Page 14 of Mercy Lake

I was drowning in guilt and self-disgust, my only thoughts geared towards Alexis—how I would break the news to her, and what I had to do so she wouldn’t leave my pathetic ass. As you’d expect, I hadn’t come up with a solution.

A heavy knock sounded from the front door, and a sense of anxiety spiked through my system.

Alexis was at work, and our families wouldn’t bother knocking. So I didn’t have to guess who was on the other side.

My own personal demon had hunted me down—demanding my soul, no doubt.

Let’s get this over with.

I yanked the door open to find Everly on the landing, a pleasant smile on her face as if she was popping round for an innocent catch-up.Not today, Satan.

“Can I come in?”

“No,” I said, blocking her way. I stepped outside, slamming the door behind me. She processed my aggressive tone and gave me a wide berth, stumbling back a couple of steps.Don’t ever touch me again.“You’re not welcome in my house. Mywife’shouse. Whatever you have to say, you can say it outside.”

“Why are you being so hostile?”

“Because you’ve ruined my fucking life, Everly,” I hissed, keeping my voice low. It wouldn't do for me to start screaming, alerting the whole damn neighbourhood to our infidelity.

“So I take it you haven’t told her yet?”

“You’re still alive, aren’t you? That should give you your answer.”

“Well, when are you going to tell her so we can focus on us?”

Umm… what?

“Us?” I managed to splutter. My mouth was working on autopilot as my brain misfired.

“Yes.”

“What makes you think there’s anus?”

“Please,” she scoffed. “You imploded your entire marriagefor me.We wanted each other, and we finally gave in. It wasn’t the best timing, but we couldn’t hold back our feelings that night—the night we made love.”

“Made. Love?” I was frozen, my muscles taut as I tried to refrain from wrapping my fingers around her throat.How did I miss the fact that this bitch was delusional?

“That shit show could hardly be considered a quick fuck. I wouldn’t really call two sloppy, mediocre pumps the definition of ‘making love’.”

Fuck.I was going to be sick.

I started pacing, pulling at my hair while she remained serene and calm on my front lawn. She was looking at me as ifIwas the crazy one.

“Everly, what the fuck do you think happened? We were drunk, and I thought you were Alexis.”

“At first,”she snapped. I was stunned into silence when Everly straightened, expression resolute. “You thought I was Alexisat first. Then, when you realised it was me, you still kept going. You kept making lovetome.”

How do I keep fucking up my life? It’s never-ending. Maybe I am cursed?

“Everly,” I stressed. “I may have processed for a split second that it was you, but you aren’t Alexis, and will never bemyAlexis. I cut that shit and left. Don’t make the worst night of my life more than what it was. You fucking took advantage of me, and I’m going to tell Alexis exactly how it happened.”

“While you’re at it, you can also tell her that I’m pregnant… with your baby.”

Instantly, all my fight fell away. My thoughts fell away. My whole world justfell away.

How could one statement, a measly couple of words decimate me so completely? My mind ignited in a rapid-fire sequence.

I was already in hell, but now I was truly committed to an eternity in purgatory.

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