Page 106 of The Accidental Wife

“He’s getting married,” I whisper, staring at the wall ahead. I still couldn’t believe it, a couple of hours ago I was the happiest I’ve ever been.

“Oh, fuck.” Aimee sighs, wincing. “I fucking knew this would happen when I saw the news on the internet this morning.”

“He told me he’s in love with me…and I believed him.” I look at Jo. “I believed him,” I whisper, my voice quivering.

“Oh, Shayla.” Jo sighs sadly, brushing her fingers through my wet hair, she cups my face in her hands, and I close my eyes. The emotions I hadn’t felt before all come crashing down all at once—the hurt, the betrayal, and the devastation, all of it. The girls help me get in the shower, and I cry out when the hot water burns my skin as it hits me. “Shay…”

I sit on the floor in the shower, the water falling over me, feeling more broken than I ever have in my life. “What have I ever done to him?” I ask them frantically, placing my hand on my chest. “Other than love him more than anything, tell me, WHAT DID I EVER DO TO HIM?!” I scream in frustration, curling my fingers in my hair sobbing uncontrollably. Jo clamps her hand over her mouth, her eyes pooling with tears as she watches me fall apart in front of them. Aimee comes and sits in the shower with me, and Jo follows her, both wrapping their arms around me while I cry. “Why does he keep doing this to me.” I whimper, burying my face into my arms.“Why…why….WHY?!”

Aimee strokes my hair, “Because you let him, Shayla. We’ve never seen you this like this before. He’s clearly no good for you. Look at what he’s doing to you, babe. You need to put this to bed now. Enough is enough.” She explains, running her fingers through my wet hair in an attempt to soothe me.

I lift my head and look at her, “How?” I whimper helplessly. “Tell me how, and I’ll do it.” I sob, shaking my head. “I don’t understand how he can look me in the eyes and tell me he’s in love with me when all the while he’s engaged to another girl.” I sob shaking my head. “I thought he was different.”

“Did you tell him how you felt?” Jo asks, tucking a wet strand of my hair behind my ear. I nod, closing my eyes.

“I did. I told him I was so in love with him and have been for a while, then we spent the most incredible three days together, but then we come back, and I hear from the paparazzi waiting for him at the airstrip that he’s engaged to Sophie. He didn’t even have the decency to tell me himself!” I sob.

Aimee shakes her head and presses her forehead to my temple. “No wonder you’re a wreck. What a fucking idiot.”

“Shay, do you think Sophie sent the paparazzi there?” Aimee questions, and I look at her miserably.

“Does it matter who sent them? He was supposed to tell me, not keep it from me the entire trip, all the while making love to me and telling me I’m the one he wants. It was bad enough sleeping with him when I thought he had a girlfriend, but to find out she’s his fiancée.” I cry, shaking my head, feeling repulsed with myself. “I hate myself and what ‘I’ve become because of him.”

“Shayla, you didn’t know babe, you were just acting on your feelings. I’m assuming he told you he was going to finish it with her?” I nod woefully. “Well, that’s on him, not you.”

“That doesn’t make me feel any better,” I whisper hoarsely, closing my eyes. A knock sounds at the front door, and I open my eyes, and the girls look at me.

“How much do you want to bet that’s him,” Aimee says, getting up to her feet.

If it is, I’m not here.” I tell her pleadingly, and she nods, walking out of the bathroom soaking wet to answer the door. Jo keeps her arm around me as I rock back and forth.

“Is Shayla here?” I hear Cole’s voice, and I bury my head in my arms.

“No, she’s not.”

“Aimee, don’t lie to me. I just want to talk to her.” He says pleadingly, and I feel my heart ache.

“She’s not here!” Aimee snaps hotly, and I can imagine her glaring at him menacingly.

“You’re lying, her bags right there. Shayla?!”

“Haven’t you done enough?!” Aimee shouts angrily. “I have never in all my years of friendship with that girl seen her this broken!”

“Aimee, I love her.”

“Then let her go, Cole. If you genuinely love her, like you say you do, let her go because you’re no good for her. She’s a fucking wreck, and I don’t even know where or how we’re going to help her pick up the pieces this time.”

“Please, let me see her, just for a second.” He begs wretchedly, and I whimper, unable to control the sob that escapes me.

“You hear that? That’s what loving you is doing to her.” There’s a moment of silence, and the only sound in the apartment was my weeping echoing in the bathroom. “She’s the last person in the world to deserve this. Do yourself and her a big favour and let her go before you drive her away for good.”

“Shayla, I’m so sorry! Please, baby, I love you so much!” I hear Cole say, his voice breaking. “I’m sorry.” Jo wraps her arms around me tightly as I sob into her chest. “Let me see her, please, just for a second, let me see her.” He requests, crying himself.

“Cole, she doesn’t want to see you. All you’re doing is hurting her more. Just go. The sooner you walk out of her life, the better it will be for her.” Aimee tells him.

“I just want to say goodbye.”

“Do you want to see him?” Jo whispers to me while she helps me out of the shower and hands me my robe. I shake my head. I did want to see him, of course, I did, but nothing good would come of it. I needed to hate him. I walk out of the bathroom, still shivering; my body just wasn’t warming up. Aimee was about to close the door when I see him, our eyes meet, and he puts his hand on the door, obstructing it before it closed.

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