Unspoken Truths

• chapter 9 •

Drew sat alone in his study, the dim light from the lamp casting long shadows across the room. He had been staring at the framed picture on his desk for what felt like hours. It was a photo of him and Karen from years ago, back when everything seemed simpler. Back before the weight of his mistakes threatened to tear his family apart.

He picked up the photo, running his thumb over Karen's smiling face. She had been his everything—the woman who had stood by his side through the highs and lows, the mother of his children, his partner in faith and in life. But he had betrayed her in a way that felt unforgivable. And now, with Zara in their lives, the consequences of that betrayal were more present than ever.

Drew leaned back in his chair, his mind drifting to a time he had buried deep, hoping it would never resurface. But the past had a way of creeping up when you least expected it, and tonight was no exception.

Flashback

It was late one evening, nearly sixteen years ago. Drew had been traveling for work, spending more time on the road than at home. The long days and nights had started to take a toll on him. He was exhausted, disconnected, and feeling the strain of being away from Karen and their children. They had been arguing more often back then—small, petty disagreements that built up over time.

On this particular trip, he had crossed paths with Monique. She was a business associate, someone he had worked with on a few occasions. She was charming, easy to talk to, and most dangerously, she seemed to understand the pressure he was under. That night, after a long meeting, they had gone out for drinks to unwind.

Drew remembered how the alcohol had lowered his guard, how the conversation had shifted from business to personal matters. Monique had asked about his family, and he had confessed that things with Karen weren't great at the time. He had told her about the arguments, the distance that had formed between them, and how he wasn't sure how to fix it.

"You deserve to be happy, Drew," Monique had said, her hand lightly brushing his arm. Her voice was soft, her eyes sympathetic. "Sometimes, people grow apart. It doesn't mean you're a bad person. It just means things change."

Drew had nodded, the alcohol clouding his judgment. He had been vulnerable, searching for comfort, and Monique had provided it in a way that felt too easy, too convenient. One thing led to another, and before he knew it, they were back at her hotel room.

He could still remember the guilt that gnawed at him the moment it was over. As he lay there in the dark, staring at the ceiling, the reality of what he had done hit him like a freight train. He had crossed a line he could never uncross. He had betrayed Karen, the woman he had vowed to love and honor for the rest of his life. And for what? A fleeting moment of weakness?

The next morning, Drew had left Monique's hotel room without a word. He couldn't even look at her, couldn't face the reality of what they had done. On the flight back home, the guilt had consumed him. He had considered telling Karen the truth right then and there, but fear had stopped him. Fear of losing her, of tearing their family apart.

So he had kept it a secret, burying it deep within himself. He swore it would never happen again, that he would be the husband Karen deserved. But secrets had a way of festering, and the weight of what he had done lingered in the background of their lives, a shadow that never fully disappeared.

End of Flashback

Drew exhaled deeply, coming back to the present. He had thought he could bury that part of his life, that the affair would remain hidden forever. But Zara had changed all of that. She was the living, breathing consequence of his actions, a reminder that no sin went without its price.

He loved Zara, despite the circumstances of her birth. She was his daughter, and he was trying to make things right with her. But every time he looked at her, he couldn't help but think about what he had done to Karen. About the pain he had caused, the trust he had shattered.

And now, as Karen kept her distance, Drew wondered if there was any way to fix the mess he had made. Could they ever truly move past this? Or had his mistake doomed them to live in the shadow of his betrayal forever?

The regret weighed heavy on his heart. He wanted to be a better man, to be the husband Karen deserved and the father Zara needed. But how could he, when the past kept pulling him under?

He looked back at the photo on his desk, Karen's smile forever frozen in time. He missed her—missed the way they used to laugh together, missed the peace they once had. But most of all, he missed the way she used to look at him, with love and trust in her eyes.

Now, he wasn't sure if he would ever see that look again.