She flinches, visibly, but holds her ground. “In sickness and in health, remember? We’ll get through it together, love.”
“That vow was fake,” I hiss. “Just like our marriage. I’m back home now, and I want it annulled.”
Her breath catches. Her entire body recoils as if I struck her.
“Nate… you can’t be serious.” It’s a whisper. A plea.
“I’m damn serious, Isabel. I should never have dragged you into this mess in the first place.”
She lifts her chin, blinking rapidly. “Then look me in the eye and tell me you don’t love me.”
God.
God, don’t make me do this.
I can’t look at her. I turn my face away.
“I’m tired of these games,” I say instead, forcing the words through gritted teeth. “Get out. And don’t come back.”
Because I’d rather lose her now—shatter her cleanly—than keep her shackled to a life where she watches the man she loves waste away.
Because I love her too much to let her stay.
Isabel walks out the door, sobbing.
The silence that fills the room feels like an oppressive weight, heavy on my chest. I close my eyes for a moment, trying to collect my thoughts. But when I open them, Alice is standing there, arms crossed tightly across her chest, her lips set in a tight line. Her eyes are filled with an emotion I can’t quite place—disbelief, anger, maybe even a little bit of pity.
“Nathan Weister, you’re such an idiot,” Alice’s voice cuts through the quiet, harsh and direct.
I glance up at her, my emotions a mess, my head still spinning. “As much as I respect you, Alice, this is none of your business.”
Her arms shift, hands planted firmly on her hips. “It is my business. You and Isabel are like family to me. I’ve seen both of you go through too much, and I won’t stand by while you destroy something good, Nathan. So, don’t try to shut me out.”
I rub a hand over my face. “I just need to be left alone, okay? I don’t know what to do anymore.”
She doesn’t back down, her voice softening but still firm. “You can’t fix this alone. If you really want to get through this, you’re going to have to talk to her, not shut her out.”
I look down at my hands, trying to focus on something—anything—but the aching hole in my chest. “She doesn’t want this. I saw it, Alice.”
Alice’s gaze narrows. “I don’t understand. What have you seen?”
I hesitate, breathing deeply before I finally let the truth spill out. “I saw an email.”
Her brow furrows. “An email?”
“Yeah. It was a picture—of her... laughing with another man.” The memory makes my stomach churn, but I force myself to continue. “I think... I think she’s dating someone else. It looked like she was happy with him, and that’s when I lost it. And that’s for the best. I just want her happiness.”
Alice stands still, her eyes scanning me with a mix of concern and frustration. “You really think Isabel would cheat on? After everything you guys went through?”
“I don’t know, Alice, but I saw the email. She was smiling, and it just... it threw me. I thought we were building something but at this point it’s better that way.” My hands tremble and I clench my fists.
Alice takes a deep breath, her frustration simmering just beneath the surface as she steps closer, arms crossed. “Show me the pictures,” she demands. “Because I know every single appointment she had in the past few months, and I’m damn sure she’s never cheated on you.”
I run a hand down my face, tension pulsing at my temples. “I don’t know where my phone is,” I admit, voice low.
Alice rolls her eyes and marches straight to my dresser like she owns the place. She yanks open the top drawer without hesitation.
“Wallet. Dog tags. Cell phone.” She rattles off each item like an accusation, holding up my phone and thrusting it into my hand.
