Page 122 of Unfaithful

Sliding on top of me, he rolled his hips in a slow, teasing grind, his face buried in the crook of my neck as he kissed and licked along my skin.

"Let's do that."

EPILOGUE

Sara

Three years had passed, and my life with Archie felt like a dream.

Every morning, I woke up to the warmth of his embrace, the soft brush of his lips against mine, and the quiet promise of another beautiful day together. Then I would find his eyes watching me, softening as they took me in, shimmering with unwavering devotion and glazed with undeniable desire.

Our life was simple, yet filled with laughter, late-night talks that stretched until dawn, and the kind of love that felt steady, peaceful. I was living in heaven.

Archie had left behind the dangers of his old life, choosing instead a path that kept him closer to home, closer to me. Even though sometimes, I caught a flicker in his eyes—a longing for the adrenaline, for the rush of chasing stories in places most people feared to go. I knew he didn't regret his decision, but I also knew that part of him would always reminisce about the man he used to be.

But besides wanting to be with me all the time, he also said that the trauma of his last deployment had made him pledge to himself that he would never take on that kind of job again. So, I shouldn't worry.

We had built something substantial, something worth holding onto. I believed this happiness was ours to keep.

It was more than I could ask for.

I was a lucky woman.

Since our relationship began, I had been practically living with him in his new apartment. I knew he would feel out of place in my house, in my bed, surrounded by memories of my past with Cole, and truthfully, I found I liked being in his space.

I had lived nowhere else before, but moving into a new place with him felt like a fresh start, a new chapter just for us. And it was a beautiful one, indeed.

Archie and I got married last year. A quiet, beautiful ceremony at John and Jeremy's café, right by the deck, where the summer breeze carried whispers of love and new beginnings. With only a handful of family and friends surrounding us, it felt intimate, perfect, magical.

As I walked toward him, my heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and overwhelming love, Herston at my side giving me away, Archie leaned down, his voice low and filled with emotion as he whispered, "I'm the luckiest son of a bitch in the world. You're stunning, Peaches. The most beautiful woman I've ever seen. I love you so much, and I can't believe I get to marry you."

And then, with the sun dipping low in the sky, painting the world in shades of gold, we pledged our lives, our love and our souls.

He took both my hands in his. His vow to me was heartfelt and full of promise.

"Sara, you are my heart and the love that makes my world whole. You are my sun in the morning, my stars in the dark, my constant, my home. I love you in a way that words can barely hold—so deep, so fierce, it defies definition. I don't knowthe name for it anymore, only that it is endless, boundless, and entirely yours. From this day forward, I promise to love you, to stand beside you no matter what, and to cherish every moment we share."

And when it was my turn to speak, I had to swallow the lump in my throat, overwhelmed by the rush of emotions swelling inside me. But somehow, I found my voice, and I said a vow that was tender yet full of conviction.

"Archie, you've always been there, caring for me, protecting me, loving me. I know I didn't make it easy for you, but you never gave up. And you will never fully understand how much that means to me, how deeply I cherish your patience, your love, and your unwavering presence. Today, I promise to love you with all that I am, to choose you again and again, with every sunrise, every heartbeat, for the rest of our lives."

In that moment, surrounded by love, with our hands intertwined and our hearts beating as one, we became us.

Before the wedding, I called Cole to tell him the news that I was getting married. And then, I asked him if he wanted to come.

I really wasn't sure what the right choice was. Not inviting him felt wrong, like shutting him out completely. But inviting him? That would hurt him, and I knew it. Either way, there was no perfect answer, only a decision I had to make. So, I invited him. He said he'd rather not come.

I understood, of course.

But he was earnest when he wished me a happy marriage, and to my surprise, when Archie called him, he offered his congratulations. And as someone who knew Cole just as well as I did, Archie said he truly sounded sincere.

I no longer lived in my house. I had rented it out to none other than Julian, who now shared it with Emma, despite their relationship still being a mystery to me. Letting it go completely felt impossible, so I held onto it, unable to bring myself to sell it just yet.

Archie, ever thoughtful, bought us a beautiful four-bedroom house—another historic gem over a century old. He knew how much I loved homes with history, their character, their stories. Decorating it, making it ours, had been a joy.

And it was closer to my office, easing my commute, even though it meant a longer one for him. It was just one of the many ways he put me first, and I loved him all the more for it.

This house was the beginning of our forever. This was the life we were building together.

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