All Comments on 'How High a Price: Long Ending'

This left me cold. The fact that Early made the choice of staying with this cheating piece of shit almost immediately was a bit too much to take. I loved John getting fired and then slapped around but the the whore got nothing. If she had kept her legs closed none of this would have happened. And the crap about Early accepting responsibility for her being a cheating skank is also a bit much to take.

Any relationship between this story and the original is purely coincidental.

"Susan let out an anguished cry "We had sex Early!! We made love! We fucked!! What else can I say! At night we slept together and had sex!" Operative words here are "We made love!".

"So you didn't make a conscience decision to go over the limit by 20 Miles Per Hour?"

"OK, OK I get the point. You can do something wrong without it being a conscious decision to do so. Especially when a lot of emotion and outside pressure is involved." Time out here. There is something of a difference here between getting a speeding ticket with your spouse in the car beside you and your spouse spending two days and three nights having sex, making love, fucking, sleeping together and having sex with someone not your spouse, while your spouse is out of town especially since she admitted doing it consciously.

And the killer is this, his current wife is the niece of Bob Jensen of Jenson, Sharone and Anderson. There is a lot more but you get the Idea."

"No, she lives about half the time back east in Boston where their son goes to a private prep school. My source inside the firm says that the senior partners have gone way out of their way to not only hide Mr. Stickners past but have made his private doings invisible even within the firm." So I'm missing the part where some serious action was taken against the firm and the senior partners since they knew and covered up for Stickner?

Over all with the exceptions I noted I enjoyed the story, it would have taken serious effort to put this together in a readable fashion. Early didn't wimp out with Stickner, there is nothing wrong with reconciliation when it's the right thing for the people involved and there are only so many ways this story could go. I suspect as I read the other ending versions some will not be as entertaining. Signed: BTW

Early might have been a good guy; but in the end he was just a typical cuck. Susan just needs the proper stimulus to cheat again, Once a cheater, always a cheater!!!

But I still think right at the end he should’ve divorced her and then started again.

She did need to be punished hard for her betrayal.

Well written.

Again, don't like the RAAC, but love Stickner getting his ass kicked. Good one.

Others

She cheated as soon as lingering over meals and discussion of personal matters

How much time she wasted

He was getting home before her and starting meals

Basically he great negotiator But he delayed going after John and he had facts

Also firm they covered for John and again he had evidence

And so on

3 stars and I feel I am being generous the way you wrote story

5/5 but, it was still a cuckold story and I hate them

No message

A little long,but well written and emotional. I still don’t understand two things. Why she spent 2-3 days in the guys bed is never clear. I think the only true explanation is she wanted to fuck the guy. The other thing is the law firm knew the guy was bad but protected him. Why didn’t they go after the firm. The one partner was his uncle and they were covering for him. Early never did use the dossier. But great story. Thank you

Reading all these continuations and alternate endings of this story makes the collection an adulterous Choose your own adventure tale! I did like this version but the secret military training/Rambo stuff is it's own little cliche here on Lit. Still was fun to read about Early transforming into that. But really the one thing i can't get our of my head is those two kissing and making up after John has been dealt with, the actual romance of it all and the smell of that assholes VOMIT on the floor. I don't know about you but I kind of imagine Early and Susan kissing and then suddenly projectile vomiting from the smell. But that's just me. ;-)

How High A Price: An Extra Long But Still a Pathetic RAAC Cuck Tale

This is the "Early as a whiney, needy bitch" version. Writing him as having a "dangerous, secret" time "in service" and as beating Stickner doesn't make Early any less weak. He is thoroughly pussy-whipped. Imagine your wife with cold blooded premeditation deciding to play "wife" with someone for three nights and two days (note that the alcohol was not a significant factor the first night and nothing at all for the rest) as a payoff for help at work, lying to you about her whereabouts, and treating the whole thing initially as something that was a "mistake" that you need to get past.

That betrayal couldn't be any worse and couldn't show any more disrespect, disloyalty, or lack of love than it did. Instead of acting decisively to cut the cancer out of his life, Early goes full on Oprah/Dr. Phil, with an assist from the idiot "May" (Early's internal and external dialogue in the first few pages is nearly nausea inducing). Early simply isn't written credibly or consistently. The man who beats Stickner would not be the whiney, little bitch written for the first 7 pages or so.

Susan is also a problem as a character. LW abounds in stories in which women are written as lacking moral agency. Here all the "factors that came together" - Early not being around to party, Early not being able to talk on the phone during the work day when she wants, her gratitude to Stickner, being in "a separate world" in connection with work, etc. - are the excuses of a not very bright 8th grader. Objectively, Stickner had her right - she's easy and willing to whore herself out. Early, on the other hand, does not seem to be as disturbed as a normal man about having a whore for a wife.

This version is clearly a RAAC, rather than a credible reconciliation.

But I can believe, I know, that an experience like that changes a person. Early will spend the rest of his life reclaiming himself and the man he was. I think I feel more sorry for him in this version than I do in the others I've read.

Nicely done. Other versions have made Stickner a sympathetic, even deserving, character. You not only exposed him for the s.o.b that he truly was, but gave Early the opportunity to deal with both him and Susan in the most effective and satisfying ways. I'm sure that there will be critics who will call you a wimp for reconciling with Susan instead of burning her, but that just wouldn't be true to the character that you created. 5 stars.

Just too long to conclude with hubby forgiving the selfish and shameless slut. Just another writer enjoying making husbands cucks and all wives sluts. Ridiculous

That whole conversation with May was so ridiculously male. It made assumptions about women and female behavior based no where in reality. The glass ceiling is true but comparing a traffic ticket with pretending to be someone else's wife is pretty fucking hilarious.

Well thought out ending to Troubador’s set-up. Nice job. Could use some additional editing. The improper use of loose for lose, set for sit, and except for accept detract from the reader’s enjoyment.

Don't understand RAAC stories. So what, Early beat up Stickner, big deal. Susan still happily slept with Stickner and only got upset because Stickner lied to her. She is still unfaithful, she still betrayed him, and only regrets that Stickner was not the person he represented himself to be.

I would want nothing to do with her

Probably one of the best stories I have ever read.

Those who don't like the way hubby handled the situation need to rethink their attitude. We all have mistakes we will pay for--one way or the other. To forgive is not optional for a successful life.

5 stars! cd

Nobody has the self respect or testicular fortitude to write an honest ending here? Despite the previous comment, (that author is a well known cuck enthusiast) I ask again, what price was paid! The slutwife got her cake and ate it too. Balance the scales motherfuckers!!!....

Early ended up being nothing more than a wimpy cuckold anyway! That's all this story is about. Early took her back after she willingly fucked another man. She's just a cheating whore. All the lovey-dovey crap spoiled the story. I wish I could give negative stars for this shitty story !

"The husband here is not a voyeuristic wimp" i guess the definition of wimp varies but i think he a wimp for taking her back. yes he got his revenge on the guy but she willingly cheated on her husband. btw, your story is not that different from the stories u claim to not like.

Oh ffs drop the cuck shit you ridiculous fucks! That fucking crap is not a real reaction to human relationships, well not for anyone with even a basic level of maturity, experience or emotional intelligence. "Slutwife", Wimpy cuckold"- I mean Jesus Christ! I hate that this site is polluted by so many incel virgin fuckwits (and if your not it should be no surprise your divorced and/or your wife fucked the postman).

Whatever possessed 'The Trubadour' [English spelling] to call 'Early', 'Early'. Even though 'Early' came home early I found myself reading events that read early but were not early but only 'Early'. Oh Dear!. Enjoyed the 'ending' because that is what real love is,'Forgiveness.

I hope the restaurant they went to was not the same crappy Ponderosa chain we had around here. A lawyer should be able to afford better than that.

Please learn the difference between lose & loose.

A bit long but well writen and a good build up. Worth the 5 Stars!

Early came off as a tough guy while punking Sticker, but in the end, he just a pussy and a wimpy cuck because he let that slut back in his life.

Stickner had her pegged correctly, "you would fuck a snake if you believed it would help advance your career." But Early decides to forgive her anyway because cheating on your husband to get ahead is no different than speeding because you're late. Anyway, the battered Stickner is going to the hospital and telling the police that an irate husband lured him to their home and beat him in a fit of jealous rage: jail time for Early.

Good one.

Good writer, very poor story. If you write for your own pleasure then kudos. If you want to improve so people want to read your material, work on your story. Forgiving her in less than a week, becoming her counselor for self-esteem and then accepting a significant portion of the blame was nauseating. I like a good RAAC but this was not one. Again, good writing skills but the story line needs as lot of work.

Very good story and excellent ending. Probably upset a lot of the BTB trolls who don't understand what true love is because they've never had it.

Page 6, May tells Early "Well all YOU got to do is FORGIVE her, and take her somewhere romantic, and it'll all be better". Later she states May says "I'm not saying she didn't screw up badly or her actions don't have consequences". But that's just what she is saying. This is the whole crux of the matter with this putrid version.

If Early had testicular fortitude he'd take his recent raise, buy an Aston Martin Vanquish, and find him a proper side chick. As for the Anonymous who posted below this, all those words and you could have just said I'm a cucky boy....

Your writing is very good; but the RAAC/CUCK content almost made me sick!!! Early is a 100% pure CUCK!!!

Early is just q camouflaged cuck with a cheating whore for a wife. The rest of it is bullshit!

Ahhh, the cuck-a-doodle-doers are cuck-a-doodle-doing in the comments, as always. How mentally stunted are these mental cuck fetishists? "Duh, it ain't a good story if the guy who got cucked doesn't shit on the cheating bitch. I woulda kicked his ass and her ass both, since my brain has muscles. So you, writer guy, you're a fag cuck!!"

Please, save us from your puerile nattering. Every fucking story where a relationship survives, the same tiresome crap. Morons. If the story reads well, even if the ending isn't to your liking, it is a good story. Haven't you assholes read books before? Christ, some of the best books I have read consist of tales that are bleak and joyless, with moral imperatives trashed through grotesque circumstances. But the beauty of the novelist's work is in the evocation of the difficulty the situation presents, and the choices made in light of those horrors. To the extent an author makes a character's choices understandable and interesting, even if repugnant, that is good writing.

In the tale at hand, my major quibble was with the need to bump Early up to an unstated but clear "Special Forces" background. His physical ravaging of Strickner, while cathartic, was cheap, it lessened the value of the earlier bit where Early was contemplating how he would take Strickner down with information. Pummeling Strickner was too Neanderthal for someone who was as much a thinker as Early was written to appear to be, and it rendered the earlier exposition regarding Early's mental agility and talents meaningless. Bit of a shark jump there, but I suspect the author sacrificed his craft to salve the fervent (and apparently desperate) needs of the cuck-a-doodle-doers, who the author clearly underestimated in light of the comments posted here.

I have read the other Early story continuation efforts, and despite my quibbles, I believe this was a good effort. Early, though given that unfortunate turbo-testosterone boost, was captured fairly well, though he was not presented as being nearly as vulnerable to the loss he suffered as a result of his wife's obliviously cultish adultery in this version of his persona. Bdad, I will conclude, you write very well, but please don't set up a tale of mental agility simply to resolve it with punches, albeit powerful ones to the abdomen, the final take down should've made Early proud through deftness, not blood.

Thanks for the comments. I'll pass on this one. I hate cuck stories!

Too long

This was my third time reading this story. It's still one of my favorites. I read many of the comments of the die hard BTBers, and I smile. They are so predictable. I usually like a RAAC when there are children involved, this story is an exception where it was justified. Maybe the reconciliation was too quick, but in the end, who cares. The story was long enough. Susan messed up big time. Even if Early hadn't caught her, she was in trouble. John, was a pro. A real snake. I think Early once referred to Susan also as a victim and she was. Yes, she was guilty. Yes, she knew what she was doing. But she was conned by a real con man. That made the story more believable. If Stickner, was a likeable character, if he really had lost his wife, if he hadn't started spreading rumors, it would have been a more difficult sell. Then Susan would be guiltier (if there is such a concept). But Stickner was a snake, and I was rooting for Anderson to hear his confession at the end. Too late for Susan.

Worthless dragged cuckold tale of a wimpy husband and slut wife

This is a long story so before I get too far into it I'm going to give my impression. In Chapter 1, the author has positioned Early as the hard nosed negotiator described in the original story by The Troubador. Early is conflicted with the deep love he has felt for his wife all their married life and the pain of lack of value she paid to faithfulness in their marriage. The author positions Early as wanting to continue the marriage and determines what would be needed for that to occur.

Thus, I believe BDad has been true to the original and set the stage for his version of the ending.

Way way way too long. Why do writers produce such bullshit like this? How the hell is this 30k words

Poor, just fucking poor. A waste of time reading this crap

While I do think the reconciliation was too quick especially for a 10 page story overall I enjoyed it. I think this story overall meshes well with the story set up in the original, stays true to the characters, doesn't make the wife a complete unrepentant slut, and is overall a good read.

I think this is how the story should have progressed. True to the original characters and wellworth the read.

I will check if any more from this storyteller.

I did not mind it being 10 pages, because this is the best ending of all the others that I have read... and because you are a very skilled writer. HOWEVER, I wish Early had also owned a set of daggers, with which he could have removed Stickner's cock-and-balls from his body... maybe have an iron or some other flat metal surface that he could use to cauterize the injuries, and THEN send the asshole on his way. At least, that is what I would do to any man (or woman) who tried to take my wife from me. But then again, I am not a very nice person. :)

OK, my two cents:

The story was well written and stayed very true to the original characters, but I believe it was too long in length. Five pages or less could have got this done.

You could see that this was a reconciliation in the making from 10 miles out, at no time did I ever believe that Early was really considering divorce. EVERY time his hate and anguish was expressed, it was immediately followed up by a lengthy description of how much he loved her.

I didn't agree with the author's shifting a significant amount of the blame for her cheating on Early.

Others have mentioned that on the first night she was drunk, but on awakening she fucked him again rather than being over come with guilt. Followed by openly lying to Early about her whereabouts, and spending ANOTHER night in asshole's bed. She had justified her cheating as a necessary payment to be given to asshole for services rendered.

It was not a case of a woman being seduced with alcohol, she spent DAYS deciding how to personally thank asshole.

We are led to believe that Early (I hate the name - confusing) is deciding whether to keep her, he is not. He spends his thoughts trying to decide how to justify keeping her.

Big difference.

Still, I tip my hat to a very good effort. Thank you.

I read the story very closely. Then read all.of the comments. Lots of them there are. Some going back more than 17 years.

I understand where some people like reconciliation stories no matter what the situation is. And then there are those who look at every guy who stays with a cheater as a cuck, a wimp, or a fag.

I fall somewhere in the middle.

The set up to this is a wife who willfully and knowingly lies to her husband repeatedly over the course of 3 days about where she is at and what she is doing. A woman who supposedly has a good marriage. A loving relationship with her husband. An intelligent and educated woman.

Yet she decides to cheat on her husband in the worst way. Not a one night stand where alcohol impairs her judgement causing her extreme pain for the slip up. No. It was a premeditated decision. Including things like dismissing her assistant at work for 2 days so she wouldn't know. Or guess. Packing an overnight bag. Being cooly able to lie about her whereabouts and doings on the phone with Early. And spending 2 to 3 days alone with another man...acting like his wife.

Worse was her reasoning...trying to "pay him back" for helping her on the account and then for helping her get promoted so she would make more money. That makes her a high dollar whore.

In this version you have Early turning out to be a retired secret operative of some kind...in a past life he was accustomed to violence. And he has a dark side.

And he appears to lay down the law to his lying attorney wife. Dictating to her terms as to what must happen if the marriage is to survive. And through his soul searching he decides he still loves her. That he wants to try and salvage the marriage. That's a legitimate line of reasoning to take. Despite what the BTB crowd thinks.

But then there is the whole conversation with his secretary? Somehow her cheating gets twisted up as his fault? His wife is working 70 hour weeks...yet it's his fault he isn't romancing her more and taking her on exotic vacations? So it his fault that she felt like she had to go fuck a guy she works with? And then line of reasoning about making mistakes...equating getting a speeding ticket when worried about getting to a family function late...with her cheating on him for 3 days with another man and lying about it? C'mon. A man like Early is really going to accept this argument?

They had a good marriage. A loving relationship before this. Yet it's now his fault she cheated, and "anyone can make a mistake like speeding. That's the same as fucking a partner at the law firm in order to get a promotion." Wtf? And this conversation helps to change his mind?

And let's be real. Early had serious doubts about John's story from the get go. He didn't buy into it all. And then it's verified that the guy is a player. Yet he goes home mere DAYS after she had sex with the guy...and Early has sex with her?

I don't think so. Early was a problem solver who had just been.promoted for his skills of figuring out the best ways to negotiate. And he was going to be the head of security...former militsry agent of some kind. And you don't think he will be worried about getting HIV? Or gonorrhea? Or Herpes? Or any other STD? He's just gonna fuck her before she is tested?

And he goes to all the trouble of getting separate beds as a consequence of her actions so that she realizes on a daily basis she is physically separated from her husband. A man of decisive action.

Yet he is back having sex and sleeping with her days after her affair? No counseling. No therapy. No time out from physical contact.

Nope...less than 96 hours after she walks through the door on Saturday as a contented liar and cheater...and they are rutting like animals and then showering together?

I'm sorry thse are serious contradictions in the character of Early. They do not make sense. An frankly are huge flaws in the story.

I am not against reconciliation in this case. The author writes well despite some grammar and spelling and vocabulary issues. But the story could easily have progressed without them engaging in sex that quickly. Also without the bullshit about it being partly Early's fault she cheated.

It easily could have been that they find a counselor or therapist and go through the actual months long process that a real couple would have to endure in order to be able to recover the trust required to engage in loving relations again. With much pain and self exploration they could get back...but not 4 days later with a character like Early as written here.

For me...these flaws were near fatal to.the story. 3 stars.

Was hilarious when Early had to ELI5 the concept of adultery to a seemingly mentally challenged spouse. His rationale occasionally seemed bogus, like when professing his love for her, just missing the trust and respect. Curious as to what love feels like without trust and respect. Infatuation? Dependence? Nostalgia? Although maybe he's just playing mental gymnastics with himself to stay afloat.

A lot of words used, a lot of encounters nicely fleshed out, but for me, Susan still feels off. She's supposed to be this intelligent hotshot lawyer, but she's clueless about stuff that everyone else in the office seems to know about, and she can't sniff out a sexual predator, which seems like a basic survival skill for any high-rising corporate woman. Instead, she spends the story being a dimwit Calamity Jane, constantly agape at the consequences of her dumbassery.

Yeah, the reconciliation was sped up and dubious, but unravelling the enigma of her character would have been more satisfying. Whether they stay together or split up didn't feel as consequential. Anyway, seems like Early had already decided to stick around from the get-go. Just had to do the whole guest bedroom and twin bed routine to try save face.

It just doesn’t work. No matter how you try to spin by doing a snidely whiplash on the senior partner; the wife is no pell pure heart. Nope throughout both tales her actions of this whole weekend episode; the extensive preplanning: putting her Secretary on vacation, the lying phone calls the wild sex and her husband role playing intimacy during the weekend and the emotional intimacy is underlying her feelings that she owed it to her boss. Nope you can put lipstick on the pig but it is still a pig..: Nothing in either story materially affects the reality that underneath all the tears and temporary histrionics she is a cold calculating legal shark. Given that truth the story entire logical foundation of this sequel collapses and the husbands forgiveness is nothing more than dangerous nonsense. I particularly find the senior partners statements concerning the wife’s single minded pursuit of the affair to gain the power and prestige of her advancement at ANY price and her guilt ridden over the top reaction to those words to be particularly revealing. She is almost schizophrenic showing cold calculating evil one minute and sobbing sloppy repentence the next. She eminently a cold legal shark who has proven she can and will do anything to get her advancement.

In that light she has and will continue to betray her husband when it suits her selfish ends. His Pollyanna blinders guarantee the marriage is toast. He may be an alpha but his unfounded and his unwarranted continued trust in this eminently faithless slut prove him to still be a clueless wimp who dooms himself to a life chain of cuckold betrayals

Really entertaining. OK there were some hard to swallow things but this is a fantasy, a story. It doesn't have to be beyond reproach. My beef is with "Early half drug half walked him to the door". The word is "dragged' Drug is a noun, dragged is a verb. I realize their are strange words that are used in certain areas, but drug is just so wrong, Now that I've ranted I'll score you with 5 stars,'

Too long.

When you have a story too long, do not put "long" in the title.

It creates expectations.

Fantastic enjoyed it. Took lots of twists and turns

Through the smoke and mirrors, Early is just a cuck taking back a slimy cheating slut for a wife. This is a worthless RAAC story that is not worth rating so it's a 1 star.

Good story, but I didn't find it believable. The Susan character wasn't just misguided. Her choices clearly reflected a relative morality favoring her career as the paramount interest. Fidelity was a convenience and not a foundational consideration. Simply put, no one could trust such a character in a relationship based on fidelity. And if the husband required fear to keep that fidelity, then it was coercion and not a trusting marriage. She was greedy and him a twisted fool.

Speeding and A planned weekend playing house is the same because they both involve unconscious decision making. Seriously. On what fucking planet is that even...

Okay look, I can accept a reconciliation in almost any situation of infidelity because I have observed some pretty messed up situations. The important aspect is whether or not there is contrition, a willingness to communicate, willingness to respect and honor and willingness to work on their relationship together.

I am not saying that a reconciliation here is unwarranted. A lot of the above was laid down as a firm foundation. But saying she cheated with unconscious thought is such a preposterous argument because she was cheating BEFORE the sex. The emotional connection she developed with John was as much a betrayal as the weekend. There is no way during the lead up and planned weekend that she didn't realize what she was doing. Didn't happen. Wouldn't happen. Believing she could get away with it, even convincing herself that the cheating was altruistic and not treachery is also very likely. At no point however does a woman plan a weekend playing wife do so unconsciously or subconsciously. That is just complete stupidity.

Only a cheater themselves or someone trying to delude themselves to ignore reality would come up with that. Lol. Speeding.

What a buffoon.

Utterly bogus bullshit. Regardless how you try to tortuously reframe the original conditions from the first tale; the wife is clearly a sociopathic self entitled slut who contemptuously engages in a coldly premeditated campaign of betrayal of both her husband and marriage to use a sex weekend with her boss to further her career The original story conditions preselect a BTB sequel given these conditions. Thus your RAAC is nothing more than specious nonsense shoehorned into replacing these foundational conditions in order to allow your happily ever after bull manure ending.

1 star for being disingenuous to the original story’s conditions.

Good grief... "How High a Price" is one story I thought could never be turned into RAAC garbage. I was wrong. BDad has to be a closeted homosexual.

Read it again, this is a hopeless story. It ends up being Earlys fault and he’s told he HAS to forgive her. What a load of self serving tripe.

Now scores 2/5 for being Cuck drivel

10 pages and it was, well, kind of a waste... you write well, just too fixated on worthless details. 2*

Great ending BUT she got off lightly When will they stop getting an attack of the stupids (jaybee186)

Good story just hope some of these cheating wives realize that some of us men keep secrets hidden

Waste of time. She's trash,like Stickner. No way Early gets away with beating that piece of shit almost to death, even though it feels good. Way too long for the quality of the story; it is the type of daydream 13 year old boys have (well not the cheating wife part but the quiet but heroic man beating his enemy's ass), sadly life isn't that way.

I have read several of the sequels/alternative endings to the Troubador’s story How High a Price. This is one of the best. The interactions are real and very emotional evoking. I was on edge most of the tome while reading. It has a few similarities to couple of others but does a great job. For those die hard BTB assh@!@$.so what if he decides to take her back and live with her, it’s his life don’t get all huffy. Everyone has a way of dealing and going forward just because others differ from you does not make them wrong. Probably makes them right 😏.

Anyway thanks for sharing a good story with us. John

Excellent, well written story. Ignore the bitter BTBs. 5*

Should be 5star plus if it was possible.

nice to see the good people won their way back to where they could start gain.

Well worth the long read to build all the pieces properly.

Nice story. Boring writing style. MC gives lengthy explains, while all the other characters are pitching him leading questions.

Why is the word "setting" used when it is patently obvious that the word should be "sitting". Is it just another example of people from the US being unable to use English correctly? Like their predilection for being unable to use the words me and I correctly. They say "me and Sarah " instead of the correct phrase " Sarah and I ". Very strange

From the outset the only person whose happy conclusion we should be conserned about is Early's! Everyone else needs to be boiled in their own sewage.

Excellent.

Ed

Five Stars! And that despite some spelling errors that detract from the flow. It is a shame there is nothing more from this outstanding author on this forum. As to "anonymous" from 21 days ago, I have traveled extensively in the UK, Canada and Australia and long ago realized that butchered English is endemic to the language, not to any particular place it is used. Insulting entire nations seems particularly harsh, even for this forum.

I guess you and others might think that all the terror and uproar, pleading and apologizing, talking about it and physical violence taught everyone a lesson and that they have all learned their lesson forevermore... not! Temporary justice and forced apologies only last so long until all is forgotten and lives revert back to their old staid self, someone gets bored and feeling useless. Just like the criminal that goes to prison for their crime for a period of time, gets out, finds life uncompromisingly harsh and boring, then reoffends to feel alive and excited. Fairytale endings are just that fairytales.

Very good story, best I have read here!

Best reconciliation story I've read and my favourite alt ending version of this classic story. You really hit home that kindness is not the same as weakness, 5 stars

you sound like a gay!

Long winded and very lame.

This is not what I expected given the lengthiness of this story. Early is portrayed as a character unable to deal with Susan in a way any betrayed husband would. On the other hand he is able to crush Stickner with his pinky.... And that crap that you need to forgive a cheating wife because of the unfairness in the corporate world? Come on......!!!!!

While I think the story was way to long and should have been broken into smaller bites to be more easily consumed. It wasn't my story so tough nuggies to me.

The story was great FTDS for the original. It was the best of all of them for me. The writing and RACC may not have been what I enjoy as much as other endings. The way this story was intertwined, it worked very well at giving details and assisting with the emotional flow. The awaking of thoughts being provoked from the wisdom gained by others experiences make this story realistic.

I can see where many are going to be complaining about the military aspect of Early's part toward the end. This story, being written at the height of the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan wars shows the mindset of the period. Unless you have been there done that, let the writer/story teller have their say. It is their story. Yes, there are people all over the world (not just in the US) with skill sets that most people will never believe. Those hidden skills tend to show themselves when least expected and always when needed.

This story's process is what makes life interesting. The ability to write these thoughts where the reader can create their own images are what make this story a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ read.

I don't know why the story teller only wrote 2 stories. However, I am glad to be able to read them.

Keep Writing

JH4Fun

Tough guy Early is just another cuck that is too spineless to kick the cheating whore out like she deserves. Worthless story.

Ending seemed a bit off. We already got that Early had changed. But the ending seemed very succinct and short while some of the rest of the story was long. I like some of the reveals. Not sure I understand the back story of "issues" in their marriage beforehand. I also don't understand why she thought he was abrupt and snappy when called about her likely promotion to partner. That was at the start of his business trip? Before Wednesday? That was left unanswered. She was very naive for such a supposedly talented lawyer. I get that alcohol may have influenced the first night, but playing wife for two days and three nights? Uggh. Yeah she was seduced but apparently quite easily. And yes she took the marriage and Early for granted. A laudable attempt at a reconciliation thought the ending was too abrupt and an epilogue would have helped immensely.

Really good

Almost in spite of the clichés and highly questionable statements such as those about corporate fairness, this story manages to give a very credible portrayal of females in the work place. Compartmentalized coexistence. Two separate lives lived in the same body each and every day with masks slipping on and off during the two commutes. It is likely that at the beginning of her career the mask is applied on the way to work, but all too often--and as with this story--a point is passed where the masking is switched and a mask is needed before arriving at home. The action in the vast majority of LW stories--as in this one-- are precipitated by the juxtaposition of the two separate realities. "Going unconscious" is, of course, exactly what happens. Becoming and then remaining aware of the triggers for that occurrence is the only way to snap out of it. Hence, the insistence by the hubbies on getting to the truth of what actually happened. The phenomenon has a name. It is referred to as "abaissement du niveau mental". Look it up.

LWlurker

A realistic view of life & probably the work place as it concerns a woman- especially one in a male dominated profession. Susan was wrong, definitely, but I'm happy to see Early took his share of the blame, even if it's possibly more than he should've. The writing- excellent, the storyline- well though out, & the dialogue was totally believable. The fact that John kept harassing them to the point of trying to force Susan to change her story, Early had no choice in what he had to do. I'm just surprised that he didn't hurt John worse than he did. And that THEY didn't call the police on him. The story showed the conflicts internally & between them. I'm hoping that, with this author only writing 2 stories, is that he's new. I'm about to read his other one, and if this story's any indication, I'll be thrilled. One of the few stories that 5 stars just isn't enough. Thank you, BDad Bob

This is probably the best sequel to the Troubadour's "How High a Price" on this site. Amazing for an author that only has two stories...

A good story even though I don't like stories about the strong, special forces guy protecting what's his.

Well done

I had to pause reading this travesty of literature to say one thing: Fire May. Her "advice" screams of a cheater explaining the excuses she used to justify her own bad behavior. She is not somebody you can trust, which makes her a bad choice for a job with such responsibilities. Maybe he can hire Jennifer. She seems to have a good head on her shoulders...

I'm not sure if you were trying to write an alpha beta or a beta alpha, but what you ended up with was a brainless turd as the husband. I guess bringing him down to the level of not deserving better than a cheating slut giving him an STD is the easiest way to justify a reconciliation.

I know I'm pissing in the wind, 18 years later but...

If this is the best of the sequels (2nd based on score) then I think I might avoid the rest.

Spelling and grammar were shot, setting? drug? champaign?

Changing names of characters - Susan to Sharon and Dan to Sam.

Despite the assertion that Early is not a cuckold wimp, he only takes on John when he has invaded his home and is directly threatening Susan. Up to the point he had done nothing but prevaricate over what to do, painfully so for someone that was supposed to be a problem solver and one with a mysterious history in the 'service'. How long would it have taken to send his dossier to John's firm? Especially his father in law? How long for his friends to find out where John's wife was and send her all the information plus Susan's story, including how John's wife died of cancer... then when he's been sacked and divorced, then hunting him down and taking a pound of flesh.

As for Early taking the blame, he did not spread her legs, he did not suggest she thank John, he may have been to blame for being complacent in their marriage, but then so was she and Early never slept with anyone.

No, dealing with John as he did and taking the blame that he did are moves often associated with the wimp and cuckold end of the spectrum.

This is three for three on the RAAC front, started reading this lot starting with the original and going through the alternates in chronological order, yet to come across a realistic ending yet, oh well on to the next.

I enjoyed immensely this story a few months back & went for another quick read. I'm not through with it yet, but some things hit me straight out. (Not sure if I commented on it or not, but here it goes.) One is punctuation. Too many commas leading to runon sentences. Other times, commas - & periods, are missing.

:: Conversation (Susan's explanation) sometimes's unbelievable. Some of Early's comments/ questions might be great in his field of work, but not between husband & wife; they seemed to be framed as that negotiation. As with other stories I've read, there's NO or little give & take. At the start, Early apologized for doing all the talking - why? And again when he interjected his thoughts. Bullshit!! No reason for him to apologize, & by doing so, makes him appear a bit weak.

:: Likewise, as she's talking about the act & her feelings - her marriage was like a movie - that comment was ignored. Seriously? I can't think of any of the people I know that wouldn't jump all over that. Likewise her "gift" to John. How'll Early know that won't be repeated sometime down the road, as a so-called late working night or just an overnight when he's away on business. In spite of her words, while I'm doubtful she'll repeat, it's far from assured. As such, I modify my earlier comment about the conversation: mostly but not fully believable.

:: Early's confrontation with John: nothing was done until after Susan quit her job, leading John to burst in the house & attack her. There should've been some scores to settle before that, which includes Early speaking with the CEO &/or HR - with or without Susan. This could've been done serving the firm with a lawsuit, whether or not Early intended to continue. Yes, there wasn't all that much time, but he did nothing until provoked. Another: once found that John's wife isn't dead, make her aware of her loving husband.

:: 10 pages I felt was too long, but truthfully, I'm not a fan for really long stories. My viewpoint. However, with the above, I'm keeping my rating; while I'm not loving the story as much as before, changing it to 4 stars would be, to me, a bit too much.. Bob

A probably realistic story about women in a mainly male-dominated workplace. They've to work 3x as hard as the men, & probably still taken advantage of. Being a male, I can only imagine by previous conversations, etc. That being said: one commenter stated that May should be fired.

... While I'm not sure I agree with ALL she said, she did give some good advice & pointers. Also, she's Early's right hand woman & seems to excel at that. So her firing would not only be ill advised, but also.... yes, tragically stupid. However, at least to my thinking, she didn't give a good enough reason for Susan's cheating. While it's a valid point linking Early's & Susan's feeling of accomplishment (or hoped), May's explanation for Susan's adultery lies flat.

... The conversations between husband & wife wasn't really realistic, but more like he'd use in his job. Should've been more hard hitting & not using what might be negotiating terminology. In doing so, Early didn't come across as "mighty" as he did in his confrontation with Stickner. Actually, Early should've spoken to the powers that be, perhaps even passing Susan after her resignation. Early didn't get out of his negotiation/ almost wimpy-husband part UNTIL Susan's phone call & Stickner's doings in his house.

... At the end, which I think was one of the high points of the story, she looks into Early's eyes; even though they returned to normal, she noticed a darkness. Well, gosh be it all, you don't go through what he went through & NOT be changed. Doesn't happen. The last line about disturbing a sleeping dog... reminded me of what (I think) a Japanese general said after Pearl Harbor's attack, about waking up a sleeping giant.

.... With what I wrote above, still an intriguing & entertaining story.

1 star - I always give a one score whenever there is any physical violence in an LW story.

The best revenge story is the one where he used a drone to dump a load of animal shit on the cheating couple through the open window on the roof of the car - now that was funny - can you imagine how bad they stunk? Especially, if it was pig shit - nothing smells worse. The car would have been written-off.

Interesting dialog and never skipped anything.

Well done !

I stopped reading when May started on the speeding comparison.

On the first page you had Early state that he wanted to stay married even though he had no details at that point. This was a clear signal that we were looking at another RAAC story. The major problem is that you write 9 more pages of boring dialog to try to convince the reader that the forgiveness was justified. This story could be improved by dropping the last 9 pages. And tell bacchant2, that I will continue to critique these free stories no matter how badly he twists his panties. If the authors don’t want or can’t take feedback then they can simply not publish.

No bad. Not really good either.

I mean how realistic is it for Early to tell her in the midst of rhe most anguish filled part of their story..."maybe its time we should try for a little Susan or a little Early..."

Right. You just found out a few days ago that your wife whored herself to a coworker boss and is a lying cheating cunt...the fallout which causes her to quit her job...you don't trust her and aren't sure you can stay married to her?

And you are telling her that maybe it's time to start having kids?

Kind of lost me at that point.

Once again a fairly stupid or possibly delusional slut. Don’t know what Early did in the forces but it wouldn’t normally take that kind of operator 9 page to sort the arsehole stickner out. Although once it finally happened thought it was good

FANTASTIC STORY!!!!! You did it really well!!! Congratulations!!! 5 stars, of course ;)