publication injures my family I'll take legal action against you and your newspaper it's inevitable Mrjod I'm powerless to stop it the warned gazing out the window I spotted a TV truck parked outside Channel 7 I noted grimly looks like you're right darn it I have to go I muttered apologetically a knock interrupted and peering through the camera I saw a young woman with a microphone speaking through the intercom I warned her to leave threatening to involve the police if she persisted is your wife present Mrjod she pressed I promptly dialed the local Department requesting assistance in removing the Press from my property they responded dispersing the group of six from the porch yet they lingered nearby now joined by four trucks instructing the doctor to ensure Linda's safety before the Press arrived I discussed options with the girls suggesting homeschooling while residing elsewhere however they insisted on attending school even if living elsewhere I promised to consider their request seeking guidance from my lawyer Joon she suggested making a statement to the press to alleviate tensions we arranged for the statement to emphasize our desire for Linda to resume her normal routine my statement asserted that I do not engage in commenting on rumors regarding my wife and will maintain this stance in the future it emphasized that any continued media presence outside our residents could lead to Legal repercussions if it endangered the family and politely requested the departure of the trucks concurrently detective asper and her Superior scheduled a press conference for 700 p. m.

which I watched during the conference the police disclosed that Mark Stevens was assaulted and fatally wounded with a sharp object out his home they clarified that although a woman was present in the house at the time there was no indication she witnessed the attack and reiterated that the investigation was ongoing the initial query inquired about the marital status of the woman and whether her spouse was a suspect detective asper responded stating since you are aware of her identity it is evident she is married however our thorough investigation found no evidence linking her husband to the attack in fact he remained at his residence throughout the night far from the crime scene a reporter then asked about other married women potentially involved with Stevens detective asper confirmed that they had investigated allegations of Stevens engaging with married women revealing some truth to these claims she added indeed Stevens seemed to have engaged with multiple married women sometimes in the presence of their husbands this aspect is being thoroughly explored in our investigation Chief Johnson concluded the meeting stating that's all for now if there are any further updates before our briefing on Wednesday we'll form you the police departed amidst shouts I arranged with the girls school to have their assignments delivered or sent digitally over the next few days I alerted Linda's parents about the possibility of press attention but no reporters had appeared yet they also vacated our street on Tuesday the doctor called informing me that Linda was showing signs of responsiveness and the police were present with her I informed her parents and gathered the girls to accompany me to the hospital upon our arrival the police were just leaving Detective aspir men she wished to speak with me after I met with Linda to which I agreed Linda appeared dazed though she greeted the girls warmly and embraced them however she avoided eye contact with me the girls updated her about the television trucks in school but then Linda seemed to drift off prompting the doctor to advise letting her rest while her parents conversed with the girls outside I spoke with Detective asper she seems to be improving remarked asper maybe I replied uncertainly indeed are you planning to bring her home until she fully recovers then consider separation inquired asper I believe she deserves a reprieve what more punishment could she face Beyond what's already occurred it's not about punishment it's about respect and Trust I'll never trust her and I'll never respect her and perhaps she'll never respect me either remarked asper smiling she might fear you maybe she doesn't trust you either you're trying to set me up I countered you know very well I had nothing to do with Steven's attack I'm aware of your military background and your Comm mendable service record perhaps an ordinary person couldn't have done it but maybe you could have I didn't do it I wasn't there I insisted that's not my concern I wasn't present I reiterated before leaving it sounded like a Veiled Threat in the following days Linda gradually resumed normal behavior I dropped off the girls daily but didn't spend much time with them in the room on the fourth day Linda was set to be discharged she requested a private conversation so I sent the girls away I apologize for putting you in such a difficult situation Linda began apologies won't change anything Linda it's been incredibly humiliating for me now it's all over the news I'd like to go home after being discharged this afternoon she continued sitting on the bed and gesturing toward the chair can I leave the media is waiting and I don't want the girls lives to be further disrupted maybe I can slip away unnoticed I gazed at her silently for a while you've always been skilled at slipping away I remarked she kept her eyes downcast I'll notify security being close to you isn't exactly what I want but it seems I don't have much choice at the moment I didn't want any damage to come to you I thought you cared for me and could handle this or maybe I didn't consider it at all did you two have love making I inquired no we were undressed in bed when everything happened she replied observing her closely I realized she was lying I can't say I believe you or anything you say for that matter trust is something I'll never be able to give you again but we'll see how things unfold all right I love you she professed without a word I Turned and Left arranging with the hospital security office I organized a car to pick up Linda discreetly from behind the building and transport her to our home the pickup was scheduled for 400 p. m. everything proceeded smoothly and she arrived home around 4:45 the kids and her parents were present I prepared a bed for myself in my office while Linda would sleep in our bedroom the rest of the day was incredibly awkward to say the least her parents seemed Unsure how to navigate the situation Linda her mom and the kids played Monopoly in the living room her dad wanted to talk so we went to the patio John began what's your plan Tom I'm not entirely sure but it's likely we're at the end of the road forgiveness is something you must strive for you've shared a deep bond for so long and built a beautiful family he urged I know but I question if our love has truly endured if she truly loved me she wouldn't have done this she claims they didn't have an act of love he remarked how would I know she spent quite a while with him does it even matter she would have done it we all know that well it might have mattered if he hadn't used protection she could have contracted an illness or become pregnant he didn't like this response she can stay here for now but you might need to find another solution soon we headed back to the house and enjoyed Pizza together later her parents left to my knowledge they didn't broach the topic of Mark with her as we tucked the girls into bed Laura queried Linda about her encounter with Mark I'm really sorry I was wrong and I made a mistake but I'm confused he's just a football player I've seen him he's not our dad Laura remarked no not Dad I'll explain more about him to you later once I find out more with the girls settled Linda descended to the kitchen about 10 minutes later I followed in the meantime I phoned my friend a public defender and inquired about the autopsy report he informed me it was a public document and I asked if he could obtain it Linda sipped on Pepsi drinks which weren't advised for her as they could trigger a relapse she inquired are you sleeping in our room no I'll be in the office well you're welcome anytime we'll have to wait and see right now I don't see a way forward for us but all of this just happened this week I can be patient really I didn't notice I ascended to my office and retired to bed sleep eluded me and I Rose at 5:00 a.

m. to brew some coffee a friend of mine sent over Steven's autopsy report I meticulously reviewed it focusing on the trauma analysis which revealed traces of ejaculate and female secretions these samples were dispatched for laboratory scrutiny Linda's claim of no Act of Love seemed dubious especially given the timing she had been at Steven's residence for roughly 2 hours prior to the homicide later when she emerged downstairs I accompanied the girls to school though they seemed somewhat downcast I deliberated extensively on my choices were it not for Linda's condition I wouldn't have allowed her back into the house however there were were potential advantages such as providing some relief for the girls if things settled down Upon returning home another TV truck arrived and a young woman disembarked shouting inquiries about Linda's whereabouts and my forgiveness I grinned gestured to her and cautioned her against trespassing before heading inside Linda baked cookies and offered me one which I accepted there's a TV truck parked outside they're unaware of your presence here and perhaps it's better that way what do they want they've already published my name and my actions at his house can they cause any more damage I'm sure they can conjure something up I replied regarding her thoughtfully I've been contemplating what to do about you or us I'd like you to jot down precisely what occurred last Friday from the moment that fool approached us until you ended up in the hospital it doesn't have to be immediate but sooner would be better if it's too distressing you can skip certain parts and revisit them later I'll give it a shot I also need to check if I still have a job why would they let you go because of my Affair why would that concern them well I was absent for an entire week she made the call and was informed she could take a week off due to illness and the following week she retreated to her bedroom sitting at her desk and typing on her computer I left her to herself and retreated to my office where I delved into studying the autopsy materials I figured I'd receive the test results though it might take a few days it was evident that Linda was attempting to maintain a sense of normaly around me however I couldn't help but feel she must have had questions about what transpired our routine continued for 2 days until the test results arrived Linda's DNA and carnal fluids were detected so it's likely she lied about having made love I waited to see what she would write to me regarding the events but I couldn't fathom continuing life with her as my spouse the next day after dinner Linda entered my home office I finished writing this she handed me the print out I perused her words Tom forgive me for my weakness when Mark asked me to dance I was thrilled he was charismatic and had quite a reputation as we danced I was completely captivated when the slow dance commenced I was simply swept away he drew me close to him honestly I would have given into to him right then and there I don't know why he had such an Allure but he did he suggested we sneak out the side door and go to his house he promised me the most incredible carnal experience of my life and I believed him when the dance concluded I returned to our table and you were gone I agreed to accompany June to the women's room upon your return I noticed your intense anger but I assumed you'd eventually calm down my desire for Mark was overwhelming so I slipped out the side door and we drove to his house he kissed me upon entering carried me upstairs to his bed and we engaged in passionate love making as we neared the end a car alarm blared Mark dawned his robe and went outside to investigate in the meantime I peered out the window but saw nothing however I glimpsed a figure dressed in black leaping over the fence when I reached the front door I found Mark lying in the driveway his head grievously injured I was in a days overwhelmed with shock and guilt feeling as though I bore responsibility for the tragedy I recall being taken to the hospital I'm remorseful for everything I love you and I can't fathom why I acted as I did Linda I gazed at her as tears streamed down her cheeks Tom were you the figure I saw I was here all night drowning my sorrows lamenting the collapse of our marriage and the inevitable changes in our family there was a burning resentment within me but the police can confirm I was here they have surveillance footage that's what they told me when I inquired however no excuses I believed Steven got his Just Desserts no Tom he didn't deserve that he was decent and he upheaved your life right Tom doesn't that count for something I can't explain it but understand I may never love you the same way again perhaps not at all the man I thought I married would never commit the actions you did was it worth it was the fleeting pleasure worth the devastation you caused what did he lose sure the love making might have been remarkable but it wasn't worth the catastrophic aftermath if we had just spent that night together and I returned home the next day maybe but now he's dead and my life is ruined forever yes you eliminated him she exclaimed before storming out of the room no you killed him I murmured quietly to myself from that moment on our relationship turned icy I made a conscious decision not to try to persuade her of my innocence or seek reconciliation naturally I would never confess what truly transpired fearing she might betray me to the authori as an untrustworthy accomplice she had just admitted that Steven hadn't been killed she would have deemed the night worth the repercussions albeit not in those exact words several weeks later I initiated divorce proceedings seeking custody of the children so they could remain in the familiar surroundings of our home given Linda's employment I opted not to request alimony child support or strict visitation rights as Linda gradually regained stability I insisted she find alternative accommodation she chose to stay with her parents temporarily I served her with divorce papers during her visit there shortly after her father contacted me pleading for leniency as Linda was in distress I stood firm asserting she ought to seek legal counsel he seemed Furious though it was unclear if his anger was directed at me or her he inquired about visitation arrangements to which I replied she could visit any evening and stay until the children's bedtime the following day Linda arrived at 5:00 p. m.