Contract Marriage: I Will Never Love You

Chapter 38: I am Staying

Chapter 38: I am StayingPresent time...

Sarah

"You know I can’t just forget about everything, right?"

I give Rebecca a blank stare. "What?" I ask.

Josh had pushed Rebecca and me out to the terrace so we could talk alone and ’work things out.’ It was the only part of the house that was empty.

"I said, you know I can’t just forget about everything you did and pretend to be friends again," Rebecca says sharply.

I sigh. "Yes, I know."

Rebecca crosses her arms, her expression hard. "Then why are you here?"

I meet her gaze, my stomach twisting. "Josh invited me. I didn’t know you were going to be here too."

Rebecca scoffs, shaking her head. "Of course, he did."

I shift uncomfortably, gripping the strap of my purse. "Look, I’m not here to start anything. I didn’t come to ruin your night or make things awkward."

"Too late for that," she mutters, her eyes flashing with resentment.

I exhale slowly, trying to keep my voice steady. "I get it, okay? You don’t want me here. But I didn’t plan this. I just wanted to hang out and see some old friends. That’s all."

Rebecca studies me for a moment, then folds her arms tighter. "I can’t believe you went through with the wedding. Matthew doesn’t deserve this."

I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. "I know that."

"Do you?" Her voice is sharp, cutting through the noise of the party. "Because from where I’m standing, it sure doesn’t seem like it. Do you think you won?"

I clench my jaw, resisting the urge to snap back. Fighting won’t fix anything. "I can’t change the past, Rebecca. And no, I don’t think I won. Matthew hates me. He made it clear right from the start."

Rebecca shakes her head, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. "Then why marry him, Sarah? Why force yourself into something that’s built on nothing but lies and resentment?"

"Because I love him," I say quietly.

Rebecca’s expression freezes. Then she laughs without a trace of humor in it. "Sarah, you trapped him. That’s not love. That’s manipulation."

I flinch but hold my ground. "I was an idiot. But it’s too late now. We are married already. All I can do now is try to fix things."

"Do you even hear yourself? How do you plan on doing that? You said yourself Matthew still hates you. Do you really think he will forgive you?" Rebecca asks.

I swallow hard. "I didn’t want it to be like this," I admit. "I didn’t want to hurt anyone. But it happened. And I can’t undo it, and I wish you didn’t hate me like Matthew does."

Rebecca exhales sharply. "I don’t hate you, Sarah," she says, shaking her head. "I just don’t even know who you are anymore."

Her words sting more than I expected.

I bite my lip, gripping my purse tighter. "I’m still me," I say. "And I really miss you, Rebecca. Please...can we start over?" I plead.

Rebecca looks at me, her expression torn between anger and something like regret. For a long moment, she says nothing, just studying me as if

For a moment, he doesn’t say anything. Then his lips twist into a small smile. "Don’t say I didn’t warn you," he mutters before turning on his heel and stalking off.

I watch him leave, my body still tense from the encounter.

Josh’s voice pulls me back to reality. "What was that all about, Sarah? Did he just threaten you?"

I look at him and smile. "I could use a drink."