Page 105 of Unfaithful

And she achieved all of it purely on her own.

Sara proved she didn't need anyone, that she didn't need a man, or even a partner, to thrive. She was strong enough to stand on her own two feet. Strong enough to rise from the ashes and build something greater. Strong enough to leave the past behind and never look back.

The ruins I had made were all I had left to live with.

Elena lived with Leo now, in a house that had surprised me the first time I saw it. I had expected him to have a sleek, modern bachelor pad, but instead, he had a home. A real one.

A quaint three-bedroom house in the suburbs, warm and lived-in, with soft cream walls and a front porch that creaked under your weight. The kind of place made for family, not for a man who had spent most of his life living fast and reckless. But somehow, it suited him.

Nancy had moved in too, her presence as steady and reassuring as ever. She doted on Elena the way she always had, filling the space with laughter and lullabies, making sure she never felt the absence of the mother who had left her behind.

Leo had become a father in every sense of the word.

He fit the role effortlessly, as if it were always meant for him. He loved Elena instantly, without hesitation, without question. I still remember the first time he held her, how she had fit so perfectly in his arms, tiny and fragile, her blue eyes blinking up at him with curiosity.

And I remembered what I had thought at that moment."This is right."

She was with her father.

And I... I was nothing more than a man on the sidelines, watching a life I thought I could have slip further and further away.

Elena was already pushing herself up again, determined to stand on her own. Stubborn, just like her father.

"You ever get scared?" I asked, my voice thoughtful. "That you’ll blink, and she’ll be grown?"

Leo let out a slow breath, stretching his arms across the back of the bench. "Every damn day."

I let his words settle between us.

I never used to think about time, never caring about how fast the years passed. But lately, I felt it slipping through my fingers, disappearing before I could catch it.

Elena took another unsteady step, reaching for Nancy, who clapped her hands in encouragement. The little girl's entire face lit up with a grin.

"She's lucky to have you," I said.

Leo turned his head slightly, watching me. "That's supposed to mean something?"

I smirked, though it felt hollow. "It's a compliment. Take it."

He didn't respond right away, just looked back at his daughter. When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter. "Every kid deserves a father who's there for them."

I swallowed, forcing myself to nod as if I agreed—because I did.

Leo must have sensed where my thoughts had drifted because he said, "You're welcome to come anytime you want," his tone earnest. "I want you to be in her life, too."

I turned to look at him, searching for any trace of doubt in his expression. "You sure?"

"Of course." He smiled, the kind that wasn't just for show but held something real underneath. "You love her as much as I do."

My throat tightened.

Because I did. I loved her so very much.

"Thank you," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you so much."

Leo nodded, as if it was the simplest thing in the world. As if he hadn't just given me back a piece of something I thought was gone forever.

"And she's lucky to have you too, you know," he added with sincerity. Then, after a beat, he grinned. "Just... don't make her call you Dad, okay? People might get the wrong idea." He narrowed his eyes at me, clearly amused.

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