"Tell me you haven't been thinking about me," Elliot whispered, brushing a strand of hair away from Claire's face. Claire let out a bitter laugh. "You're married, Elliot. What exactly do you want me to say?" He leaned closer, his eyes fixed on hers. "Tell me you don't still love me." She should have pushed him away ,or reminded him of how much she was heartbroken about his marriage or how she didn't want to ever come second to anyone. Instead, she grabbed the collar of his shirt and kissed him. When they finally pulled apart, Elliot rested his forehead against hers. "I never stopped loving you, Claire." " Then why did you marry her? "Because I was a coward and my parents love her" Claire swallowed  the lump in her throat . If only he had stood up to his parents and fought for their love  two years ago, she wouldn't have to be sneaky with him , she had dated Elliot for four years and they would have probably been Married with a biracial child now , his words only reminded her of the pain she had  felt then and how she would never be nothing other than a girl in his past . "Do you know what I hate most about you?" she whispered. "What?" "You always come back when I'm finally learning how to live without you." Elliot cupped her face. "And you always let me." "But we can't continue sneaking around, " Claire said.  Elliot placed his finger on her lips, halting her speech and kissing her, they  kissed passionately in a similar rhythm, without thinking about consequences each of them decided to let the emotions and  pleasure  win . Elliot reached out for the gown and let her sleeves fall beneath her shoulders while he unzipped her dress . " You look sexy as always Claire " Claire giggled and fiddled with his hair in a flirty way. Nobody rides me the way you do, " Elliot said as he slid down the dress exposing Claire's body , her curves were prominent and  her ass was soft and hard to resist . She lay seductively on the bed widening her legs and giving him free access , Elliot leaned forward and kissed her harder , their breaths became uneven as they devoured each other , and the atmosphere of the room became steamy like couples having a make - up sex , Elliot took his time , kissing her , caressing and sucking  her genitals , in a way that proved that nobody tasted better than her . Claire didn't have to ask about his wife  because Elliot had proven how much he had missed her body and somehow it was a solace to her . She allowed herself to be in the moment , listening to her soft moans and the pleasure of being held in his arms again . Elliot was on top of Claire thrusting in and out of her singing of her glory when the door suddenly opened . Standing at the doorway was Elliot's  wife. "What the hell is this?" the woman screamed, staring at them in disbelief. Elliot  immediately scrambled out of bed, reaching for his trousers. "Sarah, please, let me explain!" Claire held  the bedsheet to her chest, her heart racing. She had known Elliot was married, but she never expected to be caught like this. His wife let out a bitter laugh, tears gathering in her eyes. "So this is the woman you told me not to worry about?" "Sarah, it was a mistake," Elliot  pleaded. Claire's  stomach twisted at his words. A mistake? Was that all she was to him after he had promised that he still loved her? He had just professed his love to her , he had adorned her body and called her the sweetest girl . Sarah turned to Claire, her eyes blazing with fury. "And you must be very proud of yourself, lying in bed with another woman's husband ." Claire tightened the bedsheet around her body, visibly uncomfortable but unwilling to let Sarah humiliate her after all she was supposed to be Elliot's wife , if she hadn't taken her place . "Look, I understand you're angry, but you don't have to speak to me like that." Sarah  stared at her as if she couldn't believe what she had just heard. "I don't have to speak to you like that? You're sleeping with my husband, and you expect me to be polite?" Claire's cheeks burned. "I never asked you to be polite. But if you have a problem, you should be talking to your husband." "Don't you dare tell me what to do with my husband!" "Then stop directing all your anger at me!" Claire snapped. "He's the one who made vows to you, not me!" For a moment, she seemed too shocked to respond. Then she marched towards the bed, her eyes blazing. "You think that makes you innocent? You knew he was married, didn't you?"Claire looked away briefly before meeting her gaze again. "Yes, Sarah . I did. I'm not going to stand here and pretend I didn't know what I was getting myself into." "Unbelievable!" Sarah screamed. "What kind of woman does that?" "A woman who made a decision she might regret, but that doesn't give you the right to insult her." "Regret?" Sarah  laughed bitterly. "You don't look very regretful to me!" "Because I'm not going to cry and beg for your forgiveness just to make you feel better!" Claire threw the sheets aside long enough to reach for her clothes, then wrapped herself up again. "You know what? Insult me all you want. Call me whatever makes you feel better. But don't stand there pretending you haven't taken what belonged to another woman before , you took him from me and you knew how long we were together, " Claire continued, her voice trembling with anger. "I was in his life before you even knew him , he may not have made vows to me in church but he made promises to me , we dated for 4 years but he married you even though he had only known you for 8months .And maybe I made a mistake by letting him back into my life, but don't you dare act like you know anything about what happened between us." Sarah shook her head in disgust and grabbed her handbag."I'm done with both of you!" she snapped, turning towards the door. "Sarah , wait!" Elliot called, rushing after her while struggling to button his shirt .

"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... "Do you still love Claire?" He turned to face her, frustration and guilt written across his face. "I never stopped caring about her." Sarah's lips parted slightly. "Caring about her?" "Tell me something, Elliot. When you were with her , did you think about me at all?" " I want to know if there was even one moment when you remembered that you had a wife waiting for you at home." "Sarah, I didn't mean to hurt you."Elliot said, stepping toward her. "I do love you." She looked up at him, tears gathering in her eyes. "But do you love me the way you love her? " Yes, you are my wife, " Elliot said, drawing her closer for a hug.

Two years ago, Claire watched Elliot get married to Sarah while she sat there in the congregation with her heart pounding and broken at the same time ,she was not supposed to be there but she thought she could handle it , she had expected that watching him become legally and morally entwined with Sarah would break her denial phase ,she wouldn't have to feel like it was a dream  anymore but things didn't go as she had expected instead the view kept increasing the urge to go for what would have been , he had wanted to storm out and object their marriage when the reverend father asked in church , but what solid point did she have??  Claire woke up with swollen eyes, her face still heavy from crying herself to sleep the previous night after meeting with Elliot. He had visited her to seek closure, but he didn't even agree to come inside. He simply stood by the door, apologizing for everything, from his parents' disapproval of their relationship to the decision he had made to marry Sarah. It was safe to say it was almost the hundredth time he had explained the situation to her. He had hoped she would understand, but even he knew how impossible and selfish that expectation was. How could he expect her to understand that the man she had loved for four years was going to marry another woman because their families had business interests to protect and become she was black? "My parents love her, Claire," he had said, his voice breaking. "They have always said I wouldn't marry a black girl, and with her father and mine having invested so much together, they believe bringing our families together is the best way to protect the business." Claire had stared at him, struggling to understand how their love had become something so easily sacrificed. "So that's it?" she had asked. "Your parents love her and  don't love me because I'm black ??Her parents are business partners with yours, and suddenly, everything we planned together means nothing?" "That's not what I'm saying." "Then what are you saying, Elliot? Because I don't understand how you can stand here and tell me you love me while preparing to marry another woman." He had looked away, unable to answer her immediately. "I never wanted things to happen this way." "But they are happening this way." "I'm sorry, Claire. I wish there were another way." She had shaken her head, tears filling her eyes. "You keep saying that. Why wasn't there another way? Why couldn't you stand up for us? We were supposed to get married, Elliot. We had plans. You promised me a future." "I know, and I'm sorry." He had tried to hold her hands, but she had pulled away, unable to bear the comfort of the same person who was causing her pain. "Please don't make this harder for me than it already is," she had whispered. Elliot stood there with tears in his eyes, apologizing again and again, until he finally turned and left. Claire had watched him drive away, wondering why there hadn't been another way for them. Now, she was supposed to stay away from him because he was getting married, but how was she supposed to do that when her heart hadn't accepted that she had lost him?  She had walked into that venue and her presence surprised everyone, family members and friends from college didn't expect she would attend the wedding , she dressed elegantly in a silk dress , hoping that today she would teach her heart that reality had more power than delusion , the wedding was glamorous, though she came late but she still met the moment she had expected, she had wanted to wish Elliot and his bride a happy marriage with hope that she would move on . She approached the newlyweds with a bouquet of beautiful, bright flowers, forcing a smile as she handed it to Sarah. "Congratulations," she said. "You look beautiful." Sarah smiled at her, although surprise was evident in her expression. "Thank you, Claire. I didn't expect you to come." Claire swallowed the lump in her throat. "I just wanted to wish you both a happy marriage." "That's very kind of you," Sarah replied. Claire turned to Elliot, who had been staring at her silently. "You make a handsome groom, Elliot." He looked at her with an expression she couldn't quite understand. "Claire..." She quickly looked away before he could say anything else. "Enjoy your day." She walked away before the tears gathered in her eyes fell, She had barely made it to the bathroom before she broke down, rushing to the sink and splashing water over her face as she tried to control her emotions. She had thought she could handle seeing him with another woman, but watching them sit hand in hand like two people deeply in love had been more painful than she had imagined. She stared at herself in the mirror, wondering why she had put herself through this. Suddenly, she heard a knock on the door. "Claire, are you there?" She quickly wiped her face before opening the door, and Elliot walked inside, looking worried as he examined her tear-stained face. "Are you still crying?" he asked softly. "You look pale, Claire. You shouldn't be here. Coming here would break you, and I know how emotional you can get." Claire moved backwards, trying to put some distance between them. "You make a handsome groom, Elliot," she said again, forcing a smile as she struggled to hold back her tears. He stared at her for a moment before reaching for her hands,took out a piece of white cloth and handed it to her. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "Please, go home. Don't do this to yourself." Claire accepted the cloth and wiped her tears while he stood beside her, listening carefully for footsteps outside the door. "I just wanted to congratulate you," she said, her voice trembling. "I thought if I came here and watched you get married, I would finally accept that it was over. I thought I could wish you a happy marriage and go home without feeling like my heart was being torn apart." "Claire, you didn't have to do this." "I know, but I wanted to. I wanted to see it for myself." She looked at him, tears filling her eyes again. "Maybe then I would finally understand that you're no longer mine." He tightened his grip on her hands, his eyes growing moist. "Please don't say that." "Why shouldn't I? You're married now, Elliot. You stood before everyone and promised to love Sarah. What am I supposed to do with the promises you made to me?" He lowered his head, unable to answer. Claire let out a shaky breath and pulled her hands away. "I should go." "Please, Claire. I hate seeing you hurt like this." She gave him a sad smile. "Then you shouldn't have married her."