Arthur watched her the way one watches their own punishment. He knew he deserved every word. What Zoe didn’t know was that every night, he cried inwardly. He cried for her. For the life he had lost.

“You destroyed everything, Arthur. Everything!” she screamed, her voice breaking. “Our story. My love for you. The trust. You destroyed my life!”

He closed his eyes, as if each word reopened a fresh wound.

“You chose to go to that farewell party. You knew what Sabrina had been doing. And still, you chose to sleep with her. You weren’t drugged—this whole story is a lie. You forged that exam. And now she’s carrying your child. A child she’ll use to trap you. To destroy whatever was left of me.”

Arthur didn’t respond. His chest rose and fell with effort. He wanted to say that he, too, was destroyed. He wanted to scream that he didn’t know how he had let everything spiral out of control. But Zoe was right. He hadn’t given her the chance to choose.

Zoe stepped closer to the edge of the bed, her