Page 27 of Unfaithful

I didn't stop. I didn't even look back.

I had to go to Sara.

I called her, but her phone was off.

Panic surged through me as I searched everywhere. I drove to our house. Empty.

I called Bobby. Then Steve. Nothing. Archie didn't answer my calls. I even called her best friend, Emma, even though she was living in another country.

No one knew where she was.

Until I found out she was here.

And now, here I was. Waiting. Hoping.

A sharp sting burned behind my eyes. I squeezed them shut, forcing the tears away.

A sudden knock on my window jolted me. My head snapped up, heart pounding, to find Herston Lowe—Archie's dad—peering inside. "Come inside the house, Cole," he said. "Janet's making breakfast."

I hesitated for a moment. The reason I stayed outside was simple. I didn't want to impose on Archie's family, especiallywith a possible confrontation with Sara, even though they felt like my own. In many ways, they were more of a family to me than my own parents ever were.

But more than that, I didn't want to corner Sara and make her feel forced into facing me before she was ready.

Still, I needed her to know that I was here. Waiting.

"Come on, Cole," Herston said, his tone as kind as ever. "It hurt Janet when she found out you spent the entire night out here."

I nodded and stepped out of the car. Looking up at the big man—who was even taller than me—I offered a hesitant smile.

"Sorry if I'm imposing," I said sheepishly. "I didn't mean to bother you."

He let out a heavy sigh, placing a firm hand on my shoulder.

"I don't know what's going on between you and Sara, and I hope it's not what I'm thinking," he said, his voice laced with warning. "But Janet and I listened to her crying through the wall almost the entire night in the guest room."

His grip tightened slightly. "If you made a mistake and want to make this right, you have to do whatever it takes. But only if it's what's truly best for both of you. Especially hers. Not just what you want. Your wife comes first. That's what a real man does. You hear me, son?"

I nodded, knowing he was right. But the thought of letting Sara go, of truly setting her free, was unbearable.

Because that was what was best for her.

To free her from me, from my betrayal, from the wreckage I had dragged into her life.

And from the daughter, I was about to have with another woman—a child who would forever be tangled in our story.

But I could never let Sara go.

My heart wouldn't survive it.

Herston walked ahead, and I trailed behind, my heart hammering in my chest. A tense mix of anticipation and unease settled over me.

I braced myself for how Sara would react when she saw me.

I wasn't sure if I could bear the hatred and disappointment I feared would be in her eyes.

When we got inside, I excused myself to their powder room to freshen up. But I ended up staying there too long, staring at my reflection, my mind racing with what I should say to Sara, if she would even listen.

How would I be able to control myself? To stop myself from rushing to her, pulling her into my arms, and telling her how much I loved her? And how sorry I was?

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