I don't want to lose you

**Vanessa's Point of View**

The tension in the air was almost palpable as Richard left for work that morning. I stood there in the living room, trying to process everything that had happened. Martha's presence, her direct words, everything left me with a feeling that things were slipping out of my control. Richard was changing, and it filled me with a mix of anger and despair.

When Martha finally decided to leave, she gave me one last look, full of meaning. "Remember what I said, Vanessa. Don't let her win." Her words echoed in my mind long after she had gone. I knew I needed to act; I couldn't just sit back and watch as my life fell apart around me.

I walked to the window, watching Richard drive away. The anger boiled inside me, mixed with the fear of losing him. I couldn't let Sophia take him from me, not after everything I had done to be by his side, to build a life together. But I knew that to keep Richard by my side, I had to be smart. Confronting him directly wouldn't work; he was already pulling away. I needed a different approach.

I spent the rest of the morning thinking about how to act. I knew Richard was torn, that there was something in Sophia that still attracted him, something I couldn't fully understand. But at the same time, he was with me. He was my husband, and that meant I had an advantage.

Around noon, I picked up the phone and made a call. The number I dialed was an old acquaintance, someone I knew could help me find out what was happening between Richard and Sophia. It wasn't the first time I had turned to her to handle delicate problems, and I knew she would be discreet.

"I need you to find out everything you can about the relationship between Richard and Sophia," I said, keeping my voice steady. "I want to know where they meet, what they talk about, everything."

"Consider it done," the voice on the other end replied. "But you know this will come at a price."

"Money is not a problem," I responded, hanging up immediately afterward. I was determined to do whatever it took to ensure Sophia had no chance to get close to Richard again.

With that resolved, I sat on the couch, thinking about the next step. It wasn't enough to just watch Richard and Sophia; I needed to win my husband back, remind him why he had married me in the first place. I needed to show him that, no matter what Sophia tried, I was the one who truly understood him, who stood by his side through the good and bad times.

When Richard came home that evening, I made sure to greet him with a smile and dinner ready. He seemed tired, but I noticed something else in his eyes—a shadow of doubt that made me even more determined to act.

"Dinner is ready," I said, trying to keep my voice soft, as if nothing had changed between us.

"Thank you," he replied with a weak smile, but the usual welcome kiss was absent. It was a small gesture, but it struck me like a knife.

During dinner, I tried to keep the conversation light, avoiding any mention of Sophia or whatever was happening between us. Richard responded mechanically, as if he was physically present but absent in spirit. Every word exchanged between us seemed to be an effort, and I realized that the gap between us was widening even more.

After dinner, while we were cleaning up the kitchen together, I decided it was time to take a bolder step. I needed to remind him of what we had, of how we were together. I approached Richard, touching his arm gently, a gesture that would have been natural before, but now seemed loaded with tension.

"Richard, I know things are difficult right now," I said, looking directly into his eyes. "But I want you to know that I'm here, with you. We can get through this together."

He looked at me, and for a moment, I saw a glimpse of something that seemed to be the Richard of before, the man I had fallen in love with. But that expression soon faded, replaced by a mask of exhaustion and indecision.

"Vanessa, I know you're trying," he finally said, his voice low. "But I need time to sort this out. I need space."

Those words were like a knife to my chest. Space was the last thing I wanted to give him. I knew that if he pulled away even more, it would be the end.

"Richard, I love you," I said, trying to keep my voice steady, but feeling the tears threatening to fall. "I don't want to lose you."

He looked at me, his expression softening a bit. "I don't want to lose you either, Vanessa. But please, understand me. I just need time."

Time. Space. Those were the last things I wanted to hear, but I knew that forcing him to come closer could push him even further away. I nodded, trying to hide the pain I was feeling.

"I'll be here when you're ready," I promised, even though inside, I was consumed with worry and anger.

After Richard went to the bedroom, I stayed in the kitchen, staring into the void, trying to think of a way to regain control. I needed to act, and quickly, before Sophia could poison his mind even more.

That night, while Richard slept beside me, I barely closed my eyes. My mind was racing, formulating plans, thinking about how to ensure that I stayed by Richard's side, and not Sophia. I knew I couldn't lose, and I wouldn't stop at anything until I was sure that Richard was completely under my control again.

And so, as the day dawned, a new plan began to form in my mind. A plan that would ensure that Sophia would never again have a chance to come between me and Richard. I just needed to be patient... and ruthless.