Healing Hearts

Chapter 14

Watching Tess's uncontrolled anger explode at the cafe had left Charlotte feeling unsettled. She had always believed in Simon's good nature, but hearing his wife speak of his "dark side" made her doubt everything she thought she knew about him. Part of her wanted to trust him and give him the benefit of the doubt, but another part couldn't shake off the unease creeping in.

As they stood outside the cafe, Charlotte's mind was spinning with questions. She knew Simon was in the midst of a painful divorce, but she had chosen to believe his side of the story, never delving too deeply into the details of his past. Now, faced with Tess's accusations, she wondered if she had been naive all along.

Simon reached out, his hand gently touching Charlotte's arm. His touch sent a jolt of warmth through her, momentarily easing her doubts. "Charlotte, I understand that this is a lot to process," he said softly. "But please trust me when I say that whatever Tess is insinuating, it's not true. I'm an open book with you. If there's anything you want to know about my past, I'll tell you."

Charlotte looked into Simon's earnest eyes and saw no hint of deceit. But the images of Tess's venomous words lingered in her mind like poison. She couldn't ignore the sinking feeling that there might be more to Simon's past than he let on. She knew she needed answers, and the only way to find them was to have a private conversation with Simon, away from the prying eyes of Tess and the chaos of the cafe.

Without a word, Charlotte nodded and followed Simon as they made their way back to their apartment building. The bustling city that surrounded them seemed distant, muted by her racing thoughts. The elevator ride up felt agonizingly slow, each floor passing by like an eternity.

As they stepped into Simon's apartment, Charlotte couldn't help but notice how disorganized it was. Boxes remained strewn about; he hadn't unpacked at all. He has lived here for weeks!

The soft lighting cast a warm glow over the space, but to Charlotte, the room seemed filled with unanswered questions.

Simon motioned for Charlotte to take a seat on the plush couch while he poured them both glasses of water. She gratefully accepted the drink, the cool glass bringing a momentary relief to her frazzled nerves.

Simon sat down next to Charlotte, their knees almost touching. He took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on her face. "I need you to understand that the person I was in medical school is not who I am now," he began, his voice laced with vulnerability. "Yes, I made mistakes. I was reckless and I hurt people, emotionally. But that was a long time ago."

Charlotte sipped her water, trying to find the right words. "Why didn't you tell me about this before?" she asked softly, her eyes never leaving his face.

Simon looked down at his hands, his fingers tracing the rim of his glass. "I guess I was ashamed," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I wanted to bury that part of my past because it didn't define who I wanted to become."

A moment of silence hung between them, heavy with unspoken thoughts and emotions. Charlotte could see the remorse etched in Simon's features; it mirrored the unease she felt within herself. She took a deep breath, grappling with her conflicting emotions. Despite her doubts, she couldn't deny the connection she shared with Simon, the way he made her feel seen and understood.

"Why did Tess say those things?" Charlotte finally asked, her voice barely audible.

Simon sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. "Tess...she has a way of twisting the truth," he replied, frustration lacing his words. "Our marriage was falling apart long before you came into the picture. She's hurt and angry, and she'll do anything to try and hurt me back."

Charlotte studied Simon's face, searching for any signs of deception. His eyes held a mixture of weariness and sincerity, like a man who had been through countless battles but still remained hopeful for redemption.