The Image on the television burned into my mind. Preaton kissing another woman.
It wasn’t just a glimpse. It was real–his face, his hands, his lips.
I stared at the screen, my chest tightening with every passing second. “What is the meaning of this?” I asked, my voice trembling.
Preston stood frozen, his mouth opening and closing as if trying to find the right words.
“Zoe,” he started, his voice calm but urgent. “It’s not what it looks like. That’s not me.”
I scoffed, my anger bubbling to the surface. “Not you? Preston, I’m staring at it. It’s you, clear as day!”
“It’s not,” he insisted, stepping closer to me. “You know me, Zoe. I would never do that. I would never hurt you like that.”
“Don’t” I snapped, cutting him off. “Don’t stand there and lie to me.”
His eyes softened, his hands raised in surrender. “I swear to you, Zoe. I don’t know what this is or how it happened, but it isn’t real. It’s not me.”
I laughed bitterly, shaking my head. “I’ve been betrayed too many times, Preston. I don’t know what to believe anymore.”
Preston reached for me, but I stepped back, my hand pressed protectively against my
stomach.
“Zoe,” he said, his voice breaking. “Please, believe me. I love you. It’s always been you.”
“Get out,” I whispered, my voice cold.
“What?”
“I don’t want to see you,” I said, louder this time. “We’re done, Preston. I want a divorce.” ப:
His face crumpled. “No, Zoe. Please. I’ll prove it wasn’t me. Just don’t do this.”
But before I could say another word, a sharp pain shot through my stomach. I gasped, clutching at my side as the pain deepened.
“Zoe!” Preston shouted, rushing to my side.
A nurse entered the room at the commotion, quickly calling for the doctor. Preston stayed close, his hand on mine, his face lined with worry.
“You need to stay calm,” the nurse said. “Stress isn’t good for the baby.”
Preston looked at me, his expression conflicted. “I’ll leave,” he said quietly. “If that’s what you want, I’ll leave. Just… please take care of yourself and the baby.”
He turned and walked out without another word, leaving me alone in the suffocating silence of the room.
I sat there, staring at the walls, replaying the image over and over in my head. The woman. The kiss. Preston’s hands on her.
How could he?
Chapter 18
reaptrieve staring at the wails rebley The kiss: Preston’s hands on her.
How could he?
Tears streamed down my face, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop them. I had trusted him. He was supposed to be different.
As I sat in my misery, my phone buzzed on the bedside table.
I hesitated before picking it up, a strange sense of dread washing over me.
The message was from an unknown number.
Check this out, it read, followed by a video link.
I clicked on it, my heart pounding.
The screen lit up with another video–Preston again. This time it wasn’t just a photo. It was footage of him kissing the same woman, his hands on her waist, his body pressed close.
I dropped the phone, my entire body trembling.
This wasn’t a misunderstanding. This wasn’t an illusion.
He cheated.
That night, I sat in bed, my mind spinning. I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t think straight.
How did this keep happening to me?
First Ethan, then Travis, and now Preston. It felt like some cruel cosmic punishment, as if ! wasn’t meant to have happiness.
I thought about the baby, about the life I wanted to give him.
There was no way I could let my child grow up in the shadow of betrayal. I refused to let him see me broken, clinging to someone who didn’t deserve me.
By the time the sun began to rise, I had made my decision.
I would leave Preston.
I didn’t know where I would go or how I would start over again, but I couldn’t stay. Not after this.
Not again.
I wouldn’t be fooled three times again.
The early morning light seeped through the curtains as I packed my bag, moving quietly so no one would hear me. My heart raced, my chest tight as I thought about leaving.
This was the only way. I couldn’t stay here, not after what I’d seen.
But when I opened the door to step outside, my heart sank.
Preston was there, standing in the hall as if he’d been waiting for me.
“Zoe,” he said softly. “What are you doing?”
I gritted my teeth, my fingers tightening around the strap of my bag. “What does it look like? I’m leaving.”
Chapter 19
3/3
90.2%
This was the only way. I couldn’t stay here, not after what I’d seen.
But when I opened the door to step outside, my heart sank.
Preston was there, standing in the hall as if he’d been waiting for me.
“Zoe,” he said softly. “What are you doing?”
I gritted my teeth, my fingers tightening around the strap of my bag. “What does it look like? I’m leaving.”
He stepped closer, his eyes pleading. “You can’t just walk away. Please, tell me what you need. I’ll do anything-”
“I need you out of my life,” I snapped. “Draft the divorce papers, Preston. Now.”
His face twisted with pain, and for a moment, I thought he might let me go. But instead, he shook his head.
“No,” he said firmly. “I won’t give up on us. I’ll prove it wasn’t me in that video, Zoe. I swear to you, I’ll prove it.”
“Preston-
“Please,” he interrupted, his voice breaking. “Just give me a chance to fix this. I don’t know how, but I’ll find a way. I love you, Zoe. I love our baby. I can’t lose you.”
I wanted to believe him, but the image of him kissing that woman flashed in my mind again, and the ache in my chest deepened.
“Don’t do this,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. Then he did something I hadn’t expected.
He dropped to his knees in front of me, his hands trembling.
“Zoe, please,” he begged. “I’ll do anything. Just don’t leave. Let me fix this.”
I stared down at him, my resolve faltering for just a moment before I forced myself to look
away.
“I can’t,” I whispered. “Not right now. I need time.”
I stepped around him, clutching my bag tightly as I walked away, leaving him kneeling in the hallway.
