Page 18 of This Is Our Forever

“Why would he bother you now? The deed is done.” His voice drips with bitterness, and the words sting, cutting through years of buried shame.

I flinch, seconds away from crying, and the doorbell rings. My heart leaps into my throat, my pulse pounding in my ears.

He’s here.

I turn to Mom, panic-stricken. “Can you watch Dylan while I…”

She doesn’t hesitate. “Of course.”

I give her a thankful look, brush past Dad, and head for the door. When I reach it, I swing it open.

Time seems to freeze as I take him in. His tousled hair and those blue eyes—now shadowed and unreadable—lock onto mine. He’s rolled up the sleeves of his crisp white shirt, revealing muscular, tanned forearms. Seeing him steals my breath, stirring old memories I’d fought so hard to bury.

“Why can’t you leave me alone?” My voice is raw with anger.

He steps forward, hands held up in a gesture of surrender. “Because I still love you, and I’ve missed you.”

His words slam into me, knocking the air from my lungs. I move back, keeping the tidal wave of emotions at bay.

“If you loved me, why did you hurt me? Why did you sleep with someone else?”

He shakes his head, pain flickering across his face. “I didn’t sleep with anyone but you. Do you remember Brad?”

Memories come flooding back—Brad’s leering smiles, the inappropriate comments. He always made me uncomfortable, as if he enjoyed getting under my skin.

I grimace, the anger inside bubbling closer to the surface.

“I gave him a key to my place for emergencies,” he explains. “I know he used it for a hookup once. I told him to stop, but he didn’t listen.”

I sink onto the porch swing, my legs too weak to hold me. “The woman acted like you were in the bathroom, taking a shower after… after…” My voice falters, the memory still too vivid.

Nathan sits beside me. “I wasn’t there. I have never been unfaithful to you. I don’t know why she lied, but she did.” His pleading eyes search mine as his voice lowers. “You have to believe me.”

His sincerity tugs at my heart. But one piece of the puzzle still doesn’t fit.

“What about the text message?” My voice trembles. “That came from your phone.”

He caresses the back of my hand. “I don’t know how that happened, but it wasn’t me. Someone else must have sent it.”

The warmth of his touch spreads through me, igniting something deep inside. I want to pull away, to keep the distance between us, but I can’t.

“Please, Amelia.”

The door flies open, and Dylan races out. “Mommy!”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

NATHAN

“Mommy!”

The word reverberates as realization crashes over me.

She holds the little boy close, cradling him as if she’s afraid he might vanish if she lets go.

As I take in the sight of them together, the truth strikes like lightning, burning through my veins with an undeniable clarity. The boy’s dark hair, the blue eyes, the curve of his chin—it’s like looking at a reflection of myself, a miniature version staring back at me.

My son.Our son.

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