blueberrieschicken

Creator’s Note
          	
          	Dear readers,
          	
          	After a long period of being offline, I finally had the chance to sit down and read through your heartfelt comments. Your passion, reflections, and critiques have resonated deeply with me. While I understand that the main characters in "After She Said 'I Do,' I Met Him"—Lucian and Lilith—have left a bitter impression on many, I want to acknowledge that this was intentional.
          	
          	Lucian and Lilith were written to mirror real-life infidelity—not with dramatized remorse, but with a disturbing sense of moral awareness that is ignored for selfish desire. Their guilt is not redemptive but performative—a mask to convince themselves and others that they are still ‘human,’ when in truth, their actions betray that very claim.
          	
          	That said, I’ve heard your voices.
          	
          	As a response, I’ve decided to create a "side story"—one that will stand apart from the main timeline. This new narrative will explore a chance encounter: Lucian crossing paths with Clara and his now-grown son. Unlike the main story, this will not attempt to redeem Lucian, but rather lay bare the guilt he never truly allowed himself to feel.
          	
          	If you have suggestions or elements you’d like to see in this side story, please feel free to share them in the comments. While I may not be able to include every idea, I promise to read each one and consider them with care.
          	
          	With gratitude,
          	Mackenzie Kln

HeartBreakHotel01

Will we see the side story anytime soon? I’d love to read it!
• Reply

Tree_L

@blueberrieschicken unless the story focuses not 'if'
• Reply

Tree_L

If the story focuses on the downfall of Lucian and Lili as a direct result of the guilt he carries, it risks repeating the same issues that left readers disappointed in the original story. The overwhelming frustration came from watching him and Lilith walk away with a happy ending despite the betrayal and pain they caused. Readers felt cheated because there was no real accountability, no justice, and no consequences that matched the harm inflicted.
          	  
          	  If this new story is meant to show what Lucian truly lost such as missed milestones with his child, and the family life he could have had but threw away, then it could be powerful. Watching him confront the reality of those sacrifices, not with shallow guilt but with a deep and unshakable awareness of what can never be regained, would resonate far more strongly. His suffering should not be hidden behind the illusion of a relationship he thought he wanted, but instead revealed in a way that shows the emptiness of his choices.
          	  
          	  There is an opportunity here to create a story about silence, regret, and the weight of unhealed wounds. A story where Lucian is not redeemed by others but is instead forced to confront himself. If his relationship with Lilith begins to collapse under the strain of his guilt, then it opens the door for authentic consequences. That kind of downfall would allow readers to finally see justice in its truest form. Justice in this sense does not need to come from punishment handed down by others, but rather from the punishment of living with the knowledge of everything he destroyed.
          	  
          	  If this side story allows Lucian to genuinely face his actions and find a sense of healing within himself without being absolved by those he betrayed, then it would carry real meaning. It would finally give weight to his choices instead of brushing them aside. If the purpose of the side story is only to justify him or to hand him sympathy that he does not deserve, then readers will be just as disappointed as they were before.
• Reply

Ola1046

For the side story to work, Lucien would have had to experience personal growth. He was always running away and hiding like a coward. His AP was less of a coward than he was and confronted his wife in the hospital before he did! He’s a weak-willed, selfish man who avoided his responsibilities to live out a fantasy. People like that will always find a way to justify their actions, and their guilt is centered around themselves. If the side story is another, how many chapters of him lamenting endlessly, running away to contemplate, having others do his dirty work, being the last person to take action, avoiding his responsibilities, and using another letter to hide from the hurt and destruction he caused — then it’s best not to write a side-story. His guilt must be all-encompassing and greater than his feelings for Lilith.

amy082617

I read your story a few days ago and I'm still processing it!  Firstly I would like to tell you that your writing was amazing.  But your story gutted me!  I have to rant and get my thoughts off my chest!  I still keep thinking how could they devastate someone so bad and just walk away with there HEA! It was a matter of few months with like two weeks of actual in person time they had compared to the 10 years he had with his wife!  That's not love they had it was lust.  Keep thinking that Lilith has like mental issues.  I mean she went to the hospital when Clara was on bed rest.  That's unhinged and the fact that he didn't see that that confronting her in that setting was unforgivable is just sad.  Keep thinking once lillith is chosen and that she feels like she won that the infatuation will fade.  She just takes me as the type of person that can't stick to one thing.  Then ther is him who kissed his wife pregnant belly he was invested and then had a total midlife crisis and forgot what was really important.  He needs time to process his life and not get into another full on relationship.  He definitely was confused.  He didn't have time to fully process everything.
          I just keep thinking of the saying the grass is not always greener on the other side.  Relationships in the beginning are exciting and new it's like the honeymoon phase.  But as time goes on that fades.  I just hope in your follow up story that karma hits them a little bit harder.  He gave up his wife, son, and sister for a moment in time he had with Lilith.  
          In your follow up Keep thing maybe something happens like to his sister and he has to go back to the hometown and he goes into Clara new shop and sees that mural.  He see how amazing she did in his absence.  Ok enough of my rant I can go on and on.  Just had to voice what I have been thinking.  I'm invested and can't wait for the follow up.  Praying for karma to hit hard.  lol

blueberrieschicken

Creator’s Note
          
          Dear readers,
          
          After a long period of being offline, I finally had the chance to sit down and read through your heartfelt comments. Your passion, reflections, and critiques have resonated deeply with me. While I understand that the main characters in "After She Said 'I Do,' I Met Him"—Lucian and Lilith—have left a bitter impression on many, I want to acknowledge that this was intentional.
          
          Lucian and Lilith were written to mirror real-life infidelity—not with dramatized remorse, but with a disturbing sense of moral awareness that is ignored for selfish desire. Their guilt is not redemptive but performative—a mask to convince themselves and others that they are still ‘human,’ when in truth, their actions betray that very claim.
          
          That said, I’ve heard your voices.
          
          As a response, I’ve decided to create a "side story"—one that will stand apart from the main timeline. This new narrative will explore a chance encounter: Lucian crossing paths with Clara and his now-grown son. Unlike the main story, this will not attempt to redeem Lucian, but rather lay bare the guilt he never truly allowed himself to feel.
          
          If you have suggestions or elements you’d like to see in this side story, please feel free to share them in the comments. While I may not be able to include every idea, I promise to read each one and consider them with care.
          
          With gratitude,
          Mackenzie Kln

HeartBreakHotel01

Will we see the side story anytime soon? I’d love to read it!
• Reply

Tree_L

@blueberrieschicken unless the story focuses not 'if'
• Reply

Tree_L

If the story focuses on the downfall of Lucian and Lili as a direct result of the guilt he carries, it risks repeating the same issues that left readers disappointed in the original story. The overwhelming frustration came from watching him and Lilith walk away with a happy ending despite the betrayal and pain they caused. Readers felt cheated because there was no real accountability, no justice, and no consequences that matched the harm inflicted.
            
            If this new story is meant to show what Lucian truly lost such as missed milestones with his child, and the family life he could have had but threw away, then it could be powerful. Watching him confront the reality of those sacrifices, not with shallow guilt but with a deep and unshakable awareness of what can never be regained, would resonate far more strongly. His suffering should not be hidden behind the illusion of a relationship he thought he wanted, but instead revealed in a way that shows the emptiness of his choices.
            
            There is an opportunity here to create a story about silence, regret, and the weight of unhealed wounds. A story where Lucian is not redeemed by others but is instead forced to confront himself. If his relationship with Lilith begins to collapse under the strain of his guilt, then it opens the door for authentic consequences. That kind of downfall would allow readers to finally see justice in its truest form. Justice in this sense does not need to come from punishment handed down by others, but rather from the punishment of living with the knowledge of everything he destroyed.
            
            If this side story allows Lucian to genuinely face his actions and find a sense of healing within himself without being absolved by those he betrayed, then it would carry real meaning. It would finally give weight to his choices instead of brushing them aside. If the purpose of the side story is only to justify him or to hand him sympathy that he does not deserve, then readers will be just as disappointed as they were before.
• Reply

Zaralyn72

Wow,this epilogue was sad. After all that Lucien and Lilith did to be together, they can never love and be in love with each other with pure abundance and complete freedom. Their love is not pure even from their perspective. Their love is tainted and built on lies and a very very shaky foundation. Do I think their happy ever after is forever?...No. But a happy for now?... Yes. That's my personal perspective. 
          
          Having to not be able to tell how they met with joy or fond memories,or having to always wonder if their AP would cheat on them, or the biggest one for me...to trust implicitly that their love is built on foundations that are so strong,it would stand the test of time,as well to NOT be free to indulge and wrap themselves in their so called love and GROW from and with that love completely and utterly, is a huge Karma to have hanging onto you...EVERY DAY of their lives. So yeah,Lucien and Lilith may ride off into the sunset apparently untouched by the devestation they created to their exes,but can you imagine choosing someone who has the same void inside of themselves like you have and finding out later down the path that they were never going to fill that void because the only one who can do that is yourself. 
          
          Where as Clara gets to build a love that she can be proud of. She and Eli get to have a Hea with the one that chooses them,and you best believe that their Karma will be filled with so much blessings. Hindsight especially from Lucien is 20/20 but it will too late. Clara and Eli are not even glancing at him. 
          
          Lucien and Lilith got the Karma that was perfect for them. So I am a lil bit pleased.

Oldermom88

Thanks for the update and the bold direction that the story is going. It sucks that cheaters sometimes get their HEAor HFN.  That’s real life. Do I wish that they wouldnt be happy of course but sometime karma comes in other ways. I hope we see a time jump and Lucian sees her and his son happy without him. That would be karma, because even if he is happy that would crush his soul.

Cherrylust_X

@ddzuba fr same
• Reply

ddzuba

Thanks for this comment. I refuse to assume Lucian and Lilith got a long lasting HEA. Their relationship was based on lûst and imo there was no stability, nothing to build on. Perhaps when Lucian starts to think about what he gave up and what he will never get back he will come to regret his actions, rëgrët Lilith. Four years for Clara to get to a place in her life that she could actually live her life. I can’t imagine the strength of character that would require. There is no glorifying Lucian and Lilith, they are simply self centred, amoral individuals who gave little thought to how their actions would  devastate others. It would be very disappointing for me to have it confirmed that in fact Lucian and Lilith did get their HEA. But as you say sometimes that’s real life.
• Reply

KeaKea44

Wow, after reading the post from the author I must say I'm truly disappointed that the cheaters don't get any karma. Lucian just leaves with his smut into the Parisian sunset with no consequences. Leaves his child, has no care in the world other than being with that smut.... I'm truly disappointed. I understand Clara will get her HEA as well, I guess I have to see how it plays out before I feel cheated. 
          
          PS: I will say I've been obsessed with this story since I found it 2-3 days ago. Read it in one sitting so the author is definitely onto something big. Great job

ddzuba

Thank you for your story. It was a bold direction to go. I truly appreciated your portrayal of Clara’s strength. She didn’t need Lucian or another man to move on with her life. Perhaps there will be another man, a love interest, in her future, but she doesn’t need one to live her life. 
            
            And Lucian and Lilith, who knows how long they will last. It has been said many times that their relationship was born from lûst and that is an unstable foundation. It was fascinating to read how a man could even consider giving up so much; a long term relationship, a wife, a son for an attraction to another woman. Could he have stepped back from the attraction? would that have made a difference? or would she have always have been on his mind? would it have been fair to his wife and son to stay when he felt he was in love with someone else?  
            
            I have no admiration for Lucian and Lilith and their behaviour, quite the opposite. 
            
            This was a very unique story and I admire you for telling it.
• Reply

blueberrieschicken

Thank you so much for supporting this story—it truly means a lot, especially since this is my first time writing, and I’m still learning. I honestly didn’t expect so many people to feel this strongly for Clara, but I’m grateful you do.
            
            I wanted this story to say: be independent like Clara. Don't wait for someone to save you. And most importantly—main characters aren't always meant to be loved. Sometimes, the side characters carry the soul of the story.
• Reply