Episode 3

I drove slowly to the gym this time, taking the opportunity to process my thoughts and calm down. I was feeling jittery, and my palms were still sweaty from the revelation earlier.

"Your husband has been a liar all this while," the words of the doctor echoed in my mind as I clutched the result papers in my hand. It confirmed my suspicions, and I couldn't believe that my husband had been deceiving me for so long.

"I told you so! I always knew something was off with that man," Sheba's voice rang in my ears. She had been skeptical of my husband from the beginning, and now her concerns were proven right.

"I will tell mama," she had threatened, reaching for her phone. I pleaded with her not to involve our mother at that moment. It would only complicate things further, and I wanted to handle the situation discreetly.

"Okay, fine. But you have to make that divorce process quick, or else," she warned, leaving me with no choice but to promise her that I would initiate the divorce proceedings. Sheba was always one to protect her sister fiercely, even if it meant resorting to drastic measures.

Lost in my thoughts, I was about to make a sharp turn into the street where the gym was located when a car suddenly swerved in front of me, causing me to jolt in fear. Panicking, I quickly got out of my car to check for any scratches and apologize to the person who was clearly at fault.

"Hey, I'm so sorry," I said, nervously tucking my hair behind my ears as I carefully examined my car and the other vehicle. It was a brand new Ford Mustang, indicating that the driver was likely wealthy and a man.

The car window rolled down, revealing a woman in her thirties and to my surprise sitting in the driver's seat while a man was in the passenger seat. She immediately stepped out to apologize to me instead. She was stunningly beautiful, with long blonde hair and captivating green eyes. Her elegance and poise caught my attention, and I couldn't help but admire her.

"I'm sorry, it was my fault. I was running late to meet my personal trainer, and you were driving slowly," she explained, and I found myself momentarily speechless, captivated by her beauty.

She mentioned having a personal trainer, and it occurred to me that she might be heading to the same gym as me since it was the only one on the street.

"Next time, drive a bit quicker and watch where you're going," a voice from inside the car spoke up, and I assumed it was her husband.

"Henry, you don't have to do that," she calmly replied, giving me a pleading look to ensure that I wasn't bothered by her husband's remark.

He sat in the passenger seat, dressed in tight gym clothes that accentuated his muscular physique. With a perfectly chiseled jawline and a well-groomed goatee, he exuded confidence. His eyes were hidden behind shades, but I could tell he was attractive and carried a certain smug attitude.

"I'm sorry, you won't ever see me crossing your path again," I finally gathered my thoughts and responded.

"Apologies, my dear. Uh...," Bianca started, waiting for me to share my name.

"Jane," I smiled, extending my hand towards her.

"My name is Bianca. Are you heading to the gym down the street?" she asked, taking my hand. I nodded, confirming that I was indeed heading to the same gym.

"Of course. I better hop in my car and get moving," I said, already feeling drained from the encounter and eager to get to the gym.

"You should! Honey, get in the car," her husband called out, and for a brief moment, I envisioned myself giving him a piece of my mind, but I restrained myself. He was already getting on my nerves.

"I'm sorry," Bianca mouthed, got into her car, and zoomed off. I followed suit, getting into my car and trailing behind them towards the gym.

I arrived at the gym five minutes later, spotting Bianca and her husband already engaged in their stretches at a corner. I couldn't help but steal glances at the man, but my trainer interrupted my thoughts.

"Jane! It's so good to see you," Patrick, my trainer, exclaimed, opening his arms for a hug. I hesitated briefly, then embraced him. Patrick was always friendly and welcoming, and his presence brought some comfort for a lonely man who was in his mid 40s.

"It's good to see you too, Patrick," I smiled, genuinely glad to be in a familiar environment.

"Oh, that beautiful smile! How I've missed seeing your face light up this place," he complimented, leading me to the corner where I usually performed my workouts.

I chuckled at his flattery. It had been a while since I had been to the gym, and I appreciated the positive energy around me. As I stretched, my gaze occasionally drifted towards Bianca and her husband across the room.

"Do you know them?" Patrick asked, catching me in the act of staring at the couple. I felt a tinge of embarrassment, realizing I had been caught.

"Oh, no. Not really. I just met them outside," I replied with a smile, trying to brush off the awkwardness.

“How long have they been training here?” I asked, casually and careful not to raise any suspicions because I knew Patrick had a fat mouth.

"They've been coming here for about two weeks. Great couple! Although the husband seems a bit cranky. I heard they've been struggling to conceive," Patrick whispered, making sure only I could hear.

"I hope he considers getting himself tested," I murmured to myself, not intending for Patrick to hear.

I couldn't help but wonder if the husband had agreed to run tests on himself, considering the circumstances in my own marriage.

"How's Rick?" he asked, and irritation flickered within me at the mention of my soon-to-be-ex-husband's name.

"We're getting a divorce," I responded, deciding to be upfront about it. Patrick seemed to be well-informed about everyone's lives, and it didn't surprise me that he knew some details about my marriage.

"I'm so proud of you, Jane," he smiled, showing his support. His words brought a sense of relief, and I felt a weight lifting off my shoulders.

"Thank you," I replied, a genuine smile forming on my face as I started my warm-up on the treadmill.

I had finished my cardio session and it was time to move on to weight training. We all gathered in the section of the gym where the barbells and dumbbells were located. As I looked around, I couldn't help but notice Henry, Bianca's husband, struggling with the barbells. Out of genuine concern, I offered to help him.

"Let me help you with that," I smiled at him and swiftly picked up the weight from his chest, then placed it on the ground.

"I didn't ask for your help," he snapped rudely, and I couldn't understand why he was being so mean to me.

"Come on, you looked like you were about to collapse under that thing," I teased, but he just sneered at me.

"I wasn't, and I didn't ask for your help. Doesn't anyone mind their own business around here?" he snapped, visibly agitated. I didn't want to deal with his tantrums, as he already seemed like trouble.

"Fine, have it your way," I said, leaving him to struggle on his own as I moved to another area to continue my weightlifting routine. Occasionally, I caught him staring at me, but I chose to ignore it and focus on my own workout.