Page 72 of Madness

I nod, swallowing hard. "Yeah. I haven't opened it."

Dakota takes a deep breath, his fingers tapping an anxious rhythm on the countertop. "Do you want to?"

The question hangs in the air between us, heavy with implications. I bite my lip, considering my words carefully.

"I don't know," I admit. "Part of me wants to know the truth, but another part..." I hesitate, looking at Dakota. "I'm more worried about how it might affect you."

His brow furrows. "What do you mean?"

I take a deep breath, steeling myself. "Dakota, I... I knew Miles had been unfaithful before. Not at the end, but earlier in our relationship. The possibility that he was with someone else when he died, it's painful, but it's not entirely shocking."

Understanding dawns in Dakota's eyes. "But for me, with Chloe, it would be completely unexpected."

I nod, watching his face carefully. "Yeah. I guess I'm worried about how you'd handle that, if it turns out to be true."

Dakota is quiet for a moment, his gaze distant. When he speaks, his voice is soft but steady. "I've had a lot of time to think about this. About Chloe, about our marriage, about who she really was."

He looks at me, his eyes clear and focused. "The truth is, I don't know if I ever really knew her. Not completely. And while the idea of her being unfaithful hurts, I think... I think I've come to terms with the possibility."

I feel a mix of relief and sadness wash over me. "How did you get there?"

Dakota runs a hand through his hair, a gesture so familiar it makes my heart ache. "It wasn't easy. But part of my recovery has been about facing hard truths. About myself, about my relationships. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized that Chloe and I... we weren't in a good place long before she died."

He takes a step closer to me, his voice low and intense. "Lauren, whatever's in that envelope, it doesn't change how I feel about you. About us. If anything, it might give us both the closure we need to move forward. Together, if that's what you want."

My breath catches in my throat. "Is that what you want?"

Dakota's eyes meet mine, unwavering. "More than anything."

I nod, feeling a surge of courage. "Then I think we should open it. Together."

Dakota reaches out, taking my hand in his. The warmth of his touch sends a shiver through me. "Together," he agrees.

As we move towards the desk, I feel a mix of anxiety and anticipation. Whatever truths that envelope holds, we're about to face them. And for the first time, I truly believe we can handle it.

Because we're doing it together.

43

DREAM AWAY

DAKOTA

My heart pounds in my chest as Lauren carefully opens the envelope. The sound of tearing paper seems impossibly loud in the quiet room. I hold my breath, watching her unfold the document inside.

Her eyes scan the page, widening slightly. I see a range of emotions flicker across her face – surprise, pain, confusion.

"Dakota," she says softly, looking up at me. "It's... it's true. They were together."

Even though I've tried to prepare myself for this moment, the confirmation hits me like a physical blow. I feel a sharp pain in my chest, and for a moment, the room seems to spin.

Lauren continues, her voice gentle. "The report names both Miles and Chloe. They were found together in... in a hotel room."

I close my eyes, trying to steady myself. Images of Chloe flash through my mind – her smile, her laugh, the way she looked on our wedding day. Had it all been a lie?

"There are other names, too," Lauren adds, drawing my attention back. "Witnesses, I think."

I nod, not trusting myself to speak yet. My mind is racing, trying to process this information. Chloe, my wife, the woman I thought I knew, had been living a double life. And I had been completely blind to it.

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