Redemption of love

She had no more illusions that everything would be okay once she told Mark the truth. She had no more thoughts of some magica

r breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Her heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing through the many ways Mark could rea

up with a message from Mark: "I'll be home

s forming? The tension in the house had been palpable for months, a quiet storm waiting to break. She had hidden behind her lies for so long, bu

od by the counter, her hand braced against the cool surface, taking slow breaths. It was time. She could no longe

ce. She had to own it. The reality of it all was suffocating, but for the first time in months, Emma felt so

om. He didn't say anything right away. He never did. Mark was the kind of man who

ble. His gaze flickered toward the living

llow, but she tried to force a smile. Her h

w, his face unreadabl

nd them was undeniable. He wasn't asking f

ving them both a smile, but then went back to his toys. Lily glanced up at Emma, her gaze lingering for a second before she tur

tepped inside, the door shut behind them, Emma could feel the weight of their years together pressing down on her

voice carrying a quiet desperation, "I need to know what's been going o

e was holding onto something-some piece of hope that maybe it wasn't as bad as it seemed. He wa

ie anymore. Not to

he said, her voice barely above a whisper. "So

s expression becoming

ears welling up, but she fought them back. She couldn't let hersel

r words tumbling out in a rush. "A big

room felt too small, like the air had been sucked out of it. His jaw clenched, his hands balling into fi

never done it. I don't even know why I did it. But it happened. And I c

idn't speak. The silence between them felt unbearable, stretching on,

s eyes dark with a mix of disbelie

ver said the words out loud, not even to herself. But

whispered. "

on-the shock, the betrayal, the crushing disappointment. It was as if the world arou

but filled with disbelief. "You've been lyin

nd shame flooding through her. But she knew there was no going back now. She had

nt to hurt you. I just... I don't know what happened to me. I didn't

ir. "I don't know what to say to you right now, Emma. I

deep into her heart. She had broken him. She had des

e whispered, her voice barely audible. "Bu

y the second. Emma didn't know what would happen next. She didn't know if there was any way back from

a realized that this was just the beginni