Grace Morgan's POV

I opened my eyes slowly, my head throbbing and my vision blurry. As I regained consciousness, I could feel a dull ache in my body. I tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over me, forcing me to lie back down. Slowly, the room came into focus, and I realized that I had been unconscious for an unknown amount of time.

With a deep breath, I tried to piece together what had happened. I soon remember the romantic scene between Derek and his colleague kissing passionately at the office party. The realization of betrayal and deceit hit me like a ton of bricks, leaving me feeling both heartbroken and enraged.

I thought Derek could never cheat on me, but now I was faced with the painful truth. The image of him locking lips with another woman at the office party replayed in my mind, shattering the trust I had in him. My heart ached as I struggled to come to terms with the betrayal, realizing that my belief in our relationship had been shattered.

As the pain of unfaithfulness continued to wash over me, I couldn't help but feel foolish for not seeing the warning signs. It was then that I remembered a conversation we had just a few weeks prior, where he dismissed my concerns about his work colleague as unfounded jealousy. The memory stung like salt in an open wound, and I couldn't believe how easily I had been fooled.

But now was not the time to wallow in self-pity. I needed to figure out what my next move would be. Should I confront Derek and demand answers, or should I walk away from the relationship altogether? As the thoughts raced through my mind, a sense of clarity began to emerge. I knew very well that Derek would never let me go, and I wasn't ready to give up on the relationship just yet.

Suddenly the door burst open, revealing Derek standing there with no remorse on his face, only determination. It was clear that this confrontation was inevitable, and I needed to be prepared for whatever came next. With a deep breath, I braced myself for the difficult conversation that was about to unfold.

"So you are finally awake after creating such a blunder last night." Derek's words cut through the tension in the room; his anger was palpable. When did I create such a blunder? The last thing I remember was him kissing Ava and being all over her; he was the one who caused a scene.

I tried to push the memories of Derek's infidelity to the back of my mind as I faced him head-on. "What are you talking about?" I asked, my voice shaking with anger and hurt.

Derek's expression turned sour. "Don't play dumb; you know exactly what I'm talking about," he exclaimed, his voice raising in volume. "You embarrassed yourself in front of all my colleagues at the party last night. I can't believe you would act like that."

My blood boiled at his words, the truth of his infidelity ringing in my ears. "Embarrassed myself?" I replied, my voice quivering with emotion. "You were the one making out with Ava, and now you're trying to turn this on me?"

Derek's eyes narrowed, and he took a step toward me. "What did you expect?" he said, his voice dripping with contempt. "You've been distant and cold towards me for weeks. I needed something to make me feel alive again, and Ava was there."

I was shocked, unable to believe what I was hearing. Had Derek really been cheating on me because of my own supposed shortcomings? The realization hit me hard, and I felt the weight of our relationship crashing down around us.

"Moreover, your untimely loss of consciousness necessitated the intervention of our new neighbors to escort you home." He said it with a bitter laugh, as if mocking my vulnerability. "Embarrassing doesn't even begin to cover it," he continued, his tone laced with sarcasm.

Even in that moment of treachery, Zane's face came into my mind. Did he carry me to his car? I felt someone holding me against their arm and slowly settling me in their car last night. The thought of Zane's gentle touch brought a sense of comfort, despite the turmoil of the situation. I couldn't help but wonder if he would have handled the situation differently, with more care and concern.

Derek's words hit me like daggers, each one stabbing at my heart. I couldn't believe how callous he was being, especially after what he had done. Anger boiled inside of me, replacing the hurt and sadness that had consumed me just moments before.

"You have no right to talk to me like that," I said, my voice shaking with rage. "You betrayed me, and now you're trying to make me the bad guy? You're the one who cheated, Derek. You have no right to judge me."

"Didn't you like being carried by that new guy? You seemed to enjoy it more than you ever did with me," Derek sneered, his eyes flashing with malice. His words cut through me like a knife, leaving me speechless.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I struggled to find the right words to respond to Derek's cruel accusation. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself before speaking again. "It's not about him, Derek. It's about you and what you did to me. You broke my trust, and I can't just pretend like everything is okay." Derek's expression softened slightly, but the hurt and anger still lingered in his eyes. "I made a mistake, okay? But that doesn't mean you get to throw it in my face every chance you get," he muttered, his voice tinged with regret.

"You know how much I care about you, and all you can focus on is this one tiny mistake. Can't you see that I'm trying to make things right?" His words were smooth, calculated, and designed to make me doubt my own feelings of hurt and betrayal. "I just need you to forgive me and move on. Isn't our relationship worth more than dwelling on the past?" Derek's eyes bore into mine, his expression pleading for understanding and forgiveness.

I could feel my resolve weakening as I looked into his eyes, searching for any sign of sincerity. The doubt lingered in the back of my mind, reminding me of the pain and heartache that his mistake had caused. But there was a part of me that still longed for the connection we once shared—the love that had brought us together in the first place. I struggled to find the right words to express the turmoil within me, torn between the desire to forgive and the fear of being hurt again.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart as I prepared to confront him. The weight of his disloyalty hung heavy in the air between us, but I needed answers. "How long have you two been in this secret affair?" I finally managed to ask, my voice barely above a whisper. His eyes shifted away from mine.

"I'm so sorry," he finally admitted, his voice barely audible. "It's been going on for a few months now." My heart sank as the truth of his betrayal settled in, leaving me feeling numb and broken.

As Derek's admission hangs heavy in the air, I feel the ground beneath me shift, my world tilting on its axis. His words pierce through the trouble in my mind, striking a chord of disbelief.

"How could you do this to us?" I managed to choke out while I tried to stop myself from crumbling in front of him.

Derek's eyes flicker with regret, his expression a mix of shame and desperation. "I never meant to hurt you," he pleads, reaching out as if to bridge the chasm that has opened up between us. "It was a mistake—a moment of weakness."

His words ring hollow, a feeble attempt to absolve himself of responsibility. Yet, despite the anger burning within me, there's a small part of me that wants to believe him, to cling to the hope that this nightmare can somehow be undone.

"You've been distant lately," Derek continues, his voice softening as he searches my eyes for a glimmer of understanding. "I thought maybe I had lost you, and I didn't know how to fix it."

His words hit me like a sucker punch, knocking the wind out of me. Was I to blame for his infidelity? Had I driven him into another woman's arms with my own insecurities? It is true that I've been distant lately, consumed by my own problems and fears.

But even as doubt gnaws at the edges of my mind, a voice deep within me cries out in protest. No, this is not my fault. I refuse to shoulder the blame for Derek's betrayal.

"You can't put this on me," I reply, my voice firm despite the tremor of uncertainty that lingers beneath the surface. "You made a choice, Derek. And now you have to live with the consequences."

Derek's gaze wavers, his façade crumbling under the weight of my accusation. For a moment, I catch a glimpse of the man I thought I knew—the man who promised to love and cherish me until the end of time.

But then, just as quickly as it appeared, the moment was gone, replaced by a steely resolve that sent a shiver down my spine.

"I'll do anything to make it right," Derek insists, his voice tinged with desperation. "Please don't give up on us. We can get through this together."

His words echo in the silence that stretches between us, filling the room with a sense of foreboding. And as I gaze into Derek's eyes, searching for a flicker of sincerity, I can't help but wonder if this is just another ploy to manipulate me into staying.

But deep down, beneath the layers of mistrust, there's a part of me that still yearns for the love we once shared. And as much as I want to walk away, to leave Derek behind and never look back, I can't shake the feeling that maybe, just maybe, there's still hope for us yet. I still love him too much.

"I forgave you too, remember? That Adam guy when you used to go out with him," Derek's voice breaks through my thoughts, reminding me of our shared past.

"Adam was just a friend from college, Derek. It was never anything more than that," I reply, feeling a mix of frustration and sadness at how easily he can twist the truth to fit his narrative.

"I saw love in your eyes for him once, just like I see it now for me," Derek continues, he lowered his voice with a hint of desperation. "But I'm not Adam, and I'm not going to let you go that easily." My heart aches at his words, torn between the past we shared and the uncertain future ahead.

"We can fix this, babe," Derek says, reaching out to hold my hand gently. "I know we can work through this together; just give us a chance." I feel a glimmer of hope in his sincerity, wondering if maybe there is a way to salvage what we once had.

"I'll stop talking or texting Ava if that's what it takes to prove to you that I'm committed to making things right between us," Derek promises, his eyes pleading for forgiveness. With a heavy sigh, I nod slowly, realizing that maybe there is still a chance for us after all. Even Amber is willing to give her ex boyfriend Michael a chance, despite everything that has happened between them.

"You said you'd do anything to fix this marriage, right? Show me through your actions, not just your words," I respond, cautiously optimistic about the possibility of reconciliation. Derek nods, determination in his eyes, as he vows to make things right between us.

"What do you want me to do? Derek asked.

I take a moment to think before replying, "I want you to attend couples therapy with me. Let's work on our issues together." Derek nods in agreement, relieved that there is a clear path towards rebuilding our relationship. I've heard that couple therapy can be really helpful for couples in similar situations, so I'm hopeful that it will make a positive difference for us.

"Anything for you, darling," Derek responds with a smile as he leans towards me and gives me a gentle kiss on the forehead.

Amidst the fractured remnants of our once unbreakable bond, a glimmer of hope emerges. It's a tentative step towards repairing what was irreparably shattered from the very beginning.