Page 53 of Unfaithful

He just stared at me, speechless, as if he didn't recognize me anymore.

"What makes you think I'd ever take you back? That I'd willingly tie myself to you, your mistress's child, and get tangled up with the worst bitch to ever walk the Earth?"

Still nothing. He was still staring.

"The world is wide open for me now, Cole. I'm still young. I have time to start over." I pulled my hand from his grasp, but he didn't even seem to notice. His eyes stayed locked on mine, darkening before he finally looked away. "But you? You'll spend the rest of your life living with the mess you made."

It wasn't easy to say all that. My heart was in pieces, shattered beyond repair. But I refused to let it show. I stayed strong because he didn't deserve to see my pain. He had no right to it.

He was nothing to me now. Nothing.

"And I'm going to be fine," I continued, my voice gaining strength. "I have people who care about me. But more than that, I am strong, Cole. You know I am. You don't get to break me. I will pick up the pieces of myself that you shattered, and I will come out stronger. Watch me. I'll prove it to you."

His shoulders slumped, his hands gripping his knees. "I love you," he whispered as if those words still held weight. "I'm so sorry I hurt you."

Silence stretched between us, heavy and suffocating. He didn't seem to know what else to say.

Then I stood, smoothing down my shirt, feeling lighter than I had in days. "I'll pack your stuff and send it to your office," I said simply, turning toward the door. "Maria will be in touch."

I left Cole sitting in my bedroom, drowning in the sorrow of his own making, and walked out without another word.

Downstairs, I found Archie and Emma waiting. Both had their brows furrowed in concern.

Emma rushed to me, wrapping her arms around me and stroking my back. "Are you okay?"

I nodded, but suddenly, I couldn't speak. My throat felt tight. I refused to cry here. I refused to let Cole see me break.

"You are the strongest person I know, Sara," Emma said softly. "You can get through this. You'll kick his ass to the curb. And if you need help, I'm more than willing. Honestly, I'm itching to kick something right now—preferably his face." She sighed wistfully. "I'm picturing it. Kicking him right in the face. That would be so satisfying, wouldn't it?"

She pulled away slightly, studying my face. "Cry, babe. Just cry. Lock yourself in the bathroom and let it out. No one will hear you. Scream if you have to. And while you do that, I'll be right here, waiting for him to come down so I can kick his face." She paused, tapping her chin in thought. "Actually, scratch that. Better to kick him in the groin. That's where all the trouble started, didn't it? And if he retaliates, Archie can protect me. He's bigger than Cole."

I smiled at her. My lunatic best friend.

And when she said she wanted to kick Cole's groin, I knew without a doubt she meant every word.

"Take me somewhere," I said to them. "Anywhere. I just need to get away for a while." My voice wavered, the weight of everything pressing down on me. It was too much. I needed space. I needed to hold myself together before I completely fell apart.

Emma's face fell slightly. "I can't. Ben is coming over—said he's bringing all of us breakfast." Ben was her on-and-off long-distance boyfriend who lived not too far from me. A good guy. Cole and I had met up with him for drinks from time to time.

"Go with Archie," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument. Squaring her shoulders, she set her expression withfirm determination. "I'll make sure Cole doesn't overstay his welcome."

She all but shoved Archie and me toward the door, standing her ground like a soldier ready to defend her post.

"Okay," I said, secretly hoping—really hoping—she would actually kick Cole in the groin.

I slipped my feet, still in socks, into my sneakers and stepped outside first, still wearing the shirt I had slept in, layered with a cardigan and paired with pajama pants. I didn't look back.

Archie was right behind me, his presence steady and grounding. When I glanced up, he was already looking at me, a soft smile on his face.

"Let's go, Peaches," he said. "Let me make your day."

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Sara

"Where are we going?" I asked Archie after we had been on the road for a while. He was driving leisurely along the highway, his hands relaxed on the wheel.

I leaned toward the window, watching the scenery blur past. "Are we going out of town?"

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