Page 24 of Unfaithful

"Oh, shit," he muttered. "Something happened, didn't it?"

Sara hesitated for a moment before finally nodding.

Dad's gaze flicked to me, unsure of what to do.

I turned to Sara. "Do you want to see him?"

"No." Her answer was instant, firm.

"Okay," I said. "Then I'll go out."

When Sara paused, probably worried I'd end up in a confrontation with Cole, I added, "It'll be fine. I'll try not to punch him in the face."

Her voice was almost breathless as she said, "Okay." The worry didn't leave her eyes, though.

I took my time walking out of the house and found Cole standing in front of his car, arms crossed, scowling at me.

The moment I stopped in front of him, he spoke. "Sara ismywife. She's coming home with me."

I raised a brow. "By home, you mean which one..." I let the words hang, making him spell it out. Was he talking about thebrownstone where they built a life together or Sterling Heights, where he built a lie?

"Don't fuck with me, Archie," he hissed. "This isn't your place to interfere."

I stepped closer, meeting his glare head-on. We were the same height, standing eye to eye, neither of us backing down.

"She's my friend," I said evenly. "She chose to be here for protection. From you. And I'm going to make damn sure she gets it."

"I need to talk to her," Cole said, softening his tone and changing tactics. "I'm going to wait here until she comes out."

I tilted my head, studying him. He looked utterly wrecked. Completely broken. It was as if life had been sucked out of him. Fear of losing her, jealousy of me, and raw desperation ripped through him, tearing him apart from the inside.

I understood that.

Sara wasn't someone you could just walk away from. You'd have to be a complete fucking moron to let her go.

"Suit yourself," I said. The night was closing in, but it was warm enough that he wouldn't freeze waiting outside.

I turned to leave, but his voice stopped me. "I know you're in love with her."

I sighed. Perhaps a confrontation was inevitable, anyway. I knew he wouldn't give up that easily.

"You've been in love with her forever," he went on. "But she never loved you back. She chose me. She married me. And now you see this as your opportunity to swoop in like a white fucking knight, saving her like some damsel in distress."

I spun on my heels, facing him again. I still didn't say a word to deny him, but my gaze was hard, daring him to keep going.

I wondered how far he'd push before I lost my patience.

"Her love for me is strong, Archie. It will never die, trust me. In time, she'll remember that and come back to me. I'll make sure of it."

"And what about the other woman?" I sneered. "You planning to have them both?"

"I'll leave Elsa," he answered without hesitation, his expression set with determination.

"Then what? Have Sara raise your kid with you?"

He didn't answer.

And then it hit me. My eyes widened. Fucking hell.

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