Epilogue
FELIX
Six months later…
I wandered the supermarket, aimlessly filling my basket with junk food. There were no groundbreaking plans for my Saturday night, since it was Stella’s weekend with the boys.
The past six months had been hard and filled with much change, but I was slowly settling into my new norm. I worked hard—in my job and on the fractured relationships I had broken.
Although some time had passed, it was still difficult to reconcile that I had single-handedly destroyed my marriage for the cheap price of mediocre sex. Sometimes, I liked to dream that I hadn’t lost Stella—the one and only woman I’d ever love.
The physical affair wasn’t revolutionary or even remotely memorable. I soon realised those acts only served to feed my overinflated ego and self-entitlement. And Heather was a willing accomplice who gave me the gratification I believed I deserved.
It didn’t take long for all of that to come crashing down.
Toxic, devastating behaviour could only be reciprocated with the same, and karma didn’t hold back when dealing with us.
Due to the seriousness of her crimes, Heather remained in federal custody, awaiting her trial.
And as the dumb bitch refused to cooperate, the authorities decided to throw the book at her.
With the dirt they’d managed to dig up, she was facing four different charges with a max penalty of twenty years.
Michael kept me up to date, and she’d even tried to reach out a couple of times. He took care of that with a swiftness only a lawyer with his reputation could, but it still left me feeling tarnished.
I had given that thief the opportunity to take from those I loved, to destroy my life so thoroughly that I was left scrambling in the wreckage left behind.
And that was where I deserved to stay.
Therapy helped some, providing insight into the situation that I had recklessly made. But I could never fully forgive myself, and didn’t believe I ever would.
Distant music brought me out of my mind, and I realised I had been standing in the middle of the confectionery aisle, blindly staring at the array of chocolates for five minutes straight.
Unintentionally, I must have picked something up on autopilot, but when I processed what was in my hand, my mind slowed.
I was holding Stella’s go-to sweet treat—a signature dark chocolate that boasted 80 percent cocoa.
Memories flooded forth. Times when Eli and I would tease Stella for eating the disgusting chocolate, and she’d laugh back in jest, stating it was the best thing she’d ever had.
We all knew she was lying, and only bought it for the health benefits, but she’d double down and eat every last piece, smug smile and all.
So, after those years of taunting and playful teasing, tell me why I still bought that same chocolate every week and force-fed that bitterness down my throat?
Nostalgia and painful love. That was why.
“Ah, excuse me,” called a hurried male voice from behind, before he sidestepped around me.
The man had turned the corner at speed, beelining for the shelf I still stood in front of. He wore a black hoodie and jeans, so I didn’t recognise him immediately… until he turned around.
I was caught frozen, my eyes blazing into my arch nemesis, the man who had replaced me.
Curtis Wright. Millionaire ex-baseball player and Stella’s childhood friend-turned-boyfriend.
The word still left me bitter and seething inside.
Stella had been straightforward in her communication and firm in her convictions.
She was considerate in giving me a heads up before letting the boys know, but her generosity stopped there.
Stella informed me that Curtis would remain in her life, and there was nothing I could say or do to change a damn thing.
She was lethal and exact when she had dropped that bomb, which definitely landed centre.
I wanted to rage, to beat the shit out of him.
But I had no right, no say in her life whatsoever.
I knew Curtis had always harboured feelings for her.
So, to know I was the one to inevitably push them together—yeah, you’d be correct in assuming I crashed the fuck out.
Soon after that, just as I was getting over the initial shock, Eli and Phoenix accepted him into the fold, ecstatic to have Curtis and Logan added to their blended family.
That was a difficult and emotional couple of months. My self-worth diminished more by the second. Then I’d get a wave of remorse, knowing I was responsible for putting all of it into motion.
As my thoughts spiralled, my eyes caught on what Curtis held in his grasp—the same dark chocolate that was in mine.
I rolled my shoulders back, my gaze severe as my heart crumbled to pieces in my chest.
He’s buying her favourite candy.
I licked my lips when my intrusive thoughts blurted out. “You must hate me…” For hurting her. For destroying her. He had no trouble reading my unspoken words.
“How could I?” he asked. “Because of you, I finally got my girl. I don’t hate you, Felix.”
“Really? Because I hate you…”
“You know, I don’t blame you,” he said, tone straightforward. And then he really hit me where it hurt. “I have my dream girl, along with some magnificent boys. I finally have everything I dreamt and wanted.”
My eyes averted from his for the first time. He spoke with such reverence and devotion that I knew it wasn’t fake. Curtis truly loved her and my sons.
I sighed in defeat. “Treat her well.”
“You know I will.”
“Don’t make the same mistakes I did. Cherish her. Give her everything she deserves. Give her everything I couldn’t.”
“I promise. She will always be cherished, always loved unconditionally.” Based on his expression and voice, I knew he meant it. “I’d better be off.”
Curtis departed, but before he turned the corner, he spared me one glance over his shoulder. “Thank you. For giving me this life.” Then he left.
I wanted to run after him and punch him square in the face. But his whole demeanour made me stall.
His words weren’t laced with maliciousness—more gratitude.
As he disappeared, I looked down at the chocolate in my hand and returned the item to the shelf.
That was now his to buy. She was now his to care for. Curtis had taken on the role to provide her happiness… and despite the overwhelming envy and jealousy taking me over, I wanted that for Stella.
I wished for her to have the best, even if that wasn’t with me.