Stories Hidden in Shadows By Julian Blake 1

Stories Hidden in Shadows By Julian Blake 1 Summary

 

In the first chapter, Mila discovers that the visitor parking passes in her building are disappearing, despite no one having visited recently. Suspicious, she calls her husband Ryker, who dismisses her concerns with a casual excuse. Mila confides in her best friend Liley, revealing her growing belief that Ryker is cheating on her. Determined to uncover the truth, Mila bribes the security guard to check the parking pass usage records and finds out that all four passes have been used every Wednesday—the exact nights she leaves to visit her parents.

 

Mila’s suspicion deepens as she realizes that while she is away, someone else is using the passes to visit their apartment. She feels betrayed and sickened, recalling how her family disapproved of Ryker and how she had tried to keep peace by spending Wednesdays away. That evening, when Ryker returns home with a gift and stories about a wedding, Mila feels a cold distance growing between them. She notices his constant attachment to his phone, which only fuels her unease.

 

In the second chapter, Mila’s worst fears are confirmed when she finds a hidden box containing provocative lingerie, costume accessories, and kinky toys—items that clash with the conservative image Ryker had always presented. The discovery shatters her perception of their marriage, revealing that Ryker’s true desires were hidden from her all along. When Ryker returns from the shower, Mila tries to hide the box, but a suspicious message on his phone further deepens her doubts. His quick, rehearsed explanation about a coworker meeting doesn’t convince her, leaving her heart heavy with betrayal and confusion.

 

Continue Regular Chapter Reading Below

Chapter 1

Just as my best friend Liley was about to head out the door, I yanked open the drawer in the hallway cabinet, hoping to grab a couple of visitor parking passes for her. My fingers fumbled inside the drawer, searching desperately, but all I managed to touch was a single, lonely pass.

“Huh?” A sudden tightness gripped my chest.

Liley turned to me, concern flickering in her eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“There’s only one pass left,” I said, shaking my head in disbelief. “That can’t be right. No one’s come over this month. I swear I saw four of these passes when I cleaned earlier today.”

I pulled out my phone and dialed my husband, Ryker Daven. “Hey, have we had anyone over this month? The parking passes are disappearing.”

There was a pause on the other end, then Ryker’s warm laugh floated through the line. “Parking passes? Oh, babe, I probably forgot to pick up new ones this month.”

“Mm-hmm,” I murmured, not convinced.

He continued without missing a beat. “And you’re still doing your usual Wednesday nights at your mom’s, right? I’ll fill up your tank before you go.”

I ended the call and turned to Liley, the weight of suspicion settling heavily on me.

“Ryker’s cheating on me.”

Liley’s voice wavered as she looked at me. “Mila, are you sure? Maybe it’s just a misunderstanding.”

“He lied,” I said firmly, shaking my head. “He didn’t forget to pick up new passes. He gave three of them to someone else.”

My heart felt like it was shattering, but my mind was razor-sharp, cold and clear.

I needed to find out what was really happening.

“Liley, don’t go yet. Come with me to the security office.”

Downstairs, the security guard on duty was nodding off at his desk, the dim light casting long shadows across the room.

I explained that I needed to check the usage records for our parking passes this month.

“What’s the point? A pass gets used, it gets used,” he said dismissively, as though I was wasting his time.

I pulled out two hundred dollars from my wallet and slipped it under his thermos.

His eyes snapped open. “Check it? Hell yeah! Let me grab that logbook for you.”

He flipped open a thick ledger and jabbed his finger at one line. “Here—Building 12, Unit 601. That’s you. All four passes were used this month. One on the 7th, one on the 14th, one on the 21st, and one today.”

The 7th. The 14th. The 21st.

Every single Wednesday.

Every Wednesday I was at my mom’s.

Without even realizing it, my fists clenched tightly.

“Can you tell me which car? Any license plate numbers?”

He shook his head. “We just hand out the passes, miss. We don’t track who uses them. Too many cars coming through.”

A dead end.

But now I knew: every Wednesday I left, someone else was showing up.

After Liley left, I stood alone in our apartment, the place Ryker and I had built together, brick by brick. Suddenly, it made me want to throw up.

My family had never wanted me to marry him.

My parents had said he lacked ambition, drive.

But I loved him stubbornly, and I was sure no one else could ever replace him.

That was why I went home every week—to spend the evening and night with my parents, just to keep the peace.

We only had one car. Ryker drove it to work, and I used it only on Wednesdays.

At first, I felt guilty, like I was abandoning him because my family looked down on him.

Now, I realized the day I left was his perfect opportunity to be with someone else.

As that realization hit me, I rushed to the bathroom and emptied my stomach into the toilet.

At nine that night, the lock clicked.

Ryker walked in, looking exhausted, carrying a fancy gift box.

“Babe, I’m back! God, I’m wiped out.”

He kicked off his shoes and handed me the car keys. “Filled your tank. Oh, and I got you something—the scarf brand you’re obsessed with.”

I took the keys and the box but didn’t open it.

He launched into an animated story about a wedding he’d attended—how he’d covered for his boss, how wild the reception was, and on and on.

He was so caught up in his own tale. I just sat there, watching him, feeling a cold, sick weight settle deep in my chest.

Something ugly was forming in my mind, and I tried not to look at it.

I didn’t even know if he’d really been at that wedding.

He went to take a shower, phone in hand.

Lately, he’d been glued to that device—bathroom, shower, no matter.

I dragged the scarf into the bedroom and shoved it toward the closet, but my hand hit something at the back.

I pulled it out—a box.

When I opened it…

What I saw inside made me freeze.

Chapter 2

I stood there, motionless, my blood boiling beneath my skin.

Inside the box lay things that had no place in our home, no place in my life:

A sheer pink lace nurse outfit, delicate and revealing. A pair of fluffy cat ears perched on a headband. Matching paw-shaped gloves. A tail with a tiny bell attached.

Scattered among them were several kinky little toys.

A wave of nausea and rage rose up, choking me.

Ryker Daven—the man I’d been married to for three years, the man who kissed me like it was a chore, who frowned and lectured me about modesty whenever I tried to suggest anything adventurous in bed, who treated sex like a checkbox on a to-do list…

So, when he was with her, he was into role-playing?

I had always thought he was conservative, boring, maybe even a little frigid.

So I buried every curious impulse I had. I played the role of the perfect, demure wife he seemed to want.

Turns out, I was the punchline.

He wasn’t conservative. He just wasn’t into me.

I grabbed the ridiculous bunny tail, my whole body trembling with rage, tears stinging the corners of my eyes.

“Babe, what are you looking for?”

Ryker’s voice startled me from right behind. I nearly jumped out of my skin.

I spun around and shoved the box deeper into the closet, shielding it with my body.

“Nothing—just… it’s getting cold. Thought I’d grab you some warmer pajamas.”

He gave me a suspicious look but didn’t press.

Steam from the shower still clung to his flushed cheeks. He rubbed a towel through his damp hair, then sat down on the bed, casually setting his phone on the nightstand.

That’s when the screen lit up.

A WhatsApp message popped up.

I glanced at it. My heart skipped.

The message read: “What time tomorrow?”

Before I could say anything, Ryker caught me looking.

He smoothly picked up his phone. “Oh, that’s just a coworker. We’re meeting up to visit a client tomorrow.”

His explanation came too quickly, too rehearsed.

I looked away, pretending to fold clothes, but inside, I was laughing bitterly.

If it were really a coworker planning a client visit, wouldn’t the message say something like “What time are we leaving?” or “What time should we go?”

But “What time tomorrow?” with no context?

It didn’t add up.

Conclusion

 

The chapter closes on a poignant note, capturing Mila’s spiraling emotions as she confronts the painful reality of Ryker’s secret life. The carefully constructed facade of their marriage begins to crumble, revealing cracks of mistrust and betrayal. Mila’s discovery of the hidden box and the suspicious messages ignites a storm of doubt and heartbreak, underscoring the themes of deception and the fragile nature of love when shadowed by secrets.

 

Through Mila’s perspective, the narrative evokes a deep sense of vulnerability and confusion, highlighting how love can be both a source of strength and profound pain. The chapter leaves readers suspended in a moment of tension and uncertainty, reflecting the emotional turmoil that comes with uncovering truths that threaten to unravel the bonds of trust. It is a powerful exploration of the complexities within relationships and the courage it takes to face uncomfortable realities.

 

What to Expect in Next Chapter?

 

In the next chapter, the tension between Mila and Ryker is bound to deepen as suspicion and doubt continue to cloud their relationship. Mila’s discovery of the mysterious box and the cryptic message on Ryker’s phone will push her to confront the uncomfortable truths she’s been avoiding. As she grapples with her feelings of betrayal and confusion, the emotional stakes will rise, making every interaction between them charged with unspoken questions and hidden agendas.

 

Meanwhile, the shadow of secrecy hanging over Ryker grows heavier, and readers will be drawn into the delicate dance of trust and deception. Will Mila find the courage to demand answers, or will the walls of silence close in tighter? The next chapter promises to explore the fragile balance between love and suspicion, setting the stage for revelations that could change everything.