Shattered Truths

Chapter 13: Luke's Revelation

The next day, Matt was drained, still replaying his conversation with Sarah. Just as he began to sift through his thoughts over a cup of coffee, his phone buzzed with a message from Luke. It was a brief text, almost cryptic: "We need to talk. Urgent."

With a mixture of curiosity and caution, Matt agreed to meet him. Luke had been one of his closest friends for years, but after their last confrontation, Matt wasn't sure what to expect. However, if Luke had something urgent to share, he couldn't ignore it.

They met at a quiet park near Matt's place. The autumn air was sharp, and leaves crunched underfoot as they walked to a secluded bench. Luke's expression was tense, his eyes fixed on the ground, hands stuffed into his pockets.

"Thanks for meeting me," Luke began, barely looking at Matt. "I know things have been... weird. But there's something you need to know. I didn't want to keep this from you anymore."

Matt's heart picked up. He swallowed, steadying himself. "What is it, Luke?"

Luke hesitated, then finally looked up. "It's about Claire. I didn't tell you this before because I thought maybe it didn't mean anything, or maybe I was reading into it too much. But... I've seen her with another guy. Not just her ex."

The words hit Matt like a punch to the gut. "Another guy?" he repeated, struggling to process. "What do you mean? When did this happen?"

"Remember a few weeks back when I said I'd run into her at that bar on 4th Street?" Luke asked, his voice cautious. "I wasn't totally honest with you. She wasn't there alone. She was with some guy, laughing, whispering, like they were... well, close."

Matt's mind reeled. "And you didn't think to tell me this sooner?"

Luke's face fell. "I know, I should have. But I thought maybe it was a work friend or something harmless. I didn't want to create problems if I wasn't sure. But then I saw them together again yesterday. They were sitting together, looking pretty cozy. I couldn't ignore it this time."

Matt clenched his fists, a mixture of hurt and anger brewing within him. "Why didn't you just tell me? After everything I've been through, don't you think I deserved to know?"

"I thought I was protecting you," Luke said, his tone remorseful. "But I was wrong. I should have been upfront from the start. I'm sorry, man. It was stupid of me to keep this from you."

Matt took a deep breath, trying to quell the frustration boiling over. Luke's intentions might have been misguided, but he'd ultimately brought him the truth, even if it was late.

"What does this mean?" Matt asked, more to himself than to Luke. "She wasn't just lying to me about her ex... she's been deceiving me completely, playing games with multiple people."

"It seems that way," Luke replied, a deep frown on his face. "I don't know what her endgame is, but it's clear she's been hiding a lot from you. I didn't want to believe it at first, but after yesterday... I can't ignore it."

Matt sat in silence, grappling with the painful reality. Everything he thought he knew about Claire was unraveling, each new revelation making him question every moment they'd shared.

"I need to know who this guy is," Matt finally said, his voice steady. "I need to confront her, get answers. If she's seeing yet another person, then this isn't just about feeling 'trapped.' This is something else entirely."

Luke nodded. "I get it. And whatever you decide, I've got your back."

They sat together, the weight of betrayal hanging heavy between them. As they parted ways, Matt resolved to get to the bottom of Claire's deceit. He didn't know how he'd feel when he finally confronted her, but he knew one thing for certain: he wasn't going to let her lies define him any longer.