Chapter 21 59 % There was a different kind of silence that night . It wasnt the gentle hum of peace Rozen and I had recently built after everything the countless apologies , the tender reassurances , and the daily affirmations that he had changed . It wasnt the kind of silence I cherished while working on my project , knowing that just outside my office door , Rozen would be waiting with tea or food , asking if I needed a break . No , tonights silence was heavy . Unspoken . Ever since I saw that message on Rozens phone from her I hadnt been able to breathe the same way . I told myself not to panic . That maybe , just maybe , it wasnt what it looked like . Maybe Mina had sent that message out of desperation , and Rozen simply hadnt seen it . Or he did , and chose not to reply . Maybe … maybe he was protecting me by saying nothing . But even if I told myself a hundred reasons , my chest ached from the weight of fear I carried . I waited , hoping he would tell me . That hed take my hand one morning , like he always did , and say , Theres something I need you to know . But the days passed . The silence grew . And the message from Mina stayed buried in my memory like a dagger that wouldnt stop twisting . Rozen started coming home late . Its work , he said one night , brushing a kiss on my forehead before slipping out the door in his suit , looking far too polished for a simple business errand . I wanted to believe him . God , I needed to . For our child , I had to . I kept smiling , pretending , because stress wasnt something I could afford now . Not with a life growing inside me . Not when we had come so far . But I watched his back more closely . Not because I didnt trust him but because I was terrified of being that woman again . The one who looked at her man and didnt see the signs until it was too late . I was working late in the study one evening when I noticed the time . Almost midnight . Rozen hadnt come home . My hand instinctively touched my belly , whispering a quiet apology to our child for the storm brewing inside me . Thats when I heard it . Footsteps . But not Rozens . I stood slowly , every part of me alert . The security shouldve notified me if someone had entered the estate . I reached for my phone but before I could call anyone , the door to the study opened . My heart stopped . She stood there , dressed in a wine red coat and heels that clicked sharply against the marble . Her hair was longer than in the photo Id seen on Rozens desk months ann Her Chant 21 59 % 19:31 Fri , 18 Apr So , you know who I am , she replied , her tone sickeningly sweet . How did you get in ? I demanded , finding strength through the rage curling inside my chest . I have my ways , she said with a casual shrug , stepping further inside as if she owned the place . Dont worry , I wont be long . I just came to let you know the truth . Theres nothing you can say that Ill believe . She smirked . Oh , sweetheart . Im not here to convince you . Im here to tell you what he didnt . I wanted to scream . To yell for the guards . But I was frozen too afraid to shatter the illusion Id been holding onto with trembling hands . Rozen and I … She paused , reaching into her purse . Weve been seeing each other . I didnt react . I couldnt . I told him he didnt have to keep pretending with you . That he doesnt love you . He never did . Stop , I whispered , but it came out broken . She pulled out her phone , unlocking it , and turned the screen to me . Blurry , but unmistakable . Her lips . My knees nearly gave out . He came to see me last night , she said . He kissed me . Said he missed me . Thats all need to know . I didnt say a word . I didnt ask her to leave . I didnt even look at the photo again . Because deep down , my world had already cracked . you I stood , numb , as she tossed a final look over her shoulder and walked away like she hadnt just burned the ground beneath me . Only after the front doors slammed did I let myself crumble to the floor . The tears didnt come at first . Only the sound of my heartbeat crashing like waves in my ears . I wrapped my arms around my belly , whispering apologies through clenched teeth . Im sorry … Im sorry … Rozen , where were you ? Why didnt you tell me ? Had I really believed in forever again , just to have it slip through my fingers ? 10:31 Fri , 18 Apr . Audrey's biggest regret? A one-night stand with Floyd, her secret love for eight years. Despite his arranged marriage and his family's troubles, he kept rescuing her. She thought she was just a fling,...