Chapter 7

Nate's POV

The sun had just begun its descent, and it casted a golden hue over the living room. Nate sat on the couch, staring at his phone.

The anonymous message replayed in his mind: "You don't know who you're married to. Be careful." His heart pounded with anxiety. Rachel's words had already sown seeds of doubt, and this message felt like confirmation. But how could he believe it? Allyson had always been so genuine, so loving. 

He glanced at Allyson, who was busy in the kitchen. She looked radiant, completely absorbed in preparing dinner. How could someone like her have dark secrets? Nate shook his head, trying to rid himself of the nagging doubts. But the more he tried to push them away, the more they gnawed at him.

"Nate, could you come here for a second?" Allyson called, breaking his trance.

He walked over, trying to mask his inner turmoil. "What's up?"

"Can you taste this sauce? I think it needs more salt, but I'm not sure." She smiled, offering him a spoonful.

The sauce was perfect, but Nate couldn't focus on the flavor. He nodded, forcing a smile. "It's great, just the way it is."

Allyson's eyes sparkled with appreciation. "Thanks. I'm really glad we're doing this together. It feels like we're finally settling in."

Nate's heart ached. He wanted to believe her, to trust in their love. But the doubts were like a storm cloud, that masked his feelings. "Yeah, it does," he replied, his voice lacking conviction.

Allyson's POV

As she stirred the sauce, Allyson could feel Nate's unease. He had been distant and preoccupied ever since their return to town. She wondered if the reality of their hasty marriage was starting to weigh on him. She wanted to ask him what was wrong but feared the answer. 

Dinner was quiet. The usual laughter and playful banter were replaced by silence and awkward glances. Allyson couldn't take it anymore. "Nate, is something bothering you?"

Nate looked up, surprise flickering in his eyes. "No, why?"

"You've been acting strange lately. If there's something on your mind, you can tell me."

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's nothing, really. Just work stuff."

Allyson's heart sank. She knew it was more than that, but she didn't want to push him. "Okay. Just remember, we're in this together. You can talk to me about anything."

Nate nodded, but the tension remained palpable. Allyson felt a pang of fear. Was their whirlwind romance falling apart already?

Kelvin's POV

Kelvin sat at his desk, his phone buzzing with a message from Nate. He read it and frowned. Nate's cryptic message about receiving anonymous texts and feeling uneasy about Allyson worried him. 

He called Nate immediately. "Hey man, what's going on?"

Nate's voice was strained. "I'm not sure. I've been getting these messages saying Allyson isn't who she seems. And Rachel's accusations… it's messing with my head."

Kelvin sighed. "You need to be careful. Rachel's got her own agenda, and those anonymous messages could be part of it. But you can't ignore your gut feeling either."

"I just don't know what to believe anymore," Nate admitted.

"Trust is everything in a relationship. If you can't talk to Allyson about this, it's going to eat away at you. You need to be honest with her, Nate. If there's any truth to these claims, you'll face it together. And if not, you'll put these doubts to rest."

Nate was silent for a moment. "You're right. I'll talk to her tonight."

"Good. Just remember, I'm here for you. Whatever happens, we'll get through it. And give my love to Ally"

Nate's POV

That evening, as they settled into bed, Nate couldn't shake the feeling of dread. He turned to Allyson, who was reading a book. "Allyson, we need to talk."

She put the book down, her expression turning serious. "What is it?"

"I've been getting these anonymous messages about you. And Rachel… she said some things that have been bothering me. I need to know the truth, Allyson."

Allyson's face went pale. "What kind of messages? Wait! You know Rachel Buffet? What did Rachel say?"

"She is an old friend, Ally. He scratched his head. And then continued "She said you're not who you seem, that you manipulated your way to the top at work. The messages say similar things too."

Allyson's eyes filled with tears. "Nate, I would never… I love you. Those are lies. Rachel's always been jealous of me at work. She'll say anything to get between us."

Nate's heart ached at the sight of her tears. He wanted to believe her, to trust in their love. But the seeds of doubt had been planted deep. "I want to believe you, Allyson. But I need to know the truth. Did you do anything to get ahead at work?"

Allyson took a deep breath, wiping her tears. "I did work hard, and I earned my promotion. But there's more to the story. I need to tell you everything."

As Allyson prepared to reveal her past to her husband, Nate's phone buzzed again. He glanced at the screen, his heart sinking. Another anonymous message flashed: "Ask her about the night she spent with the boss."

Nate looked at Allyson, the room thick with tension. "What happened that night, Allyson?"

The truth hung in the air, ready to shatter their fragile trust they both had for each other.