Chapter 74

Martha sat down next to Kiara, who had been crying quietly on the couch. Kiara was devastated after she found out that Liam had been cheating on her and this wasn't the first time.

"Hey, it's okay," Martha said gently, placing a hand on Kiara's back. "You don't need to be sad over what Liam did. He's not worth your tears."

Kiara looked up at her friend, her eyes red and puffy. "But I love him," she said, her voice shaking. "I can't believe he would do this to me."

Martha sighed, knowing how hard it was to see someone you cared about hurting. "I know it's hard to hear, but sometimes love isn't enough," she said. "You deserve someone who will treat you with respect and loyalty. Liam clearly wasn't that person."

Kiara wiped away a tear and shook her head. "But how could he do this to me? We were so happy together."

Martha shrugged. "I don't know, Kiara. People make mistakes. Maybe Liam was feeling insecure or lost. But ultimately, it's not your responsibility to fix him or to stay with him if he's not treating you right."

Kiara leaned her head against Martha's shoulder, her tears starting to subside. "I just don't know what to do," she said softly.

Martha hugged her friend and held her close. "Take some time for yourself, Kiara. Think about what you want and what you deserve in a relationship. And know that I'm here for you, no matter what."

Kiara sniffled and looked up at Martha, gratitude in her eyes. "Thank you," she said. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Martha smiled and hugged her friend again, hoping that Kiara would eventually find the strength to move on from Liam and find someone who truly deserved her love.

Later that day, Kiara walked through the hospital doors, her heart pounding in her chest. It had been days since she had last seen Lucas and even though they had split up months ago, but she still cared deeply for him, and hearing that he had fallen ill had been a devastating blow.

As she made her way through the sterile hallways, Kiara couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. Lucas was going to be okay. The doctors had said that his illness was serious, but he had pulled through, and now he was recovering.

When she arrived at his room, Kiara took a deep breath and pushed the door open. Lucas was lying in bed, his eyes closed, but as soon as he heard the door open, he opened them and looked up.

"Kiara," he said, his voice weak but filled with warmth. "It's good to see you."

Kiara walked over to the bed and took Lucas's hand in hers. She could feel how much weight he had lost, but she was relieved to see color in his cheeks, and a smile on his face.

"I'm so glad you're okay," she said softly.

Lucas squeezed her hand. "I'm not quite back to normal yet, but I'm getting there," he said. "The doctors say I just need to take it easy for a while."

Kiara nodded. "I'm just glad that you're going to be okay."

They sat there in silence for a moment, Kiara watching as Lucas rested. She couldn't help but think about all the times they had shared together, both good and bad. Despite their differences, she knew that she would always care for him.

As she got up to leave, Kiara leaned over and kissed Lucas's forehead. "Take care of yourself," she said. "I'll come visit you again soon."

Lucas smiled weakly, but it was enough to make Kiara's heart swell. As she walked out of the room, she knew that things between them would never be the same, but she was grateful for the moment they had shared. And she was glad that Lucas was on the road to recovery.

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Kiara walked into the kitchen where Martha was busy washing dishes. She took a deep breath and said, "Martha, I heard from the doctor that Lucas is doing alright. He had a health scare recently, but he's doing better now."

Martha looked up from the sink and gave Kiara a surprised look. "Lucas? Your ex-husband?" she asked.

Kiara nodded. "Yes, that Lucas. I just wanted you to know that I'm glad he's doing okay. We may not have ended things on the best terms, but I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to him."

Martha gave Kiara a kind smile. "That's very kind of you, Kiara. It's good to hear that he's doing better. You know, you two may not have worked out as a couple, but it's clear that you still care about him as a person."

Kiara shrugged. "I guess so. I just don't want to hold onto any grudges or negative feelings. Life's too short for that."

Martha nodded in agreement. "You're absolutely right. It's always better to focus on the positive and let go of the negative. I'm sure Lucas would be happy to hear that you're thinking of him."

Kiara smiled. "Maybe one day I'll reach out to him and see how he's doing. But for now, I'm just glad he's okay."

Martha went back to her dishes, and Kiara left the kitchen feeling a sense of peace. She knew that even though her marriage to Lucas had ended, there was still a place for him in her heart, and she was grateful for the time they had spent together.

Now, Kiara knew that she just had to find a way to talk to Liam and try to come to terms with the fact that he had cheated on her and she really didn't deserve any of the heartbreak he was making her pass through. She hated knowing that he had cheated on her with his ex and Kiara knew that it would be a really hard thing to forgive him but nevertheless, she was prepared to monitor the issue and ensure that she never made the same mistake of dating someone who didn't care for her feelings ever again.