07

Today is the opening of my gallery. The event begins at 5pm so now here I am running around the place like a chicken who got its head cut off trying to make sure that everything is perfect.

Before I even realize it, it's five o clock and slowly the guests trickling in. By 5:30, almost everyone is here so I go around just speaking to people, motivating them to write a fat check for my works.

"Congratulations!" Jesse shrieks excitedly as she pulls me into a tight hug.

"Thank you so much." I reply holding her tight.

When we finally let go of each other, Max who is standing beside her, pulls me into a brief hug.

"Thank you guys so much for coming. It means a lot." I tell them honestly.

"Of course. I couldn't miss my best friend's first art showing." Jesse say with a 'duh' look.

"You know we had to be here. We are practically family." Max supports.

I feel myself tear up at that last part.

"Aww." Jesse says. "Bring it in, honey." She cajoled, pulling me into another hug.

After talking to them for a bit, I leave to go continue socializing. I'm in the middle of doing that when I spot Henry standing at the far corner of the room his eyes on me intently.

What the fuck?

I don't remember sending him an invite in the first place.

I go on greeting people, trying to not make visible how much his presence affects me. All through, his eyes remain on me, watching my every move, to my discomfort.

I see the event planner, Amber, so I quickly walk to her. "Did you add Henry Wallace to the guest list?" I ask her abruptly.

She looks momentarily confused by my tone before replying. "Y-yes I did."

"Why?" I ask in annoyance.

"I thought that he could help with the publicity. Besides, I honestly didn't even think that he was going to come." She says looking frightened.

I decide to tone it down a bit for the poor lady's sake. It's not her fault. "I'm sorry, it's just that's my ex husband." I tell her rubbing my thumb and index finger on my temple. I can already feel a headache coming.

Amber looks surprised at that confession. "I'm sorry. I didn't know that."

"It's okay." I reassure her before taking my leave. I decide to go to my office and get an aspirin before this headache becomes any worse than it is now.

I walk away from the crowd feeling those same intense grey eyes on my every movement so I'm not surprised when I'm in my office and I hear someone close the door after I walk in.

"What do you want, Henry?" I ask as I rummage through my drawers for an aspirin.

"You haven't returned any of my calls." He says like it's explanation enough for him to act like a fucking creep.

"Well, shouldn't that tell you loud and clear that I do not wish to speak to you?" I ask, relieved when I finally find the bottle of pills that I was looking for. I turn around to get some water only to find Henry standing right behind me. Up close, I can see the bags underneath his eyes and the dark look in his eyes. He looks haunted, to say the least.

"I'm fucking tired of this, Sandy." He hisses suddenly, his hand coming to wrap itself around my waist while the other comes up to caress my cheek. "I forgive you, baby. I don't care about what went on between the both of you anymore." He bites out. "I'm willing to forget about it if you do too. Let's just move on past this. I love you so fucking much and these past years without you have been absolute hell." He rants.

I feel a warmth in my chest at his confession but it is overridden by confusion. "What the fuck did I do, Henry? Please just tell me cause I'm tired of all this cryptic shit. First Lorraine and now you!"

At the mention of Lorraine, his eyes are filled with so much anger. "She contacted you?" He asks me.

"Yes, but-" I start to say but he immediately cuts me off.

"I fucking told her not to. I told her to stay away from the both of us. She had done more than enough. What did she say to you?"

"She said she was sorry and she said something about not knowing what was really going on until she asked Nate. I don't even understand what Nate has to do with anything here."

"She said she lied?" Henry asks with a sudden fire in his eyes.

"She said she sent you a letter explaining everything since you wouldn't see her. Henry what the fuck is going on?" I ask.

Henry looks like he had seen a ghost as he slowly takes a seat on the couch.

6 years ago

Henry's POV

I had just begun working for my father after my college graduation. I never really had a choice as to whether or not I actually wanted to follow in his footsteps, it was something that was always required of me ever since I was little. I never really had a say.

After I began working here, I was given an office of my own which wasn't much but it was mine, along with an assistant. I constantly had a lot of work to do but I didn't complain because I'm a hard worker, I could take it.

The only thing I regret is neglecting my beautiful wife, Sandy. I know I haven't been the best husband to her lately which is why today I decided to finish up my work early and surprise her.

She had been so understanding towards my hectic schedule and has never once complained.

I hear my phone ring loudly so I quickly grab it and accept the call.

"Henry Wallace." I say.

"Mr Wallace. This is Cartier. We are calling about an order you made earlier this week." I hear a lady say on the line.

"Yes."

"The necklace will be ready for pick up this evening. Or if you would like, we can arrange to have it delivered." She suggests.

"I'll come pick it up today." I inform her.

"Okay. Have a nice day." She says before hanging up.

As a loving gesture, I had ordered for a special diamond necklace to be made for Sandy just to show her that I appreciate all that she has been doing. I know that material things won't cut it, but I still want to give her nice things as often as I can.

After the twins were born, I haven't been around as much but that's going to change. I'll make sure of it. After the conversation that I had with my mother earlier this week, I understood clearly that Sandy needed me now more than anything.

I hear a knock on my door which pulls me out of my thoughts. "Come in." I say looking back at the small pile of paperwork on my desk before me.

"Mr Wallace, Miss Samuels is here to see you again." My P.A, Amanda, informs me obviously as annoyed over Lorraine's persistence as I am.

These past months she has made it her mission to come here at least once a week but I keep sending her away. She can't seem to get the hint though.

"I asked you to send her away everytime she comes here."

"I tried to, sir, but she says it's very important."

I put my thumb and index finger to my temple, massaging it as I push my chair away from my desk.

"Let her in." I tell Amanda with a flick of my wrist deciding that I'm just going to hear what she has to say before sending her away.

Not even up to a minute later, Lorraine struts in looking like she's a model walking off the runway as usual. She had that type of beauty that was so deceitful. Thick long blonde hair, big blue eyes, slim sexy body. But, don't be deceived. She's the craziest bitch I have had the misfortune of meeting.

"What do you want now, Lorraine?" I ask her, the annoyance in my voice clear.

"Now that's not how you talk to the bearer of news is it?" She says with a smirk as she takes a seat opposite me.

I give her a straight faced look. "Can you just get to it?"

She takes her time crossing her legs before asking, "How's your wife?" She asks in a pretenseful caring tone although we both know that she doesn't give a fuck about Sandy.

"My wife is fine." I snap. "What do you want?"

Her cool composure briefly falters before she drops a brown envelope on my desk, sliding it over to me. I pick it up and open it.

Something falls out and upon closer inspection, I realise that they are pictures. Several pictures of my wife, Sandy and some blonde guy who looks slightly familiar. There are so many intimate pictures here, most taken on different days so I conclude that someone had been following them for a while. They look like they are more than familiar and in some they were even kissing.

As I stare at those images, my eyes going back and forth between them all, I feel my heart shatter. My wife, the love of my fucking life is cheating on me.

"I wondered what it was that she did at home while you spent practically all your time here at work so I had her followed for a while. Turns out she was busy doing this guy." Lorraine says with a nonchalant shrug but I can see the glint in her eyes that tells me that she's happy that this information affects me so much.

Sadistic bitch.

I hope she doesn't think that anything would happen between us ever again simply because she did this for me.

"His name?" I growl, my grip on the images tightening.

"Nate Alonso." She supplies all too eagerly.

I'm momentarily stunned. Of all people for Sandy to cheat on me with it had to be fucking Nerdy Nate. This has to be some type of joke.

But the pictures before me says otherwise. In one he's holding her close, in another their cheeks are together, in some they are just holding hands. They are always together.

Looking at these pictures make my blood boil. Why didn't she just tell me? Of course I'd be upset but it would have been so much better if I had known from her and not from Lorraine fucking Samuels.

I stand up abruptly from my chair and give Lorraine a hard look. "Get out of my office." I order in a faux calm voice. I'm trying so hard not to lose my shit right now.

"What did I do now? I just-"

"Lorraine, if you don't get up from that chair and leave my office this minute, so help me god I will throw you out myself!" I snap at her in anger.

She flinches at my tone before standing up and leaving with a huff.

I collapse on my desk chair, my head falling in my hand as I feel the sobs wreck my body violently.

"So you just thought to never ask me about it? Someone practically told you that I was cheating and you just decide to not talk to me about the claims, confirm them, before you suddenly drift away and act like I don't fucking exist?" Sandy practically yells at me.

I feel the shame wash over me as I see the disappointment and hurt in her eyes.

"You couldn't even trust me, your wife, enough to give me the benefit of the doubt." I see the tears trail down her face and I'm tempted to pull her close and wipe them away but I know now is not the time.

I open my mouth to say something, anything, but nothing comes out. I really fucked up this time.

For so long,  I had blamed Sandy in my mind for destroying our marriage when all the while it was my fault. I never even tried to fight for her.

Way before Lorraine lied, I had already began to drift away from her, putting my work first, something that I know now a good husband and father should never do. I guess that was why it was so easy for me to believe Lorraine.

And then when I found out, I was too upset to confront Sandy about it, my hurt and pride clouding my judgement, preventing me from thinking reasonably. I was scared of hearing it from her mouth although I wanted her to tell me by herself. By doing that, I drifted further from her. And when she asked for a divorce, that was the last straw for me.

But I never fought for her, and the guilt and regret for that is something I will forever live with.

The look she has in her eyes right now has me feeling less than the dirt under her shoe. But I deserve it. How could I be so stupid to play right into Lorraine's hand?

"Get out!" Sandy says, pointing at the door tears still running down her face. "Get the fuck out of my office." She shouts when I don't move fast enough.

I leave because I know that she needs her space. But I'll be back. The last time, I fucked up real bad and I didn't fight for her, for us, but now that fate has given us a second chance I'm not about to make the same mistake.

.

.

.

A/n:

The truth is finally out there. Henry is kinda an idiot, I gotta admit.

Anyway, how did you enjoy this chapter?

And now that the truth is out what do you think is next next for Henry and Sandy?

Keep reading to find out.😉

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P.s - Please check out my other books Her Arabian Prince and Dangerous (a Meek Mill fanfiction).