Chapter 6: The Truth Eleni Was Afraid I’d Find

Kostas came to my apartment the next morning.

I knew it was him before he knocked.

His car was parked directly beneath my window.

I had barely finished making coffee when three quiet knocks sounded against the door.

I didn't move.

A minute later, my phone vibrated.

“Romy, please open the door.”

I stared at the message.

Then another appeared.

“I just want to talk.”

I finally opened the door.

Kostas stood in the hallway wearing yesterday's clothes.

His hair was messy, and there were dark circles beneath his eyes.

He looked exhausted.

For a second, the old instinct to comfort him almost returned.

Then I remembered the hotel reservation.

“Can I come in?” he asked.

I stepped aside without answering.

He walked into my apartment and looked around.

His eyes stopped on the suitcase near the wall.

“You packed.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

I looked at him.

“You know why.”

He rubbed the back of his neck.

“About last night…”

“No.”

My answer came so quickly that he stopped.

“Not last night.”

“Three months ago.”

His expression changed.

Only slightly.

But I saw it.

“What happened three months ago?” he asked.

I almost laughed.

“The hotel.”

Silence filled the room.

Kostas looked away.

“Romy, that's not what you think.”

“Then tell me what it was.”

He opened his mouth.

Nothing came out.

I folded my arms.

“You booked a room with one king bed.”

“You listed Eleni as the additional guest.”

“You ordered wine, fruit, and condoms.”

His face went pale.

“You went through my computer?”

That was his first response.

Not an explanation.

Not an apology.

He was angry that I had found out.

“Your computer was open on your desk.”

“I wasn't looking for anything.”

“I was looking for my document.”

He swallowed.

“Romy, I can explain.”

“Then explain.”

He paced toward the window.

“Eleni and I went to that resort with some friends.”

“Friends?”

“Yes.”

“Then why was there one king bed?”

He stopped.

“The rooms were booked together.”

“Then why was her name listed under your reservation?”

He didn't answer.

“And the condoms?” I asked.

“I don't know.”

I stared at him.

“You don't know?”

“I didn't order those.”

“The order was placed through your account.”

“Maybe someone else used it.”

“Who?”

He looked at me.

For several seconds, neither of us spoke.

Then he said quietly, “Maybe Eleni did.”

There it was.

Even now, he was protecting her.

I nodded slowly.

“Of course.”

“Romy—”

“Do you know what hurts the most?”

He didn't answer.

“It's not even the hotel.”

“It's how quickly you found someone else to blame.”

Kostas stepped closer.

“Nothing happened between me and Eleni.”

I looked directly into his eyes.

“Then why does she act like she owns you?”

He frowned.

“What are you talking about?”

“Your apartment.”

“Your car.”

“Your plans.”

“Your time.”

“Your life.”

“Everywhere I go, she's already there.”

“And every time I say something, you tell me I'm imagining it.”

He lowered his voice.

“She's going through a difficult time.”

I smiled bitterly.

“And what about me?”

He went silent.

I continued.

“She deletes my fingerprint from your door.”

“She sits in the passenger seat.”

“She makes plans with you without telling me.”

“She destroys my property and somehow I'm the one who has to understand her.”

“And when she has an asthma attack, you leave me on the side of the road.”

Kostas's face tightened.

“I thought she was seriously ill.”

“Maybe she was.”

“But you never even checked whether I got home safely.”

He looked down.

I knew then that he had no answer.

He pulled out his phone.

“I'll show you the messages.”

“There's nothing between us.”

“You don't need to show me anything.”

“I already saw enough.”

He grabbed my wrist gently.

“Romy, please.”

I pulled my hand away.

“Don't.”

He froze.

“I need some time,” I said.

“Time to think.”

“I'm not asking you to forgive me.”

“I'm asking you to stop treating me like I'm stupid.”

His eyes reddened.

“I never thought you were stupid.”

“Then you should have realized I would eventually notice.”

He stood there without speaking.

Finally, he nodded.

“I'll give you time.”

He turned toward the door.

Before leaving, he looked back.

“I love you.”

I didn't answer.

The door closed behind him.

I waited until I heard his footsteps disappear down the hallway.

Then I picked up my phone.

There was one new notification.

It was from Eleni.

Her message contained only one sentence.

“You should stop digging before you embarrass yourself.”

I stared at it.

Then I took a screenshot.

For the first time, I understood something clearly.

Eleni wasn't afraid that I would leave Kostas.

She was afraid that I would find out why he had already chosen her.