Page 31 of Unfaithful

Bobby took another cautious step closer to me. "Sara, we wanted to tell you. Steve and I—we did. But we didn't want to hurt you."

"Bullshit!" I roared. "You didn't protect me. You betrayed me. You hurt me by lying, by standing by while he..." I flung a hand toward Cole, my voice trembling, my breath hitching as I fought to steady myself. "While he fucked around behind my back. Day after day, for how many months? Or was it years?"

I faintly heard Janet and Herston's sharp gasp.

My voice cracked, but I didn't stop. "And you—" I looked at each of them, my chest heaving. "You celebrated his infidelity. You supported his lies. You cheered him on—'Go ahead, screw around. Fuck Sara. She won't suspect a thing.'"

I let out a sharp, bitter laugh, the sound hollow and broken. "And I didn't. I didn't suspect a damn thing. Because I trusted you. I trusted all of you."

"Sara," Steve murmured, looking devastated.

Screw him. I used to be fond of the freckled, ginger-haired man. I thought he was fun and kind. I thought he was my friend.

"We found out only after she got pregnant. We didn't—" Steve was abruptly cut off by Janet's sharp, stunned squeal.

"What the hell!" Janet shrieked, whipping around to Cole. She jabbed a finger in his direction, her face contorted with outrage. "I'm disappointed in you. Very disappointed! Oh my God, Cole!"

"Mom," Archie warned, but she didn't seem to hear him.

"I can't believe this. Cole, you asshole! How could you?"

"Dad, get her out of here," Archie muttered. Without hesitation, Herston grabbed his wife and led her toward the back of the house, her furious muttering trailing behind them.

"I'm sorry, Sara," Bobby said, her tone heavy with remorse. "Steve and I—we're both sorry."

"We're here because we want to tell you in person how sorry we are," Steve said. "We know it was wrong to keep it from you. But we didn't know what to do."

"I don't understand," I whispered, shaking my head. "How could you act like nothing was happening? How could you laugh with me, pretend everything was normal?"

"It's my fault," Cole finally spoke, stepping closer. "I asked them to stay silent. Bobby and Steve wanted to tell you. They kept pressuring me to tell you." He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "But I couldn't."

He reached for my hand, but I yanked it away.

"I didn't want to lose you," he whispered.

I scoffed, the sound sharp and bitter. "You should've thought of that before you stuck your dick in a whore's cunt."

This time, it was Archie who gasped, startled by the harshness of my words.

"Sara," Cole stepped closer, but I moved away. His voice cracked. "I am so sorry. I won't ask you to forgive me. I know I don't deserve it. But if it takes my whole life to prove that I'm worthy of your love, then I will spend every second trying, even if you never look at me the same way again. Please give me a chance."

"Too late for that, Cole," I sighed tiredly. "Don't waste your time."

Then I looked up at him, my eyes burning with fury and pain. "I hate you. With every beat of my fucking heart. And I will never forgive you, Cole. No matter what." My voice trembled, but I refused to break. I lifted my chin, forcing steel into my words. "You didn't just break my heart—you shattered it beyond repair. And now, I want you out of my sight."

I turned to Bobby and Steve, their faces frozen in stunned silence. "All of you. Get out of my sight!"

Herston suddenly appeared behind me, his voice sharp and commanding. "Out. Now!" he barked, his glare settling on Cole. "You too. Get out!"

*** *** ***

I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, my body heavy against the mattress. Sleep refused to come.

My mind was a battlefield. Memories clashing, emotions warring, ghosts whispering doubts in the dark. I thought about the girl I used to be, the one who believed in love, in loyalty, in forever. She felt like a stranger now, someone distant, naïve.

I blinked, exhaling shakily. Had I always been this blind? Had love dulled the edges of reality until it was too late? How did I never suspect anything?

The house was silent, but my thoughts were deafening. I turned onto my side, curling into myself as if holding in all the pain would keep it from spilling over. I was already so tired, so damn tired of carrying this agony.

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