Narrated by Paige:
After dropping off Emily at her house, I head straight to mine, or at least that was the initial plan. Halfway there, Sarah calls me. I answer on speakerphone, and she says,
- "Where are you?" - she asks somewhat sternly.
- "Hi, I'm fine, thanks for asking," I say ironically.
- "I'm not joking, is Mason with you?" - she asks urgently.
- "Uh, no, actually, I was with Emily, and I don't know where he might be," I reply honestly and a little concerned.
- "Can you call him and see if he's with Mason?" - she asks nervously.
- "Sure, I'll call him. Is something wrong?" - I ask, worried about her emotional state.
- "I'll tell you what's happening when I know where my husband is, not before," she says, ending the call, which worries me even more.
I dial Mason's number. I'm not the type to call him; in fact, I never do, but now it's necessary.
He answers before it even rings four times.
- "Paige, are you okay?" - he asks seriously.
- "Yes, I'm fine. I just wanted to know if you're home so I can come over or go with Sarah, who just called me," I say nervously.
- "Are you sure you’re, okay?" - he insists again.
- "Yes, I'm fine," I reply, sighing.
- "I'm at a bar with Ethan, having a conversation. Go with Sarah, and when I leave, I'll go with Ethan, and we'll come home together. Does that sound good to you?" - he asks, more relaxed and less serious.
““Perfect, see you then," I say, ending the call because my friend is calling me again. "He's with Mason at a bar," I tell her before she asks.
““Thanks," she replies, sighing.
““Oh no, no thanks necessary. I'm on my way to your house. This won't be left unresolved. Do you want me to call Riley?" I ask to see if she wants both of us there.
““No, just come alone. I feel like I'm going crazy without telling someone about this," she says, and I hear her voice crack at the end of the sentence.
““I'll be there in no time," I say, ending the call and accelerating the vehicle. I didn't like hearing Sarah like that. She's always the cheerful one, always with a smile on her face no matter what. I'm worried about what's happening to her, and whatever it is, I'll support her through it.
It doesn't take me even five minutes to arrive at my friend's house. I park the car and quickly get out. I enter the house almost running.
As I enter, I see her in the living room with some papers on the coffee table and a drink in her hand. She doesn't have the sparkle in her eyes that always characterized her. I see her lost in her thoughts and sadness; her gaze dulled. She doesn't realize I'm here because of her thoughts. I sit next to her and touch her shoulder.
"I'm here, friend," I say, feeling pity for the pained look she has.
"Tell me it's not true," she says, handing me some papers.
"What do you mean?" I ask, confused.
"I found these papers in a folder on Ethan's desk. Tell me he's not stalking a woman," she says, hurt.
““Ethan? Friend, that man lives for you. It's not possible for him to be following a woman..." I stop my words as I see the images in front of me.
Ethan is indeed following Peyton. I don't know what to say. I look at all the papers, containing extensive information about her, from her birth to her family and daily life. I can't believe he has all this. It's definitely not what Sarah is imagining, but how do I tell her not to distrust Ethan without revealing the truth? How do I tell her that she is my husband's mistress, so she can stop suffering from thinking Ethan is cheating on her?
I close my eyes, unsure of how to break the news. I'll have to tell her the whole truth for her to understand who this woman is. I'm certain that if Ethan is investigating her, it's because he knows she's Mason's mistress.
"See, I have a reason to be like this. I can't believe that after so many years together, he's doing this to me! I love him, so much, but I won't forgive him for this. If he's following her, it's because he's interested in her, or maybe they're already something more, and I have no idea," she says, starting to cry.
"It's not like that. This woman has nothing to do with Ethan, I can assure you," I say, managing to capture her attention.
"What are you saying? Do you know her? Do you know who she is?" she bombards me with questions.
"I know who she is, and that's why I'm telling you that she has nothing to do with Ethan. It's a long story, but I need you to listen to me until the end without interrupting," I tell her, taking hold of her shoulders.
"Okay," she says, and I wipe away her tears with my thumbs.
"My marriage with Mason isn't real. We're together because of a contract our parents made many years ago to maintain our respective family businesses. Mason is in love with that woman, Peyton. Ethan probably found out that he's been seeing her or used to see her. She's the woman Mason will be with once our contract ends," I say, forcing a fake laugh. "I'm sorry for not telling you, but I have a confidentiality agreement signed with Mason. I promised not to tell anyone," I say nervously.
"What the hell are you saying?" she asks, annoyed.
"I'm sorry for not telling you, but I have a confidentiality agreement signed with Mason. I promised not to tell anyone," I say nervously.
"How could you live like this all these years? Ash, how can he be with her when he has you by his side? You're beautiful and smart, the best woman he could ever find," she says, trying to cheer me up.
"You don't have to say that. I always knew this would end, and well, life goes on. There are only a few months left until the divorce," I smile as I tell her this.
"Because of this stupid contract, Mason didn't notice you. Don't even think that she'll be welcomed with open arms. I hate her without even knowing her, and when I do meet her, I'll hate her even more," she says, crossing her arms.
"Don't be like that," I reply, shaking my head.
"Don't you dare defend her. Seriously, don't you dare! I'm not blind, and I've noticed that you have feelings for Mason. I saw it as something normal, thinking you two were married and in love," she says, looking at me intently.
"Maybe, but it doesn't matter. He's in love, and I won't stand in the way of his happiness," I say, shrugging my shoulders.
"Why do things have to be like this? I'm sure if you tried, you could make him fall in love with you," she says, excitedly.
"I won't do that. On the contrary, I remind him whenever I can that we're just like siblings and friends," I comment, downplaying it.
"Don't be silly, or I'll hit you. Ethan told me they're going on a trip," she says, raising her eyebrows quickly.
"Yes, we're going to several countries. I'm very excited about the trip, to be honest. I even told Mason that I might fall in love with a country and decide to stay there," I laugh.
Sarah doesn't find it as amusing as I do what I just said.
"You're joking, right?" Sarah asks, her expression serious.
"I don't know what will happen on this trip. I only intend to enjoy it to the fullest because when I return, I'll be taking over the company and focusing on work," I say sincerely.
"I won't forgive you if you don't come back to live here. Who will be the godmother of my future children? You have the position secured, so start imagining yourself as the aunt who spoils them rotten," she says, her mood improving.
"That's the Sarah I always want to see, happy and smiling. Never stop smiling, no matter what or who," I tell her, holding her hand.
"Friend, I admire how strong you are to live with him, feeling more than friendship and always pretending to be okay. I couldn't do it, especially not while being in love with him," she says, smiling with pity.
We are in that position when we hear a car outside. We both quickly get up and gather the papers, putting everything back where it belongs. Neither of them should know what we know.
I hear Ethan's laughter at something my husband said. We hurry, and as we close Ethan's office door and take a few steps down the hallway, our husbands enter the house. We walk faster than them and arrive in the living room before they do. While I tidy up, Sarah wipes her face, so it's not too noticeable that she cried. Well, Ethan would probably notice because he knows her too well.
"Love, are you okay?" he asks, concerned, looking into my eyes.
"Yes, love, just a really cruel movie. You know how I am with some things," I say, smiling.
Once again, I see the sparkle in both of their eyes. I wish that one day a man will look at me that way.
"Hello," Mason says, kissing my forehead.
"Hello, how was your drink?" I ask, smiling. Mason wraps his arm around my waist and whispers in my ear "Well, it was more than one," he says, sending a shiver down my spine.
"I can see that," I respond in a whisper. "Well, friends, I'm taking this gentleman who isn't in his best condition," I say, smiling.
"Why don't you just stay here instead? You won't be able to carry Mason to bed by yourself. You can stay in the guest room," Ethan suggests.
"Oh, it's not necessary," I begin to decline.
"I support Ethan," Sarah says, smiling.
"I also support whatever they said," my husband says next to me, laughing.
I roll my eyes and nod. It's three against one. What can I do to win when it's impossible?
"I'll take him upstairs," Ethan says.
"Where? Why? It's still early," my husband says.
"I think it's best to sleep. We need to get up early tomorrow," I tell Mason.
"So, are you going to bed with me too?" he asks, smiling.
"Of course," I reply, sighing.
"Well, then I'll go to bed like that," he says, laughing.
I shake my head, and Ethan takes Mason upstairs to the room where we'll have to sleep together. Once we're alone, Sarah comes closer to my side and says,
"I don't think you're indifferent to him," it's the only thing she manages to say before Ethan comes back down quickly.
"He was asking about you. He even wanted to get up and come find you," he says, laughing and shaking his head.
"I'll go then. See you tomorrow, and thank you for everything," I say to both of them.
We say our goodbyes, and I go up to the room to see my husband. I was expecting to find him asleep, but he's sitting on the bed, waiting for me.