Page 116 of Unfaithful

And I prayed—fervently, desperately—on my knees beside my bed every night. I prayed for his safety, for his return. For fate to be kind and bring him back to me.

Then, out of nowhere, Archie called his dad to pick him up.

Now he was here.

And if our stars aligned, I was about to see him again.

I missed him. I missed him so much it hurt.

Would there still be a chance for us?

He said he would wait, but I told him not to.

I couldn't let him put his life on hold for me. Not when I was still unsure, when the pain was still raw, and my choices were still clouded by it.

It wouldn't be fair to him.

If he was there tonight, I had decided, I would tell him how I felt. I hoped, more than anything, that he still felt the same. But if he didn't, I would understand. A relationship built on uncertainty and hesitation wouldn't stand, and I still believed I had made the right choice in telling him to go.

I didn't regret it. Keeping him close to me while I was still drowning in pain would have only hurt him more.

But I was still grateful for his unwavering care, for the love he had given so freely. No matter what the future holds, I knew I had been truly blessed to have him in my life.

My phone rang, and I saw Emma was calling. It was time.

I felt a rush of nerves as I grabbed my bag and left the office.

Outside, I spotted Julian's car, and Emma had rolled down the window—her head peeking out as she waved at me. For a split second, I wondered if Archie might be there, but then I shook my head. No, that couldn't possibly be.

I slid into the car, and the couple cheerfully greeted me in unison, drawing a small smile from me. They were so in sync, it was impossible not to notice how they felt toward each other.

Julian shifted into gear and pulled onto the road, but I barely registered the movement. My mind was elsewhere, tangled in a web of questions. What would I say? What would I do? And the scariest thought of all—what if he said no?

Julian and Emma chatted quietly in front, but their voices were just a distant hum. They seemed to understand that my mind was elsewhere and didn't try to pull me into the conversation.

Before I knew it, Julian pulled into the parking lot beside the café. The drive, which should have taken around forty minutes, felt like it had passed in the blink of an eye. My nerves had swallowed up any sense of time.

Emma and Julian stepped out of the car first, and I followed. Emma waited for me to catch up, linking her arm through mine and offering a reassuring smile.

"Julian wasn't sure if Archie would come," she said. "He said nothing when Julian mentioned the party... or that you'd be here."

I nodded, swallowing down the nerves tightening in my throat as we walked together.

Inside, the café was already bustling. It had been closed for the event, reserved only for John and Jeremy's guests. I scanned the room, searching through the unfamiliar faces, but he wasn't there.

Julian appeared beside me, draping an arm over my shoulders. "Just enjoy the night, Sara," he said. "These are good, fun people. Just have a good time."

"Okay," I said weakly, forcing a smile.

I walked up to Jeremy, wished him a happy birthday, and then did my best to enjoy myself. Emma and Julian stayed close, and I was grateful for their presence, but after a while, I needed a moment alone.

I exhaled softly, feeling the weight of my nerves pressing down. "Emma, Julian," I said, turning to them with a small smile. "You don't have to stay with me the whole time. Go and enjoy yourselves."

Emma gave me a hesitant look, but I reassured her, "I'm just going to step out onto the deck for some fresh air, okay?"

Without waiting for their reply, I stepped outside, immediately met by the crisp night air. It wasn't windy, just cool enough to bring a slight shiver. The sky was clear, the moon casting its silver glow over the gently moving river. I walked up to the fence, watching the water ripple, its surface reflecting the soft light. Slowly, my restless thoughts settled.

It's okay, I told myself. If he didn't come, it's okay. I was the one who let him go. He had every right to move on with his life just as I was trying to move on with mine.

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