Confrontation.

The morning came with a hollow feeling in my chest. Everything seemed to slow.

I had barely slept through the night; Rowland's appearance had shaken me more than I could imagine. With it came memories I had managed to bury so deeply five years ago. Things I never wanted to remember.

His messages kept popping up on my phone.

“Can we see Selene?”

“We really need to talk.”

I sat alone in the dark, my fingers trembling, unable to respond.

I had gotten up even before my alarm went off and began to clean.

Tom slept soundly in the room opposite mine.

I got Amira dressed quickly in a daze and sent her off to school.

Tom sat on the dining table while he drank his morning coffee.

I wiped at the kitchen counter aimlessly; my mind wandered.

I couldn't let Rowland get any closer. He could expose everything. Tom must never find out who Rowland is.

“I don't like seeing you with other men, Selene.”

I froze. The light from the window shone on my wedding ring on my finger, making it glisten.

I turned around. Tom stood at the door, wearing a black suit, the mug tilted against his lips.

I squeezed the cloth so hard my knuckles turned white.

“Just like how you shamelessly parade Lisa around even though you are married?”

He took brisk steps towards the sink and rinsed the mug under the running water. “Don't bring Lisa into this, Selene. She was my first love, and she needs me now. You are a woman; you should understand.”

My brows raised, I squeezed tighter.

“Why do you suddenly care, Tom? You have made it clear several times that I am not the woman you love. Why does it bother you who is around me?”

He spun around and stood so close to me I could feel his breath on my face. “You are my wife, Selene. For better or for worse, that was the agreement.”

I tilted my chin; my body shook. “I told you. He's just an old friend. I am not like you, Tom.”

Just then, my phone rang a few inches behind me.

My body stiffened.

The sound filled the entire room. It had to be Rowland. No one hardly called my phone except Sophie and my mother.

God no, why now?

Tom’s head snapped. His gaze moved in its direction. My heart raced.

He reached for it.

His phone began to ring. His hand froze mid-air.

With narrowed eyes, he reached into his breast pocket.

“Hello,” he answered into the receiver.

A pause.

“Okay, I will be there soon.” He shoved his phone back into his pocket and gazed at me.

“I don't like being embarrassed, Selene; people are watching.”

He grabbed his keys from the counter and walked out the door.

At the sound of his engine. I heaved out a sigh. Collapsing into the chair beside me.

I glanced at my phone. It was ringing again.

Rage surged through me.

“I am going to put an end to this before it even starts. I am going to tell Rowland to stay far away from me and my family.”

The ringing had stopped, making the room too quiet.

I stared at my phone for a second to long and reached for it.

Then I typed.

“Where are we meeting? It should be somewhere public.” I stared at the message, took a deep breath and hit send.

****

I took my time in the shower. After we agreed on the time and place to meet, the clock ticked too fast.

What was I even thinking?

I sleeked my hair back and wore a courteous gown even though I told myself I didn't care.

I pulled up at the restaurant he had mentioned over the phone.

“Let’s talk over lunch,” he said.

I had never been here before, not like I had been anywhere really. In the early years of our marriage, Tom and I went to a few places until I gave birth to Amira, and she wasn't what he was expecting: a boy.

I exhaled. The wind washed and swept around me, making me shiver.

My eyes scanned the room, hoping I wouldn't see anybody I knew.

I caught Rowland's unmistakable brown hair from the doorway. He sat at her table close to the window, his back facing me.

My stomach flipped.

“Relax, Selene, You tell him to leave you alone, and then you are out.”

I walked to him.

He turned when I approached.

“Selene, you came.”

He walked around and pushed my chair back.

“Yes, I did; let’s just get this over with.”

He sighed. “Very much then. Would you like a drink?”

“Just water,” I muttered.

He gestured to the waitress. In seconds, water was placed on the table.

He waited for her to leave, then he began.

“How have you been, Selene?”

My jaw tightened, and my fingers trembled underneath the table. “What do you want, Rowland?”

“I want to apologise, Selene. Going silent for years and leaving you without answers.”

I remained silent. He continued.

“It was certain; you had other options, and you wanted more… I couldn't give you the life you wanted.”

My brows raised. “What do you mean I had other options?”

“I was only gone for just three months, but when I came back, I learnt you were already married to a man who was wealthy enough to buy my entire net worth at the time. It's understandable.”

My eyes twitched. I was running out of patience. “Did you call me here to insult me? I called you. I sent you messages for every day ever since the moment I found out that…”

I paused. I couldn't risk exposing Amira.

“Found out what, Selene?” He pushed.

“Nothing, Rowland. Found out you left me, just like everybody else.”

My chest heaved.

He clasped his hands in front of him. “I did leave Selene, but I was going to come back for you. Your family was wealthy. We planned to elope; I had nothing. I couldn't let you suffer. I went to look for money for the both of us.”

My voice shook. Did he really come back? “What about the messages I sent?”

“My phone got stolen at the airport. I never received a single text from you!”

My eyes widened. I wondered for a second if he was lying.

“The nerve of you, Rowland. I gave letters to your mother to send to you wherever you were,” I said, slamming my palm lightly on the table.

A few heads turned; I lowered my voice.

His jaw dropped. He leaned forward slightly. “I swear, Selene. I received nothing.”

I let out a shaky breath and looked away. “It doesn't matter anymore, Rowland. Why are you here?”

He reached for my hand across the table.

I withdrew so fast I almost tumbled the glass of water.

“I am happily married, Rowland. I have a family now.”

“I know you, Selene, like the back of my hand. Are you really happy? If I hadn't sensed your distress at that party. I would have deleted your contact, and you would have never seen me again.”

The air felt cold. I was tired of the conversation.

“It’s been years, Rowland. You know nothing about me. I have changed a great deal. I don't know why you came back. But please stay away from me and my family.”

I got up slowly. My throat felt drier than ever.

“Selene, wait, please.”

“Bye, Rowland.”

My chest hammered as I walked out the door.

I was halfway to my car when my phone rang.

Tom.

My stomach dropped.

I stared at the screen, my fingers numb.

I glanced up.

Tom's car pulled into the parking lot.

I froze.