Page 22 of The Edge Of Us

Allen sighed, rubbing his temples. “I can’t do this anymore, Corinne. Every day, it’s something new. Your paranoia, your breakdowns, the way you lash out at me for no reason. I have tried, but I’m losing myself in this.”

Something inside me snapped. “Losing yourself? I’m the one who’s losing everything! My sanity, my peace, my husband!”

“You lost me a long time ago,” he muttered, and the finality in his tone felt like a punch to the gut. He grabbed his keys and stormed out, slamming the door so hard the walls shook.

For hours, I tried calling him. My messages went unread, my calls unanswered. Panic set in, twisting my gut until I could barely breathe. My mind was spiraling, the worst thoughts taking hold. What if he never came back? What if he was with someone else?

Desperation clawed at me as I opened the tracking app on my phone. The little red dot blinked on a location I didn’t recognize—a house up on the hill. My hands trembled as I grabbed my coat and keys. I had to find him. I had to know where he was.

The drive felt endless. My heart pounded with every turn I took. The house was secluded, sitting alone against the backdrop of the dark sky. Allen’s car was parked outside.

I stepped out, my legs shaky as I approached the front door. It wasn’t locked. I pushed it open, stepping inside. The house was silent, but then—a sound. Muffled noises, soft moans. My stomach twisted. I followed the sounds, each step heavier than the last. My breath came in short, shallow gasps as I reached the bedroom door.

I pushed it open.

And my world shattered.

There they were—Allen and my best friend, Natasha, tangled together, his body moving against hers in a rhythm I once knew too well. My breath hitched, a strangled noise escaping my lips before I could stop it.

They froze.

Allen’s eyes met mine, wide with shock. He scrambled back, pulling the sheets around his waist. Natasha—no, she was nothing to me now—gasped, hands clutching her chest as she tried to cover herself.

“Corinne,” Allen started, his voice thick with something—regret? Guilt? I couldn’t tell. I couldn’t feel anything but the searing pain ripping through my chest.

“No,” I whispered, shaking my head. “No, no, no.”

“Corinne, please,” Natasha pleaded, her voice shaking. “This—it’s not what it looks like.”

I let out a bitter laugh, though it felt more like a sob. “Not what it looks like?” My voice rose, hysteria creeping in. “So you’re telling me I’m hallucinating now? Is that it?”

Allen reached for me, but I stepped back, disgust curling in my stomach. “Don’t. Don’t you dare touch me.”

“Just listen to me—”

“Listen to you?” My voice cracked. “You were supposed to be my husband, Allen! You were supposed to love me! And you—” I turned to Natasha, eyes burning. “You were supposed to be my best friend.”

“Corinne, I—” Natasha started, her face twisting in desperation. “I never meant for this to happen.”

That’s when I lunged.

I didn’t think—I moved. My palm cracked across her face so hard her head snapped to the side. She gasped, but I wasn’t done. Rage exploded from my chest like fire. I grabbed her hair, yanking her off the bed as she screamed. My fists rained down—slaps, scratches, punches—I didn’t care. I wanted her to hurt. I needed her to hurt.

“You bitch!” I screamed, sobbing between blows. “You disgusting, vile, fake bitch! You ruined everything!”

“Corinne, stop!” Allen shouted, trying to pull me off her.

“Don’t you fucking touch me!” I shrieked and slapped him so hard the sound echoed. His face whipped to the side. “You let this happen! You broke me!”

“Corinne, please!” Natasha cried beneath me, covering her face as I yanked at her arm again.

“Don’t say my name! Don’t you dare say my fucking name!” I screamed. “You were there when I got married, Natasha! You held my hand when I gave birth to my son! And all this time, you were sneaking around, fucking my husband like a slut in my shadow?!”

“I didn’t mean for this to happen!” she wailed.

I grabbed a lamp and nearly threw it at her before Allen caught it mid-air.

“Enough!” he barked.

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