After the longest and most chaotic day of my life, I finally breathed a genuine sigh of relief. The future remained terrifyingly uncertain, but at least my daughter was safe that night. I lay down beside her, letting my exhausted body sink into the mattress, and finally drifted off to sleep, my mind racing with thoughts of Julian and the complicated web that bound us together. By a twist of fate, I had become an unexpected guest in his home.
The next morning, I woke to sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Lili was still fast asleep beside me. Her cheeks were rosy, and her breathing was calm. She probably hadn’t slept that well in a long time. I got up carefully, without making a sound. The room, unfamiliar but so clean and welcoming, managed to soothe my nerves. When I stepped out into the main area, Julian was already sitting at the kitchen island, sipping a cup of hot coffee.
She was wearing comfortable clothes, but she still looked impeccable. When she saw me, she smiled. “You’re awake. You slept well. I made breakfast. We’ll eat when Lili wakes up.” “Thank you. I feel like I’m just a burden,” I replied softly, still uncomfortable. “Don’t say that,” she interrupted. “I told you to make yourself at home.” When Lili woke up and ate her pancakes, she quickly adjusted to her new surroundings. She wandered around the spacious apartment. Fascinated by everything, Julián proved to be incredibly patient with the children. He sat on the wooden floor and played with blocks and dolls beside her.
Lily’s bright laughter echoed throughout the attic, dispelling the heavy atmosphere that had weighed on my chest for days. As I watched them, a thousand emotions raced through my mind. That night, after putting Lily to bed, I went out to the living room. Julian was working on his laptop. When he saw me, he closed the computer and gestured for me to sit across from him. An awkward silence settled between us. I knew I couldn’t avoid it anymore. There were things we needed to clear up. “Julian,” I broke the silence.
Can I ask you something about Chloe? She looked at me without surprise, as if she’d been expecting that question. She nodded. “She was your ex-girlfriend and my ex-husband Miguel’s first love,” I asked, even though I already knew the answer. “Yes, that’s right,” she confirmed, lowering her voice slightly. “Chloe and I dated for a while, but our personalities clashed, so we broke up. She and Miguel had a history dating back to college. He was in love with her. As far as I know, he pursued her for years, but it never worked out.”
My heart sank. First love. For three years, the man I called husband always had the shadow of another woman in his heart. I never really knew him. So, that night in Mai, Miguel was with her, right? I asked, getting straight to the point. Julian was silent for a long moment. His eyes reflected a mixture of guilt and compassion. Finally, he nodded slightly. Yes, after sending you to the room, he went to Chloe’s suite. They spent the night together. Although I tried to mentally prepare myself, hearing it directly from Julian was like a huge rock crushing my chest.
My wedding night, the one that should have been sacred and unforgettable, my husband was in the arms of another woman, while I, drugged and completely unconscious, shared a bed with a stranger. The reality was more bitter and cruel than I could ever have imagined. I had been deceived from the very first day of my marriage. I let out a laugh, a bitter laugh, full of self-loathing. It turns out I was an idiot, a complete fool. I believed in love, I believed in sacrifice, and I believed in the man who slept beside me.
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