Chapter 53

Zara's POV
I felt like a stranger. In my heart, I knew that I was Leo's wife, but when I saw their closeness, doubts and insecurities began to emerge. Why did I feel left out? I should have been able to blend in, but at that moment, I found it difficult to join in.
The desire to understand their conversation made me restless. Without thinking, I approached the door in hopes of eavesdropping a little. However, Cindy seemed to sense my presence. "Zara, please move yourself away from the door," she said, her voice firm but still trying to be friendly.
Hearing her words made me freeze. It was as if my only way to get closer to Leo and understand this situation disappeared in an instant. I was forced to step back, disappointed that I couldn't catch the gist of their conversation.
I took a deep breath and stepped back from the door. Feelings of disappointment and uncertainty hit me. Why couldn't I feel comfortable? Shouldn't this be my home too?
After trying to calm my feelings, I finally decided to go to another room and calm my mind. Maybe it was time to give them some space and time to communicate without interruption.
I sat on the couch, trying to distract myself by going through some notes I had left on the table earlier. However, my mind kept wandering to thoughts of what they might be talking about. It felt strange knowing that the two of them could share without me being involved, and I had to admit, it made me feel a little helpless.
After a while, I heard their laughter echoing in the living room. The sound carried a mixture of emotions: jealousy and loneliness. At that moment, I prayed that everything would go well and that our relationship would grow stronger in the future.
I knew that I needed to take the initiative to build a relationship with Cindy and try to get closer, but the situation made me feel hesitant. What is the best way to build a closeness between Cindy and I, so that this house doesn't feel divided?
But I was determined not to give up. I would discuss it with Leo after they were done talking. Open dialogue and understanding were key. With that determination, I hoped to find a way for me to be a part of both of their lives, while also building a new relationship within this little family.
After some time had passed, Leo finally came into the room. I tried to remain calm, but my curiosity couldn’t be ignored. “Leo, can we talk for a moment?” I asked, trying to catch his attention and create a calm atmosphere.
He nodded and sat down next to me. “Sure, what’s up?” he replied, but his expression seemed to show a hint of discomfort.
“I was wondering what you and Cindy were talking about,” I asked, convincing myself that this was important to my feelings. “I feel a little left out and I want to know.”
Leo’s response, however, was evasive. “Oh, nothing important. We just talked about some casual stuff,” he said, looking uncertain. “You know, just chatting about work and everyday life.”
But I could sense that something was wrong. “You seem uncomfortable explaining that. Why do I feel like nothing is really open between us?” I asked, frustrated. “I want to know, Leo. This isn’t how our relationship is supposed to be.”
He looked confused, trying to find the words. “Zara, I didn’t mean to hide anything from you. Maybe I’m just a little reluctant to talk about things that aren’t important. I don’t want you to feel anxious or trapped in an uncomfortable situation,” he said, trying to reassure me.
But his words didn’t bring me the reassurance I was hoping for. Instead, a sense of disappointment and irritation began to wash over me. “This uncertainty is making me feel uncomfortable. You should be able to open up to me. Whatever it is, I deserve to know,” I replied, my voice a little higher than usual.
Leo seemed to be struggling to find a way to persuade me. “Zara, I promise I won’t hurt you, and I love you. It’s just… sometimes hard to explain,” he said, speaking softly, but I could tell he was trying to avoid deeper questions. “Let’s talk about it another time. I want to make sure you feel safe.”
The more he talked, the more alienated I felt. Anger and confusion began to mix. Why couldn’t this relationship be more open? Did he have a bigger secret he was keeping? Was there something more important he wasn’t telling me?
Inside me, the urge to discuss it further arose. I didn’t want to give up on this relationship just because of uncertainty. “Leo, I don’t want there to be any secrets between us. If there’s something important, please tell me,” I demanded, my eyes meeting his, searching for honesty.
In response, he took a deep breath. “Okay. Let’s talk about this. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable or distant. Openness is very important in our relationship.”
Hearing that calmed my heart a little, but there was still a lingering sense of doubt. I hoped that all of this could be resolved well, so that we could build a solid foundation between us. With that spirit and hope, I prepared to continue our discussion, hoping that there would be clarity in our marriage.
A few days later, I came home early from work, planning to give Leo a sweet surprise. However, as soon as I entered the house, I was surprised to see Leo engaged in a serious conversation with some people I didn’t know in the living room. They were discussing in a fairly low tone, but I could catch a few phrases that made me even more curious.
When I leaned in to listen more clearly, my heart immediately started beating faster. "We need to collect human ova to bring to our planet, we're running out," one of them said, and I felt like the world was spinning around me.