Chapter 2 Between sarah and Claire

"Claire, wait!" Elliot shouted, running after her.

Sarah had already driven off angrily after what happened , leaving Elliot caught between the chaos he had created and the woman he had missed so much . For a moment, he stood there, running a hand through his hair before deciding to chase after Claire. He knew she deserved an apology. He had put her in an uncomfortable position .

"Claire, please, wait!" he called as he caught up with her beside her car.

She was already reaching for the door handle when she turned to face him.

"Claire, I'm sorry. I swear I didn't know Sarah followed me"

"Elliot, go and be with your wife!" Claire screamed, her voice breaking beneath the weight of her emotions.

She entered her car, slammed the door, and drove away before he could say another word.

"Fuck!" Elliot cursed, rubbing his head as he watched her disappear because he had no idea how to fix the mess he had made.

Meanwhile, Claire drove home with tears streaming down her face, not just because of what happened, but it had opened a chapter in her life that she had tried so hard to close, she was left wondering how hard it would be to survive not talking or seeing Elliot again , she needed to accept that he was married , and it would be so hard because the intimacy they had just shared seemed to have reunited their bond .

"Why, Elliot? Why couldn't things have been different?"

She had once been the number one woman in his life. The one he called first thing in the morning and the last person he spoke to before going to sleep and the woman he couldn't imagine spending a single day without.

If things had gone the way they had once dreamed, none of this would have happened. There would have been no hiding, no guilt, no other woman standing between them. She could have kissed him in public, held his hand without fear, and fallen asleep beside him without feeling like she was doing something wrong.

Elliot drove home and found Sarah sitting on the edge of their bed, her arms folded across her chest. She moved her leg repeatedly due to anxiety while waiting for Elliot and was also wondering if he had stayed back with Claire,

The door opened and Elliot walked in

"Oh you are finally here ?" she asked.

Elliot loosened his tie and avoided her eyes. "Sarah, I'm tired. Can we talk about this tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow?" She let out a disbelieving laugh. "You were in bed with another woman , Elliot. And you want me to wait until tomorrow to discuss my husband's affair?"

He stopped unbuttoning his shirt.

"Keep your voice down."

"Why? Are you worried someone might hear that you're still sleeping with your ex-girlfriend?"

"That's enough, Sarah."

"No, it isn't!" She stood up, her eyes flashing with anger. "I want to know why. Why did you go back to her , wasn't I Enough for you , was she the girl you have been texting ?

Elliot looked away, his jaw tightening.

"It's complicated."

"Then explain it to me. I'm your wife, Elliot. Or does that mean nothing to you anymore?"

He sighed and sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing his palms together.

"Claire and I have a history you don't understand." Making Sarah to stare at him.

"Of course. The great love story I was never supposed to compete with."

"Don't do that."

"Do what? Speak the truth? You've spent years telling me that she's part of your past, that you moved on, and there's nothing left between you. Yet the moment you have the opportunity, you end up in bed with her"

Elliot raised his head sharply.

"You think it was just about sex? He said without thinking.

"What did you just say?"Sarah asked

He realized his mistake, but it was too late.

"Elliot, look at me." Her voice had become quieter. "What do you mean it wasn't just about sex?"

He stood up and walked toward the window.

"I didn't plan for any of this to happen."

"That isn't what I asked you."

Sarah followed him, her heart sinking as she watched him struggle to find an answer.

"Do you still love her?"

Elliot closed his eyes.

"Sarah...