Page 56 of Unfaithful

"Don't let Cole's selfishness, his blindness, make you question your worth. His failure to appreciate you says everything about him and nothing about you." He shook his head, exhaling sharply. "You gave him love, loyalty, and everything in between. If he was too foolish to see that, then that's on him—not you. Remind yourself of that, over and over again. Especially in the moments when doubt creeps in. Do you hear me, Sara?"

I nodded, swallowing a lump in my throat.

"I'll be reminding you of that regularly," he said seriously.

I grinned. "Okay."

"I don't care if it annoys you or if I sound like a broken record."

My grin widened. "Okay."

Archie turned the car down a narrow road lined with towering trees, their branches arching overhead to form a natural tunnel. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting shifting patterns on the pavement. The farther we went, the quieter it became, the hum of the main road fading behind us. For a moment, I wondered where he was taking me.

Then the trees opened up, revealing the side view of a small café tucked at the edge of a slow-moving river. The building was simple, with dark wooden beams and large windows that reflected the soft morning light. A narrow stone path led to the entrance, bordered by wild grass and scattered flowers that looked like they had grown there naturally.

Beyond the café, the river stretched wide, its surface broken only by the occasional ripple. A wooden deck extended over the water, with a few tables and chairs arranged neatly, offering a perfect view of the landscape. It was peaceful. The kind of place people stumbled upon by accident and never wanted to leave.

"You're right," I murmured, leaning forward to take in the view. "The inside looking out must be breathtaking."

"Come on." He pushed his door open. "It's still early, so there won't be too many people yet."

I stepped out of the car, stretching as I glanced around. "How did you even find this place?"

"Julian," he said simply. Julian was his younger brother. "John and Jeremy were his friends first."

Archie walked ahead, familiar with the place, while I took a moment to take it all in. I followed him up the stone path, my gaze drifting to the river behind the café. The water moved lazily, reflecting the sky in rippling shades of blue and gold.

As we reached the entrance, the glass door swung open with a soft chime, releasing the warmth of roasted coffee and freshly baked bread. Archie held the door open for me, and I stepped in, taking it all in before glancing at him. "I see why you brought me here. It's really nice."

He studied me for a moment. "Are you cold?"

I shook my head.

"If you want, we can sit outside on the deck," he suggested, nodding toward the back. "It's nicer out there. Good view, fresh air."

I glanced toward the large windows overlooking the river. Sunlight filtered through the trees, casting a golden glow over the wooden deck.

"That sounds perfect," I said.

The café was empty, and Archie just walked through like he owned the place. The owners must be in the kitchen at the back, judging from the pleasant smells.

I let out a long, contented sigh. "I'm glad you brought me here," I admitted, glancing at him. "Even though I still haven't washed my face, brushed my teeth, and look like I just rolled out of bed."

Archie grinned. "Oh, right. I forgot to stop at a convenience store."

I was about to respond when the café door swung open, and two guys stepped out. One of them immediately called out, "Archie!" while the other just smirked knowingly.

Archie stood and walked over to them, exchanging one of those complicated handshakes guys always seemed to understand but absolutely made no sense to me.

"Guys," Archie said as he strolled back to me. "This is my friend, Sara."

He gestured to the one wearing a black-and-white checkered flannel shirt, his long hair tied up in a man bun. "This is John."

Then he motioned to the other guy, dressed in a simple black shirt, a pair of jeans, and a baseball cap. "And this is Jeremy. They're brothers."

Both of them had that same rugged look as Archie—tattoos peeking from beneath their sleeves, a certain edge to them that made them seem effortlessly tough.

"Sara?" John said in a low tone, almost as if he was confirming something. "TheSara?"

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