The next morning, Orm woke up to the soft sunlight streaming in through the curtains, casting a warm glow on the hotel room. She stretched, feeling a pleasant soreness in her body, a reminder of the previous night's activities.
Turning over, she smiled as her eyes fell on Lingling, who was still asleep beside her, an expression of pure contentment on her face.
Leaning in, Orm pressed a soft kiss against Lingling's forehead, feeling a wave of affection wash over her.
She watched with a small smile on her face as Lingling slept, her breathing slow and steady. But as the urge to see her eyes again overpowered her, Orm gently pushed at her shoulder.
"Rise and shine, sleepyhead," she said, her voice gentle but filled with amusement.
Lingling stirred at Orm's touch, her eyelids fluttering open to reveal her sleepy gaze. She let out a yawn and blinked a few times, taking in her surroundings and the sight of Orm sitting next to her. A lazy smile slowly spread across her face as she registered Orm's presence.
"Morning," she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep.
Orm chuckled at Lingling's sleepy state, finding it endearingly cute. She reached over and gently pushed some strands of hair away from Lingling's face, her touch tender and affectionate.
"How did you sleep?" Orm asked, a soft smile playing on her lips.
Lingling stretched and yawned again, her body still warm and cozy under the covers. She smiled lazily at Orm's question.
"Slept like a log," she replied, her voice still groggy with sleep. "The bed was so comfortable, and someone wore me out last night." The hint of a cheeky smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
Orm silently wrestled with her thoughts, the reality of the situation slowly sinking in. While the passion and love they had shared the night before had been undeniable, it was hard to ignore the fact that Lingling was still married.
As she laid there next to Lingling, Orm felt a mix of emotions – happiness, excitement, and worry.
What did this mean for them? Was she now just an affair, a secret hidden from Lingling's husband?
Orm's inner turmoil continued, the conflict between her love for Lingling and the knowledge of her marriage weighing heavily on her mind. She tried to push the thoughts away, focusing instead on the moment she was sharing with her lover, but the reality of the situation was difficult to ignore.
Lingling, meanwhile, seemed blissfully unaware of Orm's inner struggle. She snuggled against Orm, her head resting on her chest, her hand lazily tracing patterns on Orm's skin.
Orm drew in a deep breath, attempting to suppress the wave of worry that rose within her. She tried to focus on the feeling of Lingling's hand on her skin, of their bodies pressed against each other, but the thought of being a secret, a hidden affair, gnawed at her insides.
Lingling's presence was both a comfort and a source of anxiety for Orm. She didn't want to bring up the subject, not wanting to ruin the moment, but the worry was slowly overshadowing the happiness she had felt the night before.
Orm's silence was not unnoticed by Lingling, who could sense a shift in the atmosphere. She lifted her head from Orm's chest and looked up at her, a puzzled expression on her face.
"Is everything alright?" she asked, her voice laced with concern. "You seem a little distant."
Orm forced a small smile, attempting to mask her worry. "I'm fine," she lied, her voice slightly strained. "Just have a lot on my mind."
Lingling, not fully convinced, moved closer, propping herself up on her elbow to look at Orm more closely. Her eyes searched Orm's face, taking in the subtlest of expressions.
Lingling studied Orm's face, her brow furrowing slightly as she noticed the tension in Orm's features. "You sure?" she pressed gently, her eyes full of concern and care.
Orm swallowed, her heart clenching as she met Lingling's gaze. The worry and the conflict she was feeling were harder to hide now, especially under Lingling's watchful eye.
"I... um," Orm started, her voice cracking slightly. She paused, trying to find the right words, but feeling unable to articulate the mix of emotions and worry swirling inside her.
Lingling sensed there was more, her expression growing more concerned. She placed a hand on Orm's arm, her touch gentle and soothing.
Orm took a deep breath, the weight of her worries finally becoming too much to bear alone. She looked at Lingling, her gaze full of both love and sadness.
"Lingling..." she started, her voice shaking slightly. "Us... last night... it was incredible. You're still the love of my life, and I have no regrets."
She paused, her heart heavy with the truth she was about to spill.
"But... I can't ignore the fact that you're still married."
Lingling's expression faltered as Orm brought up her marriage. The topic that had been silently hanging over their heads was finally being addressed.
She looked away from Orm, her gaze falling on the sheets. "I know," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I know I'm still married, but... I can't help how I feel. I can't just turn off my love for you."
Orm's heart ached at the pain in Lingling's voice. She reached out, gently turning her chin so that she was looking at her again.
"I'm not asking you to turn it off," Orm said softly, her voice filled with the weight of her own feelings. "I just... I guess I'm worried about what this makes us. We can't pretend that everything is fine when your husband is still in the picture."
Lingling's expression hardened as Orm mentioned the reality of her marriage. She took a deep breath, her voice resolute as she spoke.
"I'm going to file for divorce," she declared, her eyes meeting Orm's. "I should've done it a long time ago, but... I was miserable. With you here now, I know I can't stay in a loveless marriage. We deserve more than this."
Orm's heart leapt with hope, a flicker of happiness replacing the worry in her eyes. "You mean it?" she asked, her voice filled with a mixture of excitement and disbelief.
Lingling nodded, her expression determined. "I mean it," she affirmed. "I don't want to waste another minute without you. I'm done living a lie."
Orm pulled Lingling into a fierce embrace, tears of joy welling up in her eyes. "I love you," she choked out, her voice filled with a mix of relief and joy. "So much."
Lingling returned the embrace, holding Orm just as tightly. "And I love you too," she replied, her voice thick with emotion. "Always have, always will."
As they both sat on the bed, wrapped up in each other's arms, a shrill sound suddenly cut through the room. Lingling's phone was ringing, its screen flashing with Jake's ID.
Lingling glanced at the screen, a flicker of annoyance crossing her face at the sight of her husband's name. "It's him again," she mumbled, a heavy sigh escaping her lips.
Orm glanced at the phone, noting the irritation in Lingling's voice. She pulled away slightly, giving Lingling some space to answer the call.
"You should answer it," she said quietly, sensing that Lingling needed to deal with this situation.
Lingling winced as her husband's voice filled the room, the sharpness in his tone clear even through the speaker.
"Where in the hell have you been?" he demanded, his voice laced with anger and frustration. "I've been calling you all night, and you were nowhere to be found. And even your damn phone was turned off."
Lingling's jaw clenched but she managed to respond calmly. "I was busy," she said, her voice steady. "You don't get to dictate where I go or what I do."
Jake's voice grew more aggressive, his accusation clear. "Yeah, 'busy,'" he sneered. "Busy huh? Don't think I don't know what's been going on. You think I haven't seen the news?"
Lingling's heart skipped a beat, her eyes widening. "What do you mean?" she asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
Her husband's tone grew more commanding. "I don't want to talk about this over the phone. Get your ass home, and we'll discuss it there. And don't even think about ignoring this."
Lingling gritted her teeth, anger and frustration bubbling up inside her, but she managed to respond with a cold calmness. "Fine. I'll be there soon."
Orm watched the tension and worry etched on Lingling's face. She could sense the inner conflict and frustration Lingling was experiencing.
"Are you sure you want to go alone?" Orm asked, her voice filled with concern. "I can come with you. For support."
Lingling appreciated the offered support from Orm, but she shook her head, determination etched in her expression. "No, I need to do this alone," she said, her voice resolute. "I've handled him before, and I can handle him now. This... this is something I have to deal with on my own."
Orm nodded, understanding Lingling's need to face this alone. She pulled Lingling into a tight embrace, her arms circling around her.
"Okay," she whispered, planting a gentle kiss on Lingling's cheek. "I'll be here, ready for when you come back. But... please, be careful, okay?"
And then, Orm's lips met Lingling's in a swift, gentle kiss, filled with tenderness and love.
"I love you," she murmured against Lingling's lips, her eyes reflecting a mixture of worry and affection.
As Lingling stepped into her house, she spotted her husband, Jake, already waiting for her in the living room, his expression stern and impatient.
"You're late," he said coldly, his voice cutting through the tense air.
Lingling steeled herself, meeting her husband's icy stare with a cool, defiant look in her eyes. "And I'm here now," she retorted, her voice steady despite the knot of anxiety in her stomach. "So, what's so important that you needed to see me urgently?"
Jake held up his phone, his expression hardening. The screen displayed a tabloid headline announcing the "scandal" of Orm the famous rising actress caught with another woman in a hotel.
Even though the unknown woman's face was blurry, there was no doubt in Jake's mind. He knew his wife well enough to recognize her.
"What's this all about?" He demanded, his voice dripping with anger and accusation.