Point of View: Virgil, First Person
Timeline: Present Day

I blinked almost stupidly at the video.  He - He - How was - How could he do this? To us?

I shakily unlocked the front door of our apartment, hovering a few moments on the other side.  What would I even say to him once I saw him? Would I just play it off, like I didn't know or would I walk in and give him hell?

I don't know, I don't know.

Taking a deep breath, I opened the door - it closing behind me softly, contrary to my mood at the moment.  I peeked inside to see our sons playing loudly - Alex and Oliver - with their toys, their other dad no where in sight.  They glanced up at me, grinning for a moment before resuming playing with their toys - robots, a gift from Logan.  I paused at the corner of the hallway and peeked into little Valerie's room, hearing her singing loudly with a hair brush to Evanescence and I couldn't help smirking proudly before proceeding forward to the last room, our bedroom.

I hesitated just outside the door, seeing the light on.  Roman was definitely in there, probably working on the next draft for his book.  It seemed like he was always writing these days - writing, editing, working, writing some more.

Who knew that between all that he had found time to cheat?

Before I could change my mind and pretend that I had never known what he'd done, I threw the door open to find Roman, hunched over his desk - writing furiously.  He was in dark blue jeans and dark red worn sneakers.  His white hoodie had the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, as to not get the sleeves covered in ink.  His hair was messier than usual and I couldn't help the instinctive urge to run my hands through it and fix it.

Roman looked at me and his eyes lit up immediately, grinning brightly.  "Greetings, mi amor," he said, setting his pen down and wincing a bit as he flexed his fingers, clearly not noticing the way I flinched in return.

... How could he look at me like that, after what's done?

Instead of walking over to him, I walked over to my side of the bed, kneeling instantly.  I fished around for a moment before my hand landed on a box, a box I hadn't pulled out in forever.  I slowly pulled the box out - goodness, it had taken a beating, hadn't it? The top was covered in dust, clearly untouched for some time.  I hadn't needed them for a long time.  

Until now.

Roman twisted to face me at my silence, eyes concerned.  He had to know there was something wrong now.  He had to know that I knew what he'd done.

But instead of saying something that could've saved our marriage, his eyes dropped to the dusty shoebox.  "Qué es eso, mi amor?" What's that, my love?

My love.

My love.

What a lie.

"Do you remember," I started, almost surprising myself with how bitter and cold it sounded, it hadn't sounded so harsh in such a long time and I noticed that Roman actually flinched out of the corner of my eye. "Do you remember the summer after we met?"

Roman shifted in his chair, nervously picking his nails.  "Yes, of course.  It was the summer I got my big break, I was offered my first role and I was moving to Los Angeles."

"And do you remember what I asked you to do?"

Roman smiled softly at that, lost in memory.  "You asked me to write you letters.  You didn't want your father catching you dating a guy.  So you asked me to write letters, always signing off as Ro, in the chance that your father found them by mistake."

"Well did you know," I started, opening the box, revealing the slightly aged paper inside.  "I saved every letter you wrote me," I said.

Roman shifted at that, uncomfortable.  "No," he admitted.  "I had no idea.  That was years ago, I assumed you threw them away ages ago."

I cleared my throat, reading a line on the first letter.  "From the moment I saw you, I knew you were mine," I quoted softly.  I let the letter slip out of my hand, falling to the floor.  I didn't bother to pick it up.  "And do you want to know that stupid part? I believed you, " I admitted.  "You said you were mine, I thought you were mine."

Roman expression had twisted in something not unlike pain, but he didn't move, didn't say anything all.  If he didn't think I knew before, he definitely knew now.

"Do you know what Logan said? When I told him what you'd done?"

Roman didn't say anything, but his expression was growing paler by the second as he waited silently for my answer.

"He said: You have married an Icarus; he has flown too close to the sun."

Roman stood at that, running an ink-stained hand through his hair - a fearful expression on his face.  But he didn't say anything, nothing until I walked to our closet and tossed a suitcase on the bed.  "Virgil - "

"Don't," I snapped.  "Take another step in my direction," I warned, voice low.  Roman smartly heeded my warning, looking torn as he watched me go into his side of the drawer and toss his clothes inside.  "I can't be trusted around you."

Roman tried to open his mouth to say something, but I cut him off before he could even try to justify... this.  "Don't think you can talk your way into my arms," I pointed at him, tossing another round of shirts into the suitcase.  Roman, apparently star-stuck, didn't say anything at all as he watched me folding his clothes carefully into the suitcase.  I didn't want a single thing left here when I kicked him out.

"What are you doing?" Roman asked, voice almost a whispered.  "What are you going to do to the letters?" he asked, biting his bottom lip nervously.

"I'm burning the letters you wrote me," I admitted.  

Roman stared at me like I had lost my mind. 

Maybe I had.

"You can stand over there if you want - I don't know who you are," I said, trying to sound confident and  nonchalant - even as tears threatened to spill onto my cheeks, a waterfall of betrayal.  "I have so much to learn," I finished softly, closing my eyes as another ripple of pain soared right through my breaking heart.

I grabbed the box of letters and went to the kitchen, Roman trailing behind me - a bit dizzily as if he was still a bit stunned.  He frowned when he saw me toss the letters into a pot, reading a couple along the way.  "W-What?" His voice was more nervous now, anticipating my actions.

I continued, ignoring him until I tossed the last letter inside.  I didn't say anything as I grabbed the lighter and let the flame lick the edge of the pages.

"I'm re-reading your letters and watching them burn."

"Virgil - please," Roman said, reaching out and touching my shoulder and I flinched at the soft touch.  "The kids," he added, voice dropped as his eyes flickered to where the boys were playing only in the room next door.

With a harsh exhale, I poured water over the burning letters, effectively stopping the fire.  Still I stormed off and Roman had no choice but to follow, following back to our room as he closed the door slowly - the soft click permission for me to continue.

"You PUBLISHED the texts he wrote to you," I continued.  "You told the whole world how you brought this guy into our bed!"  God, it sounded so much worse out loud, it made it feel real.  Especially as I could see Roman's expression change into a guilty one.   "Really, Roman?"

"I - I couldn't lie on live television, Virge," Roman argued weakly and I cut him off with the dismissive wave of a hand.

"And it was just OKAY to lie to your husband?! God, Roman! What kind of twisted sense does that even make! Well congrats to you, you honest soul," I spat bitterly.  "In clearing your name, you have ruined our lives."

"Well, I think that's a little melodramatic, don't you -"

"Are you really surprised that I'm mad at you?!" I yelled, before remembering the kids.  "I don't understand, I will never understand, and quite frankly I don't want to.  And what - you just expected me to just - to just brush this off?!" I shook my head, not even listening as he tried to give me some kind of excuse.

"Heaven forbid someone whisper "He's part of some scheme"," Roman spat at me, losing his temper along with me.  "If he had just kept his mouth shut we'd never be in this situation."

"Do you h o n e s t l y think that is the problem here?" I said.  "The problem is that it never should have happened in the first place! Honestly, Roman," I finished, tossing more of his things in the suitcase.  "So first you even HAD an affair?!! And if that wasn't wrong on it's own, you admitted it on LIVE TELEVISION before you admitted it to me? How did you think I was going to react?  I can't even imagine what went through your head, to make you think that was a good idea - to let me find out from a stupid interview rather than you coming to me or - here's an idea - just NOT CHEAT!! Some random person tells you they heard rumors about you having an affair and you decide the best thing to announce it on live television!!" I screamed.

"Your enemy whispers so you have to scream!" Roman yelled back, face starting to tint pink as his temper flared even higher.

"I know about whispers," I returned lowly.  "I see how you look at my brother."

Roman froze at that - mouth opening to protest but I cut him off with a dismissive wave.

"Don't," I said lowly, still packing his things.  "I'm not naive.  I have seen boys around you."

Roman tried to cut it, but I cut him off again.  "Don't think I don't see how they fall for your charms, all your charms," I continued.  "Just like I did," I added.

Roman looked like he'd been slapped.  "Did?" he asked quietly.

I shoved the papers he had been working hastily into a file folder, admittedly reckless - not caring if they get messed up in the process.  I slid the papers into the front pouch of the suitcase, until the top of the desk was completely empty.  I also tossed in his passport, wallet, phone, phone charger, and some money.  I didn't want him to have any reason at all to come back here.

"I'm erasing myself from the narrative," I said dismissively, as if I could just - just forget everything just like that.  But it wouldn't hurt to try.  "Let future historians wonder how Virgil reacted when you broke his heart," I said darkly, avoiding his eyes.  "You have thrown it all away stand back, watch it burn - just watch it all burn," I said, holding the suitcase for him to take in hands - also able to see the ashes of relationship falling between us.

"You - You aren't really going to kick me out are you? Come on, Virgil," Roman tried.

"Out."

"Vee -"

"I said GET OUT."

Roman huffed, grabbing the suitcase and walking to the door.  I followed closely behind, frowning when he stopped.  "And did you think about the media are going to say when they find out the famous Roman Sanders has been kicked out of his apartment for telling the truth?"

"Not my problem, have fun finding a place to sleep tonight because it will certainly not be here."

"Can I at least say goodbye to the kids?"

"Do you honestly think you even deserve that?" I asked, stunned.  "That you should get the chance to cause them even more pain?  No, I couldn't protect myself again you, but I will protect them," I said firmly.  "Now out."

"Fine," Roman said - eyes bitter and dark.  "And when the time comes explain to the children the pain and embarrassment you put their father through," Roman spat, face twisted in a fury and frustration.

"When will you learn that THEY are your legacy?" I countered, hands diving to my hair in frustration, eyes falling shut.  I couldn't even look at him.  "WE are your legacy," I said, hands waving passionately, gesturing around at the apartment - more so towards the small, growing lives inside.

Roman tried to speak, but I cut him off before he could even try to persuade me.

"And I sat here, WAITING for you to understand that.  But it seems like you never will - you see the world as competition and you have to prove yourself worthy of being at the top - make a name for yourself," I said, arms reaching forward on their own accord and shoving Roman out the door, sending him stumbling to the ground in a pile of red-faced shame.  I tossed the suitcase promptly behind him.  "And you never understood that your priority should have been keeping your family together."

Roman's expression softened at that, anger gone instantly.  Instead, it was the red patches on his cheeks were from shame, not anger.

"If you thought you were mine... you were wrong - THEY are mine and I'll do whatever it takes to protect them, even if that means telling them that their father isn't worthy of being their father anymore," I said, gesturing to the children inside, still innocently playing - oblivious to the life altering events going on at the front door.

Roman suddenly seemed to realize how serious I was about this.

"Virgil -"

I slammed the door Roman's face, cutting him off.

"Don't."

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I don't really know what this was to be completely honest XP

I just really love this song, it's gorgeous :3

- Max :)