Theresa

Ezra was still angry, but he felt better at her show of emotion. For as long as he had been married to her, she always looked and behaved like the perfect doll. He was a logical person with a lot of experience when it came to dealing with people. Even though he would never adopt certain behaviors with most people, he had long realized Daphne was a very prideful person, so speaking to her as if he was above her would ruin any conversation he planned on having with her.

As such, Ezra backtracked and mellowed out his tone of voice, no longer willing to make it sound as if he was blaming everything on her.

"I am not perfect and I never behaved like I was. I am a flawed man, but you can't blame it all on me. Before you go on about divorce, you should at least give us a chance. If we had tried and failed, I would understand, but we have never tried anything."

Daphne was very stubborn, and even though she agreed with him, she was reluctant to play the weak one. She hoped he would insist afterwards, for at least, if he did, she would know he was not treating the situation halfheartedly. So, she said, with her usual tone,

"No. I don't want you."

Feeling insulted and belittled, Ezra gritted out,

"…Why?"

"Theresa."

"You want me to fire her? She had been my secretary for a long time. I don't know if I can find someone to replace her anytime soon, she is very qualified and used to her job."

"Oh, yesss… very qualified, indeed." Daphne was starting to lose her enthusiasm for trying anything out with Ezra at the mention of any redeeming quality Teresa had, coming from his mouth.

"Daphne, I am not joking."

"And I am not joking either. Why would I want to try anything with you while your mistress follows you around like a dog?"

"She is not my mistress." Ezra answered, while regaining his calm.

Daphne knew men could separate love and sex very well, but she could not comprehend it, nor did she want to, as such, the presence of Theresa or any other women in her relationship was nonnegotiable.

"What is she then? Your whore? Does she know?"

Ezra was taken aback by her crass words.

"What do you mean?"

"Do you know how I could tell something was going on? Her smug behavior every time she came to pick you up or came to deliver something. That, and the hate she emanates whenever she sees me. You have got to be blind not to notice she barely even greets me anymore, and even when she does, she does it in a dead, monotone way, as if to make sure her lack of regard for me is clear."

Ezra tried to remember Theresa's behavior in Daphne's presence, but he could not remember much. He mostly tended to shorten situations where they were in the same room, as he felt guilty for his actions with Theresa.

Even if he did not want to admit it, he knew Daphne was his wife and his actions with Theresa were inappropriate.