Page 56 of The Hotel Room

They’d only ever been with each other.

He hadn’t just hurt their marriage—he’d shattered the kind of bond most people only dreamed about. The purity of it. The trust.

And for what?

A moment of weakness. Of selfishness.

What kind of man does that to the woman he loves?

The door opened, and Dr. Adler appeared, calm and composed as always.

“Kate. James. Come in.”

James forced himself to stand, his throat tight. Kate moved beside him, silent but graceful, her expression unreadable.

The walls felt even closer when they sat side by side on the therapy couch. The distance between them felt unbearable.

And all James could think wasI did this. I broke us.

Dr. Adler settled across from them, her calm gaze steady.

“I know this session feels uncomfortable,” she began gently. “But the fact that you’re both here speaks volumes. It shows a willingness to heal, even if that healing feels uncertain.”

James swallowed hard, feeling the words stick.Healing?

He wasn’t sure he deserved that.

Kate remained silent, her face pale but composed, her hands folded tightly in her lap.

So James spoke first, his voice quiet but determined.

“I’ve been working on myself. Trying to—trying tounderstandwhy I made the choices I did. Why I hurt you, Kate.”

She didn’t look at him.

He pushed forward anyway.

“I know I broke your trust. Ishatteredit. I—” His voice cracked, forcing him to stop and breathe before he continued. “I don’t expect you to forgive me just because I’m saying the right words. But Iloveyou, Kate. I’ve always loved you. And I don’t want to lose the life we built together.”

Silence.

For a moment, he thought maybe she wouldn’t respond.

Then, slowly, Kate’s gaze lifted, and when she spoke, her voice was quieter but no less devastating.

“Part of me wants to believe you. Iwantto believe you’re capable of being the man I trusted for all those years. But you already showed me that you’re not.”

James flinched, the ache in his chest unbearable, but he didn’t interrupt.

Kate continued, voice trembling but steady.

“We were supposed to be different. We were supposed to bespecial, James. We only ever had each other. That meant something to me. And you—” Her voice broke, her hand pressing against her stomach for a heartbeat before she forced herself to continue. “You didn’t just cheat. Youtooksomething I thought was sacred and turned it into a lie.”

James felt the ever present self-loathing tighten around his ribs like a vice.

She was right.

Hehaddestroyed that.

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