388

388

THIRD PERSON POV

Roland had just begun to relax when his phone vibrated beside him. He frowned slightly and reached for it, expecting it to be Damien or maybe even Ashley. But when he saw the name on the screen, his heart skipped.

It was Karen.

He stared at the screen for a few seconds, looking surprised. 

“Karen?” he whispered.

He unlocked the phone quickly and opened her message.

“Let’s meet up at the quiet park close to St. Augustine Street.”

Roland’s eyes widened. His lips parted slightly as he reread the message, just to be sure he wasn’t imagining it.

“She wants to see me?” he murmured.

A slow smile spread across his face. His heart began to beat faster, and a warm feeling settled in his chest.

“Something good might be coming,” he said softly, almost to himself.

But then his smile faded a little as another thought hit him.

“Why would she want to see me alone?” he wondered. “Did I upset her? Is she angry? Or… does she miss me too?”

His mind raced with different possibilities. Excitement mixed with worry, and he didn’t know which feeling was stronger.

If it was because she missed him, he was already feeling kind of glad because that would bring in happiness and joy to his life. At this point, he didn't want to care about what Ashley would feel. He just wanted Karen back.

So, he typed back quickly.

“Okay.”

The moment he sent it, he sat up straight.

“Get yourself together, Roland,” he muttered.

He jumped out of bed and went to his wardrobe, pulling out a simple casual shirt and jeans. He didn’t want to look too formal or too careless. He just wanted to look normal.

He changed quickly, then went to the mirror and looked at his reflection.

“Not bad,” he said with a small smile.

He ran his fingers through his hair, adjusted his collar, and took a deep breath.

“Let’s see what you want, Karen,” he whispered.

He grabbed his keys and headed out. The night air was cool as he got into his car and started the engine. As he drove, his mind kept going back to her.

He was thinking about every single thing about her, from her physical features to her inner features and even the way she looked earlier when he held her.

“I shouldn’t be feeling like this,” he said softly. “But I can’t help it.”

The road was quiet, and the streetlights passed by one after the other. His grip on the steering wheel tightened.

“Please don’t let this be a mistake,” he added.

Soon, he pulled up near the quiet park on St. Augustine Street. The place was calm, almost empty, with just a few dim lights and the soft sound of insects in the bushes.

He parked and stepped out of the car.

His eyes searched the area, and then he finally saw her.

Karen was standing near a bench, arms folded, her posture stiff. She looked serious, not relaxed at all.

His smile faded slightly.

“So… it’s not a friendly visit,” he thought.

He walked towards her slowly. As he got closer, she turned and looked at him. Her face was unreadable.

“Karen,” he said softly.

“Roland,” she replied, her tone flat.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence was heavy.

“You asked to see me,” he said gently. “Is everything okay?”

She took a deep breath, clearly trying to control her emotions.

“No, Roland,” she said. “Everything is not okay.”

He frowned. 

“What do you mean?”

She shook her head slowly. 

“What you said earlier… the way you looked at me, and the things you said.”

He swallowed. “Karen, I…”

She raised her hand. 

“Don’t,” she warned. “Don’t start.”

He closed his mouth, watching her carefully.

“You cannot do that again,” she said firmly. “You cannot tell me those things. You cannot look at me like that.”

His chest tightened. 

“Karen…”

“I am married,” she continued, her voice slightly shaking. “I am married, Roland. To Ashley.”

He nodded slowly. “I know.”

“Then act like it,” she said. “Because what you did… it was wrong.”

He stepped closer.

“I didn’t plan it. It just happened.”

She scoffed. “That’s not an excuse.”

He sighed. “I know. And I’m sorry.” he apologized to her.

She looked away. 

“Sorry doesn’t fix everything.” she said firmly.

He hesitated, then said softly, “I never meant to make things complicated for you.”

She turned back to him, eyes sharp. 

“But you did.”

Then he looked down. 

“I can’t just turn off my feelings, Karen.”

Her expression softened for a split second, then hardened again. 

“That’s not my problem.”

He looked at her again. 

“I didn’t mean for what happened between us to happen,” he said. “And I will keep apologizing if that’s what it takes.”

She shook her head. “Apologies won’t change the fact that you crossed a line.”

He stepped closer again. 

“I was overwhelmed. Seeing you again, seeing the kids… it brought back too much.”

She laughed bitterly. 

“So you think that gives you the right to confuse me?”

He reached out slightly, then stopped himself. 

“No. I don’t.”

She folded her arms again. 

“Then don’t ever do that again.”

He nodded. “I won’t.”

She stared at him, searching his face. “Do you promise?”

“I promise,” he said.

There was another silence. The air felt thick between them.
He took a step closer, unable to help himself. 

“Karen…”

She stiffened. “Roland, don’t.”

He ignored the warning and gently pulled her into a hug.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I’m really sorry.”

She froze in his arms, her body tense.

“Let go of me,” she said softly.

“I just wanted to…”

“Let go,” she repeated, firmer.

He released her slowly. 

“I didn’t mean to upset you.”

She looked at him, anger flashing in her eyes.

“You don’t get to hold me like that,” she said. “Not anymore.”

He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say anything else, her hand lifted up to his face.

And she slapped him.