rm coffee. Her eyes, usually sharp and focused, seemed lost in the distant view. The decision she had made the night before still felt surreal, like a heavy fog clou

the day that ev

o confron

of the rain from last night, which had become a distant memory,

rly, but there he was, standing in the doorway of the living room, looking worn and defeated. His usu

his voice soft and h

t need to. The words had already bee

ut her chest tightened with every syllable. "I've thought abo

nt plea for her to turn around, to see the man who had once promised her forever.

cracked with emotion. "We can fix this. We'll work t

your choice. You've already chosen her. I can't pretend like I'm okay with this anymore. I can't pretend

gret that he hadn't been able to stop the hurt he ha

forward, his hand reaching for hers

er voice shaky. "Don't

the resolve in her eyes. The woman he had married, the woman he had once vowed t

nted to hurt you. I thought... I thought you could handle it. I t

"What I care about is being your partner, Kaelan, not your second choice. You didn't e

perate. "I never meant to hurt you. I love you. I do. But I need a

growing more forceful. "I care about us. I care about what we had.

n punched in the chest. Alesia could see it-the moment the realization hit him. He wasn't

want to keep this family. Because what you're doing... it's not just about me. You're about to lose everything. Your m

e pale. He seemed to deflate

turning away from him. "I'll be o

given him enough chances to make things right. She had given him

odical, but her hands shook with every item she packed into the suitcase. She had spent years building this life, and now

ought her on trips abroad, the ones she had worn on their anniversaries and celebrations.

d done wrong. But there was no fixing it now. She had given him everything, and he had brok

he door made

alled softly. "Ple

e barely above a whisper. "I've said e

pen slightly. She

shaking now. "I know I messed up. But

h catching in her throat. "I'm

e rain, her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly, tears threatening to spill over. She had no de

her mind in turmoil. Was she making the

e's second choice. She deserved more than that. She deser

, leaving behind everything she had known