Love and illusion

ned white. The scene at the hotel ran overtime in her head, replaying in a never-ending loop: A

lo

it wasn't a moment of weakness. It wasn't a single mistake. It was a lie that had spiral knitted t

uilding ahead. Behind those immaculate walls and inside

r. She didn't have time to prepare for this

se of

ound her - familiar, yet marred by the recollection of another woman's touch. The

elbows on his knees, head down. The door close

ia

g him off. "Don't. I don't

d through his hair. "I wasn't goi

Explain what, Alex? That you've been creeping with Rachel? That every m

ot like

r arms. "Because from my vantage point this e

d closer, but she

er wanted t

lex. You didn't just hurt me. You made me

ed. "I loved y

something real amid the wreckage of their marriage. But

ead. "Love is not suppo

tle o

hed between them like a wall.

e," he said, his voice hot with irritation. "But tell m

"So you're blaming

been sprinkled with this illusion. You were so blinded by making

t justifies lying? Betrayi

It wasn't. It was about feeling as though I mattered." Like so

er. "You mattered to me, Alex. You always did. But you threw

cutting. "Did you ever ask yourself, 'Was I actu

"Maybe I was playing a role. Maybe we both were.

red Il

urther than here, this was it, thought Mia, the draft in the air ma

again, and his words

ing you don'

sed. "W

oud breath. "Rachel isn't the only

opped. "What

ew at that moment ent whatever he was go

ia uncover the full extent of hi