Straightening Affairs - 15. Chapter 15

Michael had kept his cool earlier, deflecting Sarah’s pointed questions without breaking his cover. But now, he could feel the tension wearing him down, and Shawn’s small outburst was pushing him past his breaking point. Instead of responding calmly as he usually did, he snapped, his raised voice filling the room.

In an instant, the air went silent. Samantha, who was perched on his hip, flinched and clutched him tightly, her small arms winding around his neck as if to ground herself. Shawn and Samantha had never seen their father raise his voice like this, and it left them both shaken. Shawn’s face crumpled, and he buried himself in Sarah’s arms, his little shoulders trembling. Even Sarah looked momentarily stunned, her calm demeanor disrupted by Michael’s sudden outburst.

Realizing his mistake, Michael tried to soothe Samantha, who was whimpering softly, her fingers gripping his shirt. He rocked her gently, whispering reassurances, though he could feel her fear. He forced a playful grin in Shawn’s direction, pulling a goofy face in an attempt to make him laugh, but Shawn only held onto Sarah more tightly, his face still streaked with tears.

The weight of Michael’s misstep settled in as he followed Sarah and the kids upstairs. Reaching the twins’ room, Michael bent down to help Samantha get ready for bed, helping her into her pajamas and brushing back her hair with a tender hand. Samantha was calmer now, and she leaned against him, sleepy and ready to settle down.

After cleaning Samantha up in the bathroom, putting her in her pajamas, Michael carried her back to her bed, where he gave her a gentle goodnight kiss and tucked her in. He glanced over to where Sarah was kneeling beside Shawn’s bed, still wiping the last of his tears away and murmuring softly to him. As Michael approached, hoping to comfort his son as well, Sarah stretched out a hand, signaling him to stay back. She shot him a look that told him he’d already caused enough upset for the evening.

Michael felt the sting of her silent dismissal as he quietly retreated to their bedroom, waiting for Sarah to finish putting the twins to bed. When she finally entered, her arms crossed and her gaze unwavering, he could feel the tension building again.

“Michael,” she said, her voice low but firm. “What is going on? Do you have something to tell me?”

Michael’s throat tightened. “Tell you… what? I told you—work’s just been intense. The contract was stressful, and there’s Andre to train. I didn’t mean to yell. I was just…”

“Just what, Michael?” Sarah interrupted, her voice barely above a whisper but tinged with disbelief. “He’s a child. He missed you. All he wanted was a bit of extra attention, and you took it out on him?”

Michael winced, struggling to respond. “I said I was sorry, didn’t I?”

Sarah just looked at him, her expression both disappointed and exhausted. “Never mind. We’ll talk later,” she said finally, and walked into the bathroom without another word. “I’ll finish up the kitchen in the morning. If you’re hungry, go ahead and eat. I’m going to bed.”

Left standing alone, Michael didn’t intend for the night to go this way, but part of him felt relieved. At least it had derailed her probing questions for the time being. He could only hope it would buy him some time.

In the weeks that followed, Michael made an effort to work from home a few days a week. He wanted to deflect any further suspicions from Sarah, so he adjusted his schedule to seem more involved. But the secrecy was suffocating him.

Finally, when Sarah, the kids, and the nanny went out for the afternoon, Michael made a call he’d been holding off on.

“Hey, Andre. It’s me, Michael.”

“Are we meeting tonight?” Andre asked, his voice tinged with impatience. “It’s been weeks, and I really miss you.”

“Not tonight. Things are calm at home now. But we’ve got that trip coming up. We’ll have time then.”

There was a pause on the other end. “Michael, I don’t think that’s enough anymore. I feel like I’m just waiting around. Is there a future here? Or am I just convenient?”

Michael hesitated. “Andre, you know I can’t give Sarah any reason to suspect.”

“That’s not what I mean, Michael. If I’m just your ‘business trip’ fling, fine. But I need to know.”

“Just give me a few days. I’ll call you back,” Michael replied quickly as he saw Sarah’s car pulling up in the driveway from his home office.

A sigh came through the phone. “Fine,” Andre muttered.

As Michael ended the call, he knew he couldn’t keep juggling everything forever. At least Ryan, unlike Andre, was willing to stay in the background. Ryan didn’t make demands or push for more than Michael could give. That part, at least, was still under control—if only for now.

Michael slipped his phone into his pocket, glancing quickly at the screen one last time before locking it. Though this was his office, he never left anything to chance. Sarah occasionally drifted in, and he couldn’t risk her stumbling upon messages or seeing anything that might hint at his other life.

He walked to the entrance just as the nanny and Shawn came through the door. The moment Shawn spotted him, he sprinted over, grinning widely. Michael knelt, catching him in his arms.

"Hey, buddy! You’re home. Did you have a good time?"

Shawn’s eyes sparkled with excitement, his voice bubbling over as he began recounting his day. "Yeah, we went to the store, and Mom got me ice cream! Then we went to the toy store, and I saw a dinosaur, but Mom said Santa would bring me toys if I was a good boy. I’m a good boy, right, Daddy?”

Michael forced a smile, using his most reassuring tone. "Of course you are, buddy! Daddy and Mommy love you very much.”

Shawn paused, his small face suddenly serious. "No more yelling, Daddy?”

The comment took Michael off guard, but he quickly masked his surprise. He hadn’t expected Shawn to remember his outburst from weeks ago. He’d assumed the kid had moved past it—it was, after all, just one slip.

"No, Shawn. No more yelling," he said, his voice softening, though the effort was for Sarah’s benefit more than anyone’s. "Daddy was just tired.”

"When I’m tired, I go to sleep," Shawn replied simply, as if it were a universal truth.

Michael chuckled, masking the flicker of irritation at being outmaneuvered by his five-year-old. "I’ll remember that next time,” he said, ruffling Shawn’s hair. But before he could say more, Shawn squirmed free and hit the ground running. The boy darted into the family room, his laughter trailing behind him like an unstoppable burst of energy. Michael shook his head, both amused and exhausted. Where does he get it all from?

By now, Sarah had entered the house with Samantha on her hip. As soon as she set Samantha down, the little girl darted toward Shawn, calling, "Hi, Daddy! Bye, Daddy!" as she chased after her brother.

Michael straightened, his eyes scanning Sarah’s expression as she set down several shopping bags. “Hey, Sarah. How was your shopping trip?”

“It was fun," she replied, a hint of warmth in her smile. "We picked up a few new outfits for the twins, and I found something for the Christmas party. Did you remember to book your suit?”

Michael barely concealed his irritation. He’d forgotten all about it. This party was going to be a significant event, with major clients and senior executives present. "No, I totally forgot. I’ll take care of it tomorrow."

Sarah’s face softened slightly, her eyes lingering on him. "You know, it’s really nice having you at home. The kids are calmer when you’re here—they miss you. And… I miss you too." Sarah had put her arms around Michael before giving him a kiss.

Michael felt a flash of satisfaction as he saw her gratitude, though he quickly masked it with a look of dutiful concern. “About that,” he began, carefully adopting an apologetic tone. “I’m sorry, but I have another trip coming up next week. Only two or three days, though.”

“Again?” she asked, disappointment evident in her voice. “We were just getting used to having you here.”

Michael gave a small, theatrical sigh. “I’d rather be here, too. But it’s a new client, and the CEO wants me there. You know how it is—he wants to make sure we make a good impression.”

Sarah nodded, forcing a smile. “I understand. It’s just that… It's nice having you here. I think it’s good for all of us.”

Watching her expression soften, Michael felt an easy sense of relief, a sense of accomplishment even. Sarah was starting to trust him again, and any lingering questions she’d had about Janelle seemed to have faded into the background. For now, he was firmly in control.

By dinnertime, Michael had wrapped up his work, feeling accomplished in more ways than one. Sarah had finished cooking while the nanny kept an eye on the twins, and soon she called everyone to the table.

The nanny arrived with Shawn and Samantha in tow, helping Shawn into his seat. Samantha, eager to do it herself, struggled to climb up until Michael stepped in, scooping her up with a tickle and settling her in her chair, coaxing a round of giggles.

Sarah had made a hearty meal with roasted vegetables for herself, Michael, and the nanny, while the twins happily tucked into their chicken strips and salad. Tonight, there were no complaints from Shawn, no tantrums—he ate up without fuss, distracted by his excited chatter about his day. Samantha joined in, each more animated than the other, their words tumbling over their bites of food.

After dinner, while the nanny helped clear the table, Michael took on the role of devoted dad. He knew he’d be away again soon, and he might as well keep up appearances. Besides, if he was sacrificing his own time, he thought, he might as well go all out to show Sarah how invested he was. Not that he didn’t enjoy it; he genuinely loved his kids. But a small part of him couldn’t help but think of the freedom he missed—his evenings with Andre, his secret moments with Ryan.

Once the twins were done with their dinner and wiped clean, they dashed off to the family room, eager for a bit more playtime before bed. The nanny wrapped up her duties, preparing to leave for the night, but she’d be back in the morning.

As the house quieted down, Michael felt the weight of his double life sink in, yet he wore his role well, knowing that every small act played into the illusion he had built.

Once the kitchen was cleaned, dishes loaded into the dishwasher and set to run, Michael and Sarah settled into the family room with the kids. They spent some time watching the twins play, talking softly about Michael’s upcoming business trip and making plans for the holidays.

“I’m really looking forward to the Christmas party, Michael,” Sarah said, nudging him. “And don’t forget to call tomorrow about your suit.”

Michael nodded, amused. “No worries, I put it on my to-do list this time. I’ll get something to match your outfit, I promise.”

Sarah laughed. “Good! We’ll be the talk of the party.” Her tone softened as she added, “So, about this next business trip—you said it’s just three days?”

“Yeah, just three. It’ll be me and the head of our implementation team. Mostly preliminary talks, and I should be able to handle the main negotiations from home.”

“That’s such a relief!” Sarah sighed, her face brightening. “I can handle three days. Where to this time?”

“East Coast. No overseas flights, thankfully. Jet lag always throws me off and w never get a chance to talk because of the time difference.” It's always good to throw a little extra in when he could.

Sarah nodded thoughtfully, a smile playing on her lips. “Michael, I was thinking… Maybe next summer, before the kids start kindergarten, we could take a family vacation. Nothing big or exotic, just a week at my parents’ beach house. The kids would love the change, and we could all spend some quality time together.”

Michael’s mind wandered briefly, imagining himself on a more spontaneous, indulgent getaway. But he forced a smile, nodding in agreement. “You know what? That sounds perfect. Just us, right?”

“Yes,” Sarah replied, her eyes lighting up. “Just the four of us. I think it would be fun—and we’d have time to relax, no work, just the beach.”

Michael gave a small, thoughtful pause. “Sure. Talk to your parents, let them know we’d love to use the house.”

“Oh, I already did,” Sarah said with a grin. “It’s ours anytime. They hardly use it anymore.”

“Perfect,” he said, squeezing her hand. “I’ll block some time in July or August. Just let me know what works, and I’ll make it happen.”

She held onto his hand, her gaze warm and searching. “You’ll be able to go, right? Promise me?”

Michael squeezed her hand back, glancing at the elegant ring on her finger. “I promise, Sarah. Like I’ve always said—family comes first.” He leaned over, giving her a reassuring smile. “It’ll be great to get away, just us. The kids are at a good age, and they’ll settle into the routine easily.”

As he spoke, he felt a mixture of satisfaction and slight reluctance, wondering briefly if he could fit in a quick trip elsewhere. But he brushed off the thought for now.

“Yeah, that’s what I was thinking too,” Sarah replied softly, watching him closely as if searching for something. After a moment, she glanced at the time and called out, “Shawn, Samantha—time for bed!”

The twins came running, Samantha going straight for her father’s arms. She was unquestionably Daddy’s little girl, while Shawn was firmly attached to his mom. Michael grinned, holding Samantha close as she laid her head on his shoulder, and for a brief moment, he felt every bit the family man Sarah believed him to be.

Shawn tugged at Sarah’s hand, looking up at her with those wide eyes that mirrored his own. As they led the children to bed, Michael and Sarah exchanged a look of shared affection—their children, their miracle babies, as Sarah often said.

Once the kids were asleep, Sarah remembered she needed to finish something in the kitchen. Michael insisted she go ahead, take a shower, and unwind in bed. “I’ll take care of it,” he said, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. She smiled, kissed him back, and disappeared down the hall.

He watched her go, then headed downstairs. As he entered the kitchen, his phone buzzed. Frowning, he glanced at the screen. Ryan. What could he possibly want, especially this late?

He hesitated before picking up. “What do you want?”

“Oh, so formal. You haven’t called me in weeks, Mikey. Missed me?”

Michael rolled his eyes, keeping his voice low. “You know why I haven’t called, and you’re not supposed to call me. I told you—Sarah’s home.”

Ryan chuckled, his voice dripping with mischief. “You worry too much. You’re good at making things up; I’m sure you could come up with something for Sarah.”

Michael’s jaw clenched. “Just get to the point, Ryan.”

Silence, a beat too long. Then Ryan’s voice dropped to a playful murmur. “Only if I get to go first. So…when can I see you? This weekend, maybe? You know where I’ll be.”

Michael ran a hand over his face. “I told you—I can’t. Sarah’s here tomorrow, and I have a business trip next week. Maybe when I get back.”

“Or maybe sooner,” Ryan purred. “I want to come with you on your trip. Imagine the fun we’d have.”

“What? Are you insane?” Michael hissed, his pulse racing. “You can’t just show up.”

But a twisted curiosity crept in as he considered it. What if he could make it work?

After a pause, he replied, “You know what…maybe you can. But I’ll figure out the details. Don’t call me. I’ll call you.”

Ryan chuckled. “Fine, Mikey. Love you…talk soon.”

The line went dead.

Just as Michael set his phone down, he heard a faint creak on the stairs. He froze, the color draining from his face as he realized he wasn’t alone.

Sarah stood at the top of the staircase, holding Samantha’s stuffed toy, her expression unreadable. She must have come to check on the twins and overheard him talking.

Michael scrambled to mask his surprise, forcing a casual tone. “Hey, didn’t realize you were there.”

She studied him, her eyes sharp. “Who were you talking to? I heard a voice. Someone calling so late?”

“Oh, that,” Michael replied, quickly forcing a laugh. “Just the CEO. He’s checking in about the trip, making sure everything’s good to go.”

Her brow furrowed slightly. “So late? Doesn't he sleep?”

Michael tried to keep his tone steady. “Type A personality. You know the type. It’s all business, all hours.”

She nodded slowly, watching him in a way that made his pulse race. “Right. I’ll…see you upstairs, then?”

“Yeah, just finishing up here.”

He waited for her to disappear before letting out a long, shaky breath. The excitement of his conversation with Ryan had dimmed, replaced by a gnawing fear that things were spiraling out of his control again.

He hurried upstairs, hoping he’d deflected her suspicions for now. But as he stepped into the shower, his mind was already racing with ways to bring Ryan along on the trip. It would take some careful planning, but he knew he’d find a way. He’d been managing both lives for this long—he could keep this going forever.

Ryan's Call with Michael's Mom

After Ryan ended his call with Michael, his phone buzzed again.

“Well?” came the voice on the other end. It was Michael’s mom, her tone low and demanding.

“Well, what?” Ryan replied with a hint of impatience. “What do you want?”

“You know what I want, Ryan,” she snapped. “I haven’t heard from you in weeks. Are you forgetting our arrangement?”

Ryan sighed. “That’s because I haven’t seen him in weeks. I told you, he’s been busy playing the perfect husband and father.”

“Playing.” She scoffed, her voice cold. “We both know he’s neither. He’s clinging to a life that doesn’t suit him. We’re doing him a favor, really.”

Ryan couldn’t help but laugh softly. “You’re ruthless, you know that?”

She brushed off his comment, undeterred. “What’s his schedule? Any news?”

“Actually, yes,” Ryan admitted. “He’s got another business trip coming up. I told him I wanted to go along, and he’s trying to work it out.”

A pause. Then, with quiet satisfaction, she replied, “Good. That’s very good.”

Ryan waited, knowing she had something planned. She always did.

“Listen carefully,” she continued, her tone tightening. “Here’s what you’re going to do…” She laid out her plan, each instruction calculated to slowly unravel Michael’s facade. It was chilling in its precision, almost surgical.

As she finished, Ryan let out a low whistle. “You really are something else,” he murmured, half in awe, half unsettled.

A hint of a smirk colored her voice. “You’re just realizing that now?” she replied smoothly. “Ryan, I didn’t get this far by being predictable.”

Ryan hesitated, suddenly wary. “You’re asking a lot. I mean, all these games—there’s no coming back from this.”

“That’s exactly the point,” she said sharply, her voice as cold as steel. “You said you wanted a life with Michael, didn’t you? Then play your part.”

Ryan felt a chill, but he covered it with a forced chuckle. “You must really hate Sarah to go this far.”

Her tone hardened, unyielding. “Hate? No, Ryan, this isn’t hate. This is setting things right. I know what’s best for Michael. And for you, if you’re as clever as you think.”

There was a pause as her words sank in, laced with both promise and threat.

“Now,” she continued, voice smooth once more, “you know what to do. Don’t disappoint me.”

Ryan swallowed. “Fine. I’ll handle it,” he said, resigned.

“Good,” she replied, calm and satisfied. “Then call me only when it’s done.” She hung up, leaving Ryan feeling as if he’d just made a deal with the devil.

After ending the call with Michael's mom, Ryan sat back, his mind buzzing with mixed feelings. He had always enjoyed the thrill of manipulating Michael, of drawing him into a life he never wanted to admit to. But dealing with her—Michael's mother—was another level entirely.

A shiver ran down his spine as he thought about the plan she had just laid out. It was ruthless, even by his standards. The things she wanted him to do would push Michael closer to the edge, break down his sense of control over his "perfect" life, and shake any remaining trust Sarah might have. The idea was both terrifying and exhilarating.

Yet, he couldn’t deny the thrill. Michael’s mother was playing him like a pawn, but he was in too deep to back out now. In her own twisted way, she was giving him everything he wanted—a reason to stay close to Michael, a way to keep up the double life. She had promised him that once Sarah was out of the picture, there would be no one left to come between him and Michael. It would be up to him to figure things out with Nathan.

He grinned to himself, half-amused and half-uneasy. He knew she was only in it for her own agenda, but for now, their goals aligned. He just needed to follow her plan exactly and keep his own motives hidden. One wrong move, and he’d be the one facing her wrath.

As he slipped his phone back into his pocket, Ryan thought about his next meeting with Michael. Soon, he would have his chance to plant the seeds of doubt and subtly sabotage whatever was left of Michael’s marriage. His only concern was how far he could go before he, too, became another pawn sacrificed for her schemes. But the stakes were high, and for now, the game was just too tempting to resist.