Emily barely slept that night.
Claire’s last message kept repeating in her mind.
Then now you understand why nothing in this marriage is simple.
Simple.
That word almost made Emily laugh.
There was nothing simple about a marriage that survived grief, betrayal, and silence for six years.
And now somehow… she was part of it.
Emily tossed her phone onto the bed and stared at the ceiling.
Daniel’s face kept appearing in her thoughts.
Not the confident version of him she first met.
But the one from the café earlier.
Tired.
Heavy.
Broken in ways she hadn’t seen before.
She turned to the side and grabbed her phone again.
Her fingers hovered over Claire’s message.
Should she reply?
Should she ask questions?
Should she disappear completely?
Before she could decide, the phone buzzed again.
Another message.
From Claire.
We should meet.
Emily sat up instantly.
Why?
The reply came a moment later.
Because if this continues, we need rules.
Emily’s heart skipped.
Rules?
Yes.
Another message appeared.
For all three of us.
Emily read the message three times before answering.
There are no “three of us.”
Claire responded almost immediately.
That’s what Daniel told you too, isn’t it?
Emily frowned.
Claire continued.
But the truth is, you already stepped into our marriage.
Emily felt a wave of frustration.
I didn’t know he was married when we met.
Claire replied calmly.
I know.
Emily stared at the screen.
Then why are you talking to me like this?
A pause.
Longer this time.
Finally Claire answered.
Because I prefer honesty to pretending.
Emily exhaled slowly.
Claire’s honesty felt unsettling.
Most wives in this situation would scream.
Threaten.
Demand.
Claire did none of that.
Which somehow felt more dangerous.
Where do you want to meet? Emily typed.
The next evening they met at a quiet restaurant near the river.
Emily arrived first again.
She wondered if that would always happen.
Waiting.
Watching.
Trying to understand a story that kept changing.
Claire arrived exactly five minutes later.
She wore a simple black dress and a long beige coat.
Elegant.
Controlled.
Just like before.
She sat down across from Emily.
“Thank you for coming,” Claire said.
Emily nodded cautiously.
“You said we needed rules.”
Claire folded her hands on the table.
“Yes.”
Emily studied her carefully.
“You talk about this like it’s a business meeting.”
Claire gave a small smile.
“In many ways, marriage is.”
Emily didn’t like that answer.
“But before we talk about rules,” Claire continued, “I want to ask you something.”
Emily waited.
Claire looked directly into her eyes.
“Do you love Daniel?”
The question came too fast.
Too direct.
Emily felt heat rise to her face.
“That’s none of your business.”
Claire didn’t look offended.
“Actually it is.”
Emily leaned forward.
“Why?”
Claire’s answer was calm.
“Because love changes everything.”
Emily looked down at the table.
She didn’t want to answer.
But silence felt like an answer anyway.
Claire spoke again.
“You don’t have to say it.”
Emily looked up.
“Why ask then?”
“Because I needed to see your reaction.”
Emily frowned.
“And?”
Claire tilted her head slightly.
“You care more than you want to admit.”
Emily looked away.
“That doesn’t mean anything.”
Claire nodded slowly.
“You’re right.”
Then she added quietly:
“But it usually leads to something.”
Emily crossed her arms.
“You said rules.”
Claire smiled faintly.
“Yes.”
She reached into her purse and placed her phone on the table.
“I wrote them down.”
Emily blinked.
“You’re serious.”
Claire met her gaze.
“Very.”
“Rule number one,” Claire said.
Emily waited.
Claire spoke slowly.
“You don’t lie to me.”
Emily frowned.
“That’s it?”
“For the first rule.”
Emily shook her head.
“Why would I lie to you?”
Claire’s answer came instantly.
“Because most women would.”
Emily tilted her head.
“About what?”
Claire didn’t hesitate.
“Whether they’re still seeing my husband.”
Emily felt the tension immediately.
“I’m not seeing him.”
Claire’s eyes stayed calm.
“But if you do… you tell me.”
Emily stared at her.
“That’s a strange rule.”
Claire shrugged lightly.
“I prefer reality to illusions.”
Emily leaned back in her chair.
“What’s rule number two?”
Claire’s voice softened slightly.
“You don’t let him destroy your life.”
Emily blinked.
“What?”
Claire looked serious now.
“Daniel has a pattern.”
Emily waited.
“He falls into people when he’s hurting.”
Emily felt a chill.
“You mean women.”
Claire nodded.
“Yes.”
Emily studied her carefully.
“You talk about him like he’s broken.”
Claire didn’t argue.
“Grief breaks people.”
Emily thought about what Daniel told her in Chapter 3.
About the baby.
About the night everything changed.
“Why stay with him then?” Emily asked.
Claire’s answer came quietly.
“Because broken people deserve loyalty too.”
Emily didn’t know how to respond to that.
Claire continued.
“Which brings us to rule number three.”
Emily sighed.
“This one sounds important.”
Claire nodded.
“It is.”
She leaned slightly closer.
“You never become the reason he leaves.”
Emily froze.
“What?”
Claire’s voice remained calm.
“If Daniel and I ever separate, it won’t be because of another woman.”
Emily felt anger rising.
“You think I’m trying to steal your husband?”
Claire shook her head.
“No.”
“Then what?”
Claire’s eyes softened slightly.
“I think you’re someone he could actually love.”
The words landed like a stone in Emily’s chest.
“That’s not my problem,” Emily said quietly.
Claire nodded.
“I know.”
For a moment neither of them spoke.
The waiter arrived.
They ordered coffee.
When he left, Emily asked the question that had been growing in her mind.
“Why are you really doing this?”
Claire looked at her calmly.
“I told you.”
“No.”
Emily leaned forward.
“You’re not just protecting your marriage.”
Claire waited.
“You’re studying me.”
Claire smiled faintly.
“That too.”
Emily exhaled slowly.
“You’re scary.”
Claire laughed softly.
“I get that a lot.”
Emily stared at the river outside the window.
Lights reflected across the water.
Everything felt surreal.
“I told Daniel I didn’t want to see him again,” Emily said quietly.
Claire nodded.
“I believe you.”
Emily looked back at her.
“Then why all these rules?”
Claire’s answer was simple.
“Because feelings don’t listen to decisions.”
Emily couldn’t argue with that.
Claire reached for her coffee.
“Also…”
Emily waited.
“I know my husband.”
Emily raised an eyebrow.
“And?”
Claire took a slow sip.
“If he thinks you’re walking away…”
Emily felt her chest tighten.
“…he’ll run after you.”
The words echoed in Emily’s mind.
Because part of her already knew they were true.
Daniel had texted twice that morning.
She hadn’t replied.
Claire stood.
“I should go.”
Emily looked up.
“That’s it?”
Claire nodded.
“For now.”
She picked up her coat.
Then paused.
“One more thing.”
Emily waited.
Claire’s voice softened slightly.
“Read Chapter 1 of this story again.”
Emily frowned.
“What?”
Claire smiled.
“The beginning always tells you more than you think.”
Emily blinked.
“You’re talking like this is a book.”
Claire walked toward the door.
Without turning back, she said:
“Isn’t it?”
Ten minutes later Emily left the restaurant.
Her phone buzzed the moment she stepped outside.
Daniel.
Of course.
She stared at the message.
Did you meet Claire?
Emily looked up at the dark sky.
Then back at the screen.
Her fingers moved slowly.
Yes.
Daniel replied instantly.
What did she say?
Emily thought about the three rules.
About loyalty.
About grief.
About the strange marriage she had stepped into.
Finally she typed:
She set the rules.
Three dots appeared.
Daniel answered.
What rules?
Emily took a breath.
Then sent the message that would change everything.
Rules for all three of us.
Continue the Story
Start from the beginning:
Chapter 1 – https://tabustory.com/between-us-and-the-lie-chapter-1/
Previous chapter:
Chapter 3 – https://tabustory.com/between-us-and-the-lie-chapter-3/
Next chapter:
Chapter 5 – The Night Daniel Broke the Rules