Blurred lines in a forbidden fairytale [Taylor x OC]

{64} "you came" - "you called"

Taylor's POV:

I can feel the weight of Joe's expectation crushing me. His knee digs into the sand as he waits for an answer, his face open and full of hope. Felicia's excitement buzzes in the background, her tiny voice urging me to say yes like it's the only answer in the world.

The words rise in my throat like bile, uncontainable. My chest tightens, and the thought of slipping that ring onto my finger while carrying this secret and this forbidden longing around feels unbearable. I glance down at Joe, then over at Felicia, her innocent, glowing face—my heart twists painfully.

"I..." My voice cracks, and the tension becomes too much. "I cheated on you," I suddenly blurt out.

The air seems to freeze, thick and suffocating. Joe's jaw slackens, his entire body going rigid as if the words physically hit him. "What did you just say?" he whispers, his voice barely audible.

Felicia's gaze bounces between us, her confusion palpable. "What's cheating? Mom, what does that mean?"

I can't look at her. My eyes are locked on Joe's, where the shock is quickly giving way to something darker. His face hardens, his hand slowly lowering the box to his side. "Are you fucking serious, Taylor?"

"I'm sorry," I say, my voice trembling. "It just... it happened, and I didn't...to be honest I don't know what to say."

"Who?" he cuts me off, his voice now sharp. His eyes are like daggers, piercing me, dissecting me. "Who was it?"

"I..." My throat tightens. The words won't come. How could they? How could I even begin to explain?

Felicia tugs at my arm, her voice growing more frantic. "What's happening? Mom, what's cheating? Did you do something bad?"

"Felicia, stop," Joe snaps at her, his voice cold.

"Don't talk to her like that," I say reflexively, stepping in front of her. It's the first time I've heard him raise is voice toward my daughter.

Joe stands now, towering over me, his face red and his fists clenched. He grabs my arm so tightly I'm sure it'll leave a bruise. "You have the audacity to tell me this now?" His voice rises, cracking with fury. "After everything I've done for you? For Felicia?"

"I didn't mean for it to happen," I try to explain, my voice breaking. "I didn't—"

But before I can finish, his hand moves.

The slap comes out of nowhere, sharp and stinging. My head snaps to the side, my cheek burning as if it's on fire. My entire body goes cold, my ears ringing. For a moment, everything slows, my mind struggling to process what just happened.

Felicia screams.

"Mom!" she cries, grabbing my arm and shaking me. Her voice is filled with panic, tears streaming down her face. "Are you okay? Mom?"

I look up at Joe, whose chest heaves with unspent rage. His eyes are wild, unrecognizable, and something inside me snaps. I've never seen his eyes sparkle with such darkness. Panic and fear flood my system, making my legs move before my brain can catch up. Anger? Yes, I definitely expected that. But violence?

Without thinking, I grab Felicia, lifting her into my arms despite her protests. "We're leaving," I say, my voice firm but shaky.

"Taylor," Joe growls, stepping toward me, but I recoil, clutching Felicia tighter.

"Stay away from us," I whisper, my voice trembling but resolute. "I may be the one who fucked up here, but you are the one who just laid his hand on me. That's all I need to know about the man you are."