on me. Standing in the doorway, engaged in a quiet struggle for control, was Lucas and Sophie. She exuded confidence, a co

d to have cast over him, but I pushed myself to remain composed, to control my emotions.

voice strained, "Sophie." "

I watched the way her eyes hardened with disdain as they fl

loved in the past and the one he was meant to be starting a life with, he found himself stuck in

nward. "Do you intend to acknowledge all the

tatements a small bend with her head. "Subversio

You've been deceiving Lucas about me and our relationship from the begi

t. Claire, you're not understanding me. You really cannot under

m aware of what we used to

s face as he reason

under the surface was barely under control. I could see how afraid he was; he'd al

more, Sophie," in a calm voice that now h

we have discussed this. You are aware that we are meant to

he confident, strong, and unwavering guy who existed before all of this chaos. "Whatever we have is

the first hint of true panic. You don't m

ks on me. The one person I should have trusted above all others-my wife-was called

start to break like sand between her fingers. Sh

ruin what's left of my marriage because you're feeling nostalgic.

hocked expression on her face and big, bewildered eyes. I

er, I

nguish. "Sophie, you've had your pleasure. You've done enough harm after playing your g

arrowed. "Don't you believe you've won? Do you believe

n. "Sophie, I don't need to 'win'." This is not a contes

rmulate a reply. However, I could see by the look in her eyes that she was losing.

almost imploring. Please refrain from doing

. "Sophie, I already did. I chose Claire, and I married her right then. I a

d everything like a shroud. No one said anything for a while. Sophie h

more, leaving a trail of her footsteps tha

at had transpired. At last, Lucas decided to choose me and discovered Sophie's deceit. B

wounds. Even after Sophie left, the dark and menacing sh

ance softening, but there was a newf

previously motivated me had vanished, leaving just fatigue in its wake. I stepped b

id, hardly raising my voice abo

ll provide for all of your needs. I just... Claire, I want to make thi

me steadfast honesty I'd seen previously

ng. But I need some space right now. I have to d

previous rejections was still too raw and too fresh. I knew that this was what I need

time you need." "I'll be waiting right here. Claire

to ignore, I wanted to trust hi

ing, I turned an

again. Lucas was still standing there, looking a

yet. Too much had been broken,

ne as I turned away. We were always treading on

ed against it, I could feel the house's walls enclosing

e from someone I never thou