Page 123 of Unfaithful

I was now living my life with a calmer heart, more accepting of the unexpected, learning to trust and appreciate everything fate brought my way. I refused to let heartbreak or pain dictate my path; instead, I chose to move forward, to embrace the present, and to find joy in the life unfolding before me.

Because I came to understand that no matter how much you try to map out your life, the future will always remain uncertain. You could plan until your head ached, meticulously plotting every step, but fate had a way of unraveling even the most carefully laid intentions. In the end, life would take its own course, whether or not you were ready for it.

So, I learned to surrender, to welcome the twists and turns, the unexpected detours, and the lessons hidden within them. Instead of resisting, I chose to trust that every moment, every change, was leading me exactly where I was meant to be.

"Are you ready, Sara?" His quiet voice broke through my thoughts, and I looked up to find him smiling at me.

We were about to shop for furniture—for our baby's room.

Yes, we were having a baby. I was six months pregnant.

And it's a boy!

We decided not to wait. We weren't getting any younger, and somehow, the thought of starting a family filled me with excitement and anticipation. I was eager for the life we were building together to feel whole.

One evening, Archie asked me how many children I wanted. I told him, "Until we have a boy and a girl, then we stop making babies."

He smiled and agreed, because that was exactly what he had wanted too.

I slipped my hand into his waiting one, and together, we walked out of the house and toward our car.

The drive to the shop was fairly long, as I had chosen one of the biggest furniture stores in town. Given its size, it was in the suburbs, all the way to the other side of town.

When we finally arrived, excitement bubbled inside me, just as it did every time I stepped into this place. I beamed, practically giddy, like a child in a candy store, eager to explore every corner and find the perfect pieces for our baby's room.

"Okay, this place is huge!" Archie's eyes went wide as we stepped inside, looking around the place like he couldn't believe it. Then he turned to me. "Will you be alright walking around a place this big?"

"Of course," I replied immediately, my eyes gleaming with excitement as I glanced around. "Besides, we're only heading to the nursery section. I won't be wandering too far."

"You'll tell me if you get tired, okay?" he said, his brows knitting with concern as he reached out, rubbing my belly affectionately. "We'll find somewhere for you to sit and rest if you need to."

"Okay," I nodded, offering him a reassuring smile.

I was practically bouncing on my feet as we made our way there, my excitement impossible to contain. Archie chuckled beside me, shaking his head fondly.

But just as we were about to enter the nursery section, we passed through the young girls' section and that's when I saw something, or rather, someone, that made me stop in my tracks.

Cole.

He stood there, his attention fixed on a charming bed frame in a soft blush color, its padded back shaped like a cloud. The sight of him stunned me. It had been years since I'd last seen him, and I never expected to run into him here, of all places.

Archie noticed him, too. His steps slowed, and I could feel the same surprise radiating from him as we both took in the unexpected encounter.

But before we could do anything, Cole turned around—and froze.

I saw the way my name almost formed on his lips but never quite made it out.

I offered him a small smile and decided to walk over. Archie followed, staying close beside me.

Cole's eyes stayed on mine until they dropped to the noticeable bump of my belly. His gaze flickered, softening, but there was something else in it too.

Sadness. Maybe regret.

And strangely, I could feel it, too. Maybe because he had been such a big part of my past, I could still read him so clearly. I could still sense what he was feeling.

His smile grew, bittersweet but genuine. And somehow, that made it even more heartwarming.

"Sara," he breathed when I stopped in front of him. His eyes flickered down to my belly again. "Congratulations."

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