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Drowning in His Lies The Deepest Betrayal

NovelMaster · English · Theater: NovelMaster, Lang: English, Genre: Realistic ·

Drowning in His Lies The Deepest Betrayal

Theater: NovelMaster  |  Language: English

Synopsis

My marriage to Julian was something I had forced.
I thought that with enough time, love would grow and we’d eventually be happy.
That was until I saw him laughing with a gorgeous young girl by the shore.
He pulled her into his arms, holding her hand as they dove into the turquoise waves.
The warning signs had been there all along. I was just playing deaf and blind.
That afternoon, I sank thirty meters deep into the ocean, surrounded by vibrant corals and swirling schools of fish.
Suddenly, it all felt completely meaningless.
I had spent three years living a lie. I refused to waste another second.
That evening, I turned to Julian, who was lying in bed flipping through a book.
"Let’s go diving tomorrow."
He didn't even look up. His long fingers casually turned a page.
"I already have a client booked. You should find another instructor."
I knew he would say no, but hearing his flat rejection still made my heart skip a painful beat.
He knew better than anyone about my trauma. He knew I didn't trust any instructor but him.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and said nothing. I didn't remind him that tomorrow was our wedding anniversary.
I had always told myself that being an adult meant dealing with compromises. I had ignored every red flag, desperately trying to keep our hollow marriage from falling apart.
The next day, I went alone to the stretch of beach where Julian and I first met.
I walked along the tide line, careful not to let the foam touch my bare feet.
Suddenly, a familiar figure caught my eye. Julian was standing in plain clothes outside a beachside snack shack, clearly waiting for someone.
I was about to call his name when I remembered his cold, warning glare from months ago: *Don’t disturb me while I’m working.*
Just then, a young girl bounced out of the shop. Giggling, she pressed an ice cream bar against his cheek.
"Coach Julian, your treat!"
Julian laughed, pulling her slender body straight into his chest. His face held a sweet, tender warmth I hadn't seen in years.
Something deep inside my chest caved in. The worst part of seeing it with your own eyes is that you can no longer pretend. Even if you shut your eyes, the image burns into your retinas.
Hand in hand, they strolled down the boardwalk. Unable to help myself, I trailed quietly behind them.
From their laughter and inside jokes, I learned her name was Amber. And they had been seeing each other for six months.
Amber ran barefoot across the sand, the sea breeze catching the hem of her white sundress like a fairy floating above the earth.
Julian carried her white sandals in one hand, trailing behind her with an indulgent smile, calling out for her to slow down.
I stood frozen, an ache tearing through my ribs.
When we first started dating, he used to carry my shoes, too. I was clumsy and forgetful, and he would always walk a step behind me, picking up whatever I dropped.
Lately, even though I hadn't dropped anything in years, he still instinctively walked behind me whenever we went out. I used to tease him about having an old habit he couldn't break.
Now I remembered the way he would stare blankly at his empty hands.
That habit hadn't been about me for a very long time.
Julian swept Amber up into a bridal carry. That was when she spotted me. Her smile faltered, her expression turning awkward.
Noticing her pause, Julian started to turn around. But Amber quickly cupped his face with both hands and pulled him down into a deep kiss.My mind went completely blank.
The salty wind slapped against my face. My eyes burned, and I couldn't tell whether it was sea mist or tears wet on my cheeks.
Amber pulled back, tugging Julian’s arm with a pout.
"Julian, take me diving."
Julian hesitated for a split second, then patted her head affectionately.
"Alright."
While Julian went to the gear shop to prep their equipment, Amber turned on her heels and strutted toward me. Her chin was tilted up like a victorious gladiator.
"Hi there, wifey."
"You know who I am?" I asked, my voice surprisingly steady.
"Your photo is his lock screen wallpaper. Hard to miss."
His wallpaper had always been a photo from our first dive after we officially got together. Coming out of the water, he had pulled me into his side and held up the camera. The photo captured the moment his lips pressed against my temple while I beamed at the lens. He had insisted on keeping it as his wallpaper, claiming he needed my face to be the first thing he saw every morning.
Amber’s lips curled into a smirk.
"Julian told me you’re a sentimental fool. As long as he keeps that photo on his screen, he has an automatic get-out-of-jail-free card with you."
A dry, bitter laugh escaped my throat. Back when I was young, I believed that love conquered all. That stupid wallpaper had softened my heart so many times. Now, it was just pathetic.
I looked straight into her eyes, keeping my voice flat.
"Why do this? You know he’s married."
She threw her head back and laughed loudly, as if I had cracked a joke.
"Honey, in modern love, the one who isn’t loved is the real intruder."
She looked me up and down with open disgust.
"I can go on adventures with him. And look at you—just a tired, faded housewife. Do you even know how to put on a wetsuit?"
I smiled mirthlessly. So that was why he refused to take me. He was saving his energy for his little side adventure.
"I just hope you don't end up where I am," I said quietly.
I turned and walked toward the dive shop. The smug satisfaction on Amber’s face cracked. She grabbed my wrist.
"Where do you think you’re going?"
I snatched my hand back, cold disgust dripping from my words.
"What does it look like? I'm going diving."
Amber sneered.
"Don’t embarrass yourself. No instructor around here would take someone who can’t even remember the basic hand signals."I ignored her completely and pushed through the shop doors, nearly bumping into Julian who was walking out with oxygen tanks.
The moment his eyes landed on me, panic flashed across his face.
"Chloe?"
I acted like I hadn't heard him, brushing past his shoulder. But his fingers clamped down on my wrist, his brow furrowing.
"You can’t dive!"
I spun around, meeting his gaze coldly.
"Why can't I? I’m a grown woman. I don’t need your permission to live my life."
Julian’s grip tightened. That was his nervous tell whenever he was calculating his next move. Finally, as if making a grand sacrifice, he sighed.
"Wait here. I’ll take you."
I gave a slight nod. He let go.
Outside, Amber’s sweet voice drifted in: "Julian, are you ready yet?"
I stepped further inside, letting the glass door shut out the noise of the beach.
A young guy in a staff tee walked up to me with a bright, open smile. He had large, expressive eyes that gave him the endearing look of an eager golden retriever.
"Hey there! Looking for an instructor today?"
I glanced at him. Those eyes felt strangely familiar.
"I already have one booked."
His shoulders drooped slightly in disappointment, but he quickly bounced back, leaning against the counter to chat. He introduced himself as Dylan. I gave him polite, distracted half-answers.
Julian never showed up.
I waited on that bench for two hours until the last shred of my patience turned to dust.
Dylan, who was still lingering nearby, tilted his head in concern.
"Chloe, did your instructor ditch you?"
Embarrassment flared in my chest. To mask the sting, I shot him a sharp look.
"Don't you have work to do?"
He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.
"I’m the new guy. Most tourists prefer the senior instructors."
I swallowed the bitter lump in my throat, forcing an easy smile.
"My guy bailed. Take me out instead."Dylan blinked in surprise. He handed me the waiver, and after a second’s hesitation, I signed my name at the bottom: *Chloe Miller*.
When I geared up and climbed onto the boat, my hands were clammy. Looking out at the endless expanse of dark blue ocean, a suffocating dread clawed at my throat.
The further we moved from the shore, the faster my heart hammered. Cold sweat slicked my palms.
The trauma hit me in flashing fragments: the fading consciousness, the agonizing gasp as the regulator gave me nothing, the helpless realization that nobody was coming as I sank into the abyss.
After that accident, I hadn't set foot in deep water for three years. Julian had stayed by my side, nursing me through therapy, making me entirely dependent on him.
A warm hand touched my shoulder.
"Hey," Dylan said softly, his voice grounding me. "No rush. Take your time."
I gripped the railing, staring down at the water, and forced my breathing to steady. I ran through the safety protocols in my head, rolled backward over the side, and hit the water. Dylan was right behind me.
Underwater, Dylan reached out and took my gloved hand, giving me an anchor of steady strength. Together, we descended.
The chaotic noise of the world faded into profound silence. Schools of silver fish darted around us as we sank deeper. Dylan stayed close, matching my rhythm.
Thirty meters down, the ocean unveiled its majesty. Brilliant coral gardens, towering rock formations, shimmering schools of tuna circling upwards, and majestic sea turtles gliding by.
And suddenly, the heavy knot in my chest vanished.
Julian truly believed that without him, I could never dive again. He believed I would always be sitting on the shore, waiting for him.
He had forgotten that before I met him, I had been an extreme sports enthusiast preparing for my advanced dive certification.
This suffocating marriage had trapped me for three years. I wasn't going to let it trap me for the rest of my life.
I gave Dylan the thumb-up signal to ascend. Pushing through the water, we executed our safety stops, rising gradually toward the golden sunlight. The ocean felt warm and embracing.
When we broke the surface, Dylan pushed my dive mask up and gently tucked a wet strand of hair behind my ear, grinning.
"You're definitely not a beginner, are you?"
My head was clearer than it had been in years. I smiled back.
"I used to dive for three years. Just took a long break."
He stared at me, momentarily stunned, his expression unreadable behind his mask.
We returned to the shop to return the gear. The moment I walked through the door, I saw Julian sitting on a gear crate, his face dark with fury.
He leaped up, grabbing my wrist.
"I told you to wait for me! Where the hell did you go?"I shoved his hand away, glaring at him with pure disgust.
"A standard dive lasts fifty minutes, Julian. I waited for two hours. Wasn't that enough?"
Dylan stepped inside right then, effortlessly inserting himself between Julian and me. He flashed Julian a sunny, challenging grin.
"Hey, Coach Julian, don't steal my clients. Didn't Miss Amber book you for tomorrow morning anyway?"
Julian’s face turned an ugly shade of red.
I gestured for Dylan to give us a minute, then silently packed my dry bag.
Julian stumbled over his words, trying to save face.
"She's just a student. She just booked a lot of private sessions, that's all."
"Cool," I said without looking at him.
If he had the guts to admit it, I might have respected him a little. But seeing him scramble like a cornered rat made him look pathetic.
My indifference set him off. He snapped, his voice rising in defensive anger.
"She’s practically a kid to me! Am I not allowed to do my job without you being paranoid? Fine, I won’t take any female clients from now on. Does that make you happy?!"
I scoffed, slinging my bag over my shoulder.
"Do whatever you want."
As I walked out of the shop, Dylan jogged after me. His hair was dripping wet, his puppy-dog eyes sparkling.
"Hey, Chloe! Can I get your SnapChat?"
I sighed, stopping in my tracks.
"I'm married. Julian is my husband."
Dylan didn't look surprised in the slightest. He just held his phone out, totally unfazed.
"Whoa, where’s your head at? I just meant for booking dives. You're great in the water."
His casual tone made me feel like I was overthinking things. But a woman always knows when a man’s interest isn't innocent.
Still, I couldn't be bothered to argue. I let him scan my code.
When I got home, I pulled open the bottom drawer of the nightstand. Buried beneath old files was a drafted divorce agreement. I picked up a pen and signed my name on the dotted line.
A woman's intuition is rarely wrong. The day I first felt Julian growing distant, I had printed that paper out.
Part of me had secretly hoped he would stumble upon it, freak out, and ask me what was wrong. I had imagined us breaking down, crying it out, and finding our way back to each other.
But he never opened that drawer. Our home had simply become a hotel where he slept. He stopped noticing the fresh flowers on the counter. He stopped talking to me.
People naturally crave sharing their lives. If a man isn't talking to you, it just means he's pouring his words out to someone else.
I couldn't lie to myself anymore.
I left the signed divorce papers on the kitchen island, grabbed my suitcase, and walked out the front door.

Chapters (5)

Chapter 1   Chapter 2   Chapter 3   Chapter 4   Chapter 5

Chapter 1

My marriage to Julian was something I had forced. I thought that with enough time, love would grow and we’d eventually be happy. That was until I saw him laughing with a gorgeous young girl by the shore. He pulled her into his arms, holding her hand as they dove into the turquoise waves. The warning signs had been there all along. I was just playing deaf and blind. That afternoon, I sank thirty meters deep into the ocean, surrounded by vibrant corals and swirling schools of fish. Suddenly, it all felt completely meaningless. I had spent three years living a lie. I refused to waste another second. That evening, I turned to Julian, who was lying in bed flipping through a book. "Let’s go diving tomorrow." He didn't even look up. His long fingers casually turned a page. "I already have a client booked. You should find another instructor." I knew he would say no, but hearing his flat rejection still made my heart skip a painful beat. He knew better than anyone about my trauma. He knew I didn't trust any instructor but him. I swallowed the lump in my throat and said nothing. I didn't remind him that tomorrow was our wedding anniversary. I had always told myself that being an adult meant dealing with compromises. I had ignored every red flag, desperately trying to keep our hollow marriage from falling apart. The next day, I went alone to the stretch of beach where Julian and I first met. I walked along the tide line, careful not to let the foam touch my bare feet. Suddenly, a familiar figure caught my eye. Julian was standing in plain clothes outside a beachside snack shack, clearly waiting for someone. I was about to call his name when I remembered his cold, warning glare from months ago: *Don’t disturb me while I’m working.* Just then, a young girl bounced out of the shop. Giggling, she pressed an ice cream bar against his cheek. "Coach Julian, your treat!" Julian laughed, pulling her slender body straight into his chest. His face held a sweet, tender warmth I hadn't seen in years. Something deep inside my chest caved in. The worst part of seeing it with your own eyes is that you can no longer pretend. Even if you shut your eyes, the image burns into your retinas. Hand in hand, they strolled down the boardwalk. Unable to help myself, I trailed quietly behind them. From their laughter and inside jokes, I learned her name was Amber. And they had been seeing each other for six months. Amber ran barefoot across the sand, the sea breeze catching the hem of her white sundress like a fairy floating above the earth. Julian carried her white sandals in one hand, trailing behind her with an indulgent smile, calling out for her to slow down. I stood frozen, an ache tearing through my ribs. When we first started dating, he used to carry my shoes, too. I was clumsy and forgetful, and he would always walk a step behind me, picking up whatever I dropped. Lately, even though I hadn't dropped anything in years, he still instinctively walked behind me whenever we went out. I used to tease him about having an old habit he couldn't break. Now I remembered the way he would stare blankly at his empty hands. That habit hadn't been about me for a very long time. Julian swept Amber up into a bridal carry. That was when she spotted me. Her smile faltered, her expression turning awkward. Noticing her pause, Julian started to turn around. But Amber quickly cupped his face with both hands and pulled him down into a deep kiss.

Chapter 2

My mind went completely blank. The salty wind slapped against my face. My eyes burned, and I couldn't tell whether it was sea mist or tears wet on my cheeks. Amber pulled back, tugging Julian’s arm with a pout. "Julian, take me diving." Julian hesitated for a split second, then patted her head affectionately. "Alright." While Julian went to the gear shop to prep their equipment, Amber turned on her heels and strutted toward me. Her chin was tilted up like a victorious gladiator. "Hi there, wifey." "You know who I am?" I asked, my voice surprisingly steady. "Your photo is his lock screen wallpaper. Hard to miss." His wallpaper had always been a photo from our first dive after we officially got together. Coming out of the water, he had pulled me into his side and held up the camera. The photo captured the moment his lips pressed against my temple while I beamed at the lens. He had insisted on keeping it as his wallpaper, claiming he needed my face to be the first thing he saw every morning. Amber’s lips curled into a smirk. "Julian told me you’re a sentimental fool. As long as he keeps that photo on his screen, he has an automatic get-out-of-jail-free card with you." A dry, bitter laugh escaped my throat. Back when I was young, I believed that love conquered all. That stupid wallpaper had softened my heart so many times. Now, it was just pathetic. I looked straight into her eyes, keeping my voice flat. "Why do this? You know he’s married." She threw her head back and laughed loudly, as if I had cracked a joke. "Honey, in modern love, the one who isn’t loved is the real intruder." She looked me up and down with open disgust. "I can go on adventures with him. And look at you—just a tired, faded housewife. Do you even know how to put on a wetsuit?" I smiled mirthlessly. So that was why he refused to take me. He was saving his energy for his little side adventure. "I just hope you don't end up where I am," I said quietly. I turned and walked toward the dive shop. The smug satisfaction on Amber’s face cracked. She grabbed my wrist. "Where do you think you’re going?" I snatched my hand back, cold disgust dripping from my words. "What does it look like? I'm going diving." Amber sneered. "Don’t embarrass yourself. No instructor around here would take someone who can’t even remember the basic hand signals."

Chapter 3

I ignored her completely and pushed through the shop doors, nearly bumping into Julian who was walking out with oxygen tanks. The moment his eyes landed on me, panic flashed across his face. "Chloe?" I acted like I hadn't heard him, brushing past his shoulder. But his fingers clamped down on my wrist, his brow furrowing. "You can’t dive!" I spun around, meeting his gaze coldly. "Why can't I? I’m a grown woman. I don’t need your permission to live my life." Julian’s grip tightened. That was his nervous tell whenever he was calculating his next move. Finally, as if making a grand sacrifice, he sighed. "Wait here. I’ll take you." I gave a slight nod. He let go. Outside, Amber’s sweet voice drifted in: "Julian, are you ready yet?" I stepped further inside, letting the glass door shut out the noise of the beach. A young guy in a staff tee walked up to me with a bright, open smile. He had large, expressive eyes that gave him the endearing look of an eager golden retriever. "Hey there! Looking for an instructor today?" I glanced at him. Those eyes felt strangely familiar. "I already have one booked." His shoulders drooped slightly in disappointment, but he quickly bounced back, leaning against the counter to chat. He introduced himself as Dylan. I gave him polite, distracted half-answers. Julian never showed up. I waited on that bench for two hours until the last shred of my patience turned to dust. Dylan, who was still lingering nearby, tilted his head in concern. "Chloe, did your instructor ditch you?" Embarrassment flared in my chest. To mask the sting, I shot him a sharp look. "Don't you have work to do?" He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "I’m the new guy. Most tourists prefer the senior instructors." I swallowed the bitter lump in my throat, forcing an easy smile. "My guy bailed. Take me out instead."

Chapter 4

Dylan blinked in surprise. He handed me the waiver, and after a second’s hesitation, I signed my name at the bottom: *Chloe Miller*. When I geared up and climbed onto the boat, my hands were clammy. Looking out at the endless expanse of dark blue ocean, a suffocating dread clawed at my throat. The further we moved from the shore, the faster my heart hammered. Cold sweat slicked my palms. The trauma hit me in flashing fragments: the fading consciousness, the agonizing gasp as the regulator gave me nothing, the helpless realization that nobody was coming as I sank into the abyss. After that accident, I hadn't set foot in deep water for three years. Julian had stayed by my side, nursing me through therapy, making me entirely dependent on him. A warm hand touched my shoulder. "Hey," Dylan said softly, his voice grounding me. "No rush. Take your time." I gripped the railing, staring down at the water, and forced my breathing to steady. I ran through the safety protocols in my head, rolled backward over the side, and hit the water. Dylan was right behind me. Underwater, Dylan reached out and took my gloved hand, giving me an anchor of steady strength. Together, we descended. The chaotic noise of the world faded into profound silence. Schools of silver fish darted around us as we sank deeper. Dylan stayed close, matching my rhythm. Thirty meters down, the ocean unveiled its majesty. Brilliant coral gardens, towering rock formations, shimmering schools of tuna circling upwards, and majestic sea turtles gliding by. And suddenly, the heavy knot in my chest vanished. Julian truly believed that without him, I could never dive again. He believed I would always be sitting on the shore, waiting for him. He had forgotten that before I met him, I had been an extreme sports enthusiast preparing for my advanced dive certification. This suffocating marriage had trapped me for three years. I wasn't going to let it trap me for the rest of my life. I gave Dylan the thumb-up signal to ascend. Pushing through the water, we executed our safety stops, rising gradually toward the golden sunlight. The ocean felt warm and embracing. When we broke the surface, Dylan pushed my dive mask up and gently tucked a wet strand of hair behind my ear, grinning. "You're definitely not a beginner, are you?" My head was clearer than it had been in years. I smiled back. "I used to dive for three years. Just took a long break." He stared at me, momentarily stunned, his expression unreadable behind his mask. We returned to the shop to return the gear. The moment I walked through the door, I saw Julian sitting on a gear crate, his face dark with fury. He leaped up, grabbing my wrist. "I told you to wait for me! Where the hell did you go?"

Chapter 5

I shoved his hand away, glaring at him with pure disgust. "A standard dive lasts fifty minutes, Julian. I waited for two hours. Wasn't that enough?" Dylan stepped inside right then, effortlessly inserting himself between Julian and me. He flashed Julian a sunny, challenging grin. "Hey, Coach Julian, don't steal my clients. Didn't Miss Amber book you for tomorrow morning anyway?" Julian’s face turned an ugly shade of red. I gestured for Dylan to give us a minute, then silently packed my dry bag. Julian stumbled over his words, trying to save face. "She's just a student. She just booked a lot of private sessions, that's all." "Cool," I said without looking at him. If he had the guts to admit it, I might have respected him a little. But seeing him scramble like a cornered rat made him look pathetic. My indifference set him off. He snapped, his voice rising in defensive anger. "She’s practically a kid to me! Am I not allowed to do my job without you being paranoid? Fine, I won’t take any female clients from now on. Does that make you happy?!" I scoffed, slinging my bag over my shoulder. "Do whatever you want." As I walked out of the shop, Dylan jogged after me. His hair was dripping wet, his puppy-dog eyes sparkling. "Hey, Chloe! Can I get your SnapChat?" I sighed, stopping in my tracks. "I'm married. Julian is my husband." Dylan didn't look surprised in the slightest. He just held his phone out, totally unfazed. "Whoa, where’s your head at? I just meant for booking dives. You're great in the water." His casual tone made me feel like I was overthinking things. But a woman always knows when a man’s interest isn't innocent. Still, I couldn't be bothered to argue. I let him scan my code. When I got home, I pulled open the bottom drawer of the nightstand. Buried beneath old files was a drafted divorce agreement. I picked up a pen and signed my name on the dotted line. A woman's intuition is rarely wrong. The day I first felt Julian growing distant, I had printed that paper out. Part of me had secretly hoped he would stumble upon it, freak out, and ask me what was wrong. I had imagined us breaking down, crying it out, and finding our way back to each other. But he never opened that drawer. Our home had simply become a hotel where he slept. He stopped noticing the fresh flowers on the counter. He stopped talking to me. People naturally crave sharing their lives. If a man isn't talking to you, it just means he's pouring his words out to someone else. I couldn't lie to myself anymore. I left the signed divorce papers on the kitchen island, grabbed my suitcase, and walked out the front door.

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