“I was dealt a fatal wound, so thorough and so deep I barely made it out alive. And every time I thought about you two together, it felt like another stab wound was added to the rest. Every memory we shared… The mere sound of your name… God, it felt like my wounds were constantly being ripped open by your very own hands, Owen. Every. Single. Time. So yes. I stayed away, pushed you out of my mind to the point that, in my world, you no longer existed. BUT I HAD TO FUCKING SURVIVE!”

The temperature had dropped, storm clouds closing in overhead as if to appease my mood. My energy was waning, but he latched on tighter, lending me strength. The contradiction had my mind and body out of sorts.

As the first droplets of rain began to fall, I ran my fingers through Owen’s hair and stared down directly into his eyes. He was right there with me, ready to hear and take it all.

I sighed, the power draining from my voice, leaving only hurt behind. “You ask me why I didn’t fight for you? You didn’t fight for me first. Although the circumstances are different than I thought, it doesn’t change the fact that you let that vile snake come into our home and blindside me with the most incriminating accusation—which you didn’t deny. Why would I need to hear anything else after that? By keeping your secret, you gave her the opportunity to twist her own narrative and total our marriage in the process.”

I released my hold, grabbed his hand and pressed his palm to the centre of my ravaged chest. “At that moment, I didn’t just find out my husband had been unfaithful with my friend. It was far worse. You were having a baby with her, Owen. A baby who should have been mine. A family that should have been mine. A future that should have been mine.”

Then, slowly, ever so slowly, I lowered my forehead to his, our tears mixing together. “You ripped out my heart, baby. Tore it to shreds. Tell me… How was I supposed to piece it back together?”

By then, I was shaking, grief and memory consuming everything else, and when solid arms wrapped me up tight, I completely combusted in the embrace of my perpetrator as rain cascaded from the skies.

Chapter 22

OWEN

We were drenched by the time we reached my car. Jumping inside, I cranked the heater and shook out the water from my hair.

Alexis giggled… Fucking giggled.

I drove back to town with an inner hesitance. We didn’t say a word, but it wasn’t uncomfortable—more contemplative.