Chapter 4 4

Sierra drove away from the cafe, her mind wandered back to her past, and the one person who had been a significant part of her life - Derek, her ex-husband. Their relationship had been filled with passion and love. However, over time, things had changed, and their marriage had become strained. The final blow came when Derek's infidelity had led to their divorce.

Sierra's thoughts were interrupted by the sight of a familiar figure standing on the sidewalk, watching her drive by. It was Derek himself, his piercing blue eyes locked onto hers for a brief moment before she accelerated away from the curb but she was only hallucinating.

Her heart raced as she sped away, the memories of their tumultuous relationship flooding back. She had thought she was over him, but the sight of him brought back all the emotions she thought she had buried. Sierra took a deep breath, reminding herself that she was moving on, and that her focus was on her boys and her new life.

*******

Sierra left Texas to pursue her dreams of becoming a successful interior designer and event planner, leaving behind the heartache of her breakup with high school sweetheart, Matt. With a newfound sense of determination and independence, she arrived in California, ready to start fresh.

It was in Los Angeles, at a design studio where she had landed an internship, that Sierra met Derek. He was a successful businessman, charming and confident, with a quick wit and a passion for art and design. They struck up a conversation, bonding over their shared love of creativity and innovation.

Derek was immediately drawn to Sierra's talent, enthusiasm, and beauty. He became her mentor, friend, and eventually, her lover. Sierra was swept up in his charisma and charm, and before long, they were inseparable.

As their relationship blossomed, Sierra found herself falling deeply in love with Derek's adventurous spirit and kind heart. He was everything she thought she wanted - successful, handsome, and devoted. But, as their relationship progressed, Sierra began to realize that Derek's charm and charisma hid a darker side, one that would ultimately lead to the demise of their marriage.

Sierra's world came crashing down on a typical Wednesday evening. She had just returned home from a long day at work, exhausted but content after a successful design meeting. As she walked into the house, she noticed Derek's phone lying on the couch, his screen still lit up from a recent text conversation.

Her curiosity piqued, Sierra couldn't help but glance at the screen. What she saw made her heart skip a beat. A message from Claudia, a colleague of Derek's, flashed on the screen: "Can't wait to see you tonight, baby."

Sierra's mind raced as she felt a wave of nausea wash over her. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Derek, her loving husband, was cheating on her with someone from his office. The thought of it made her skin crawl.

Without thinking, Sierra scrolled through the conversation, her eyes scanning the explicit messages between Derek and Claudia. The evidence was clear - they had been carrying on an affair for months, right under her nose.

Feeling like she'd been punched in the gut, Sierra stumbled backward, her eyes welling up with tears. She couldn't believe the man she loved, the one she thought she knew, could betray her like this. The thought of Derek's infidelity consumed her, leaving her feeling shattered and alone.

Sierra's hands trembled with anger and hurt as she confronted Derek about the incriminating messages on his phone. "How could you, Derek?!" she demanded, her voice shaking. "You're having an affair with Claudia, aren't you?"

Derek's expression changed from surprise to denial in an instant. "What are you talking about, Sierra? I don't know what you're seeing, but it's not what you think."

Sierra's eyes narrowed. "Don't lie to me! I saw the messages. 'Can't wait to see you tonight, baby'? You can't deny that!"

Derek took a deep breath, his voice calm and collected. "Sierra, listen to me. I know how this looks, but I swear, Claudia and I are just friends. We ran into each other at a conference in California, and we grabbed lunch together. That's all. You know how it is in our industry, we run into people all the time."

Sierra's anger turned to disbelief. "A conference? You expect me to believe that? You're telling me that you just happened to run into your colleague, who just happens to be a woman you're clearly flirting with, and it's all just a coincidence?"

Derek's expression remained steadfast. "Sierra, I'm telling you the truth. I would never cheat on you. You know me better than that."

Sierra's mind raced, trying to reconcile the man she thought she knew with the evidence she had seen. She wanted to believe him, but the doubt had already taken root. "I need time to think," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "I need to know if our marriage is even worth fighting for."

*******

Derek came from a wealthy family, his father being a renowned lawyer with a lucrative practice. However, Derek had always felt stifled by the expectation to follow in his father's footsteps. He wanted to prove himself, to build his own legacy, rather than relying on his family's name and fortune.

So, he made the bold decision to leave his father's firm and strike out on his own. He turned down a substantial inheritance and instead used his own savings to start his own law firm from scratch.

It wasn't easy, of course. Derek faced countless setbacks and long hours, but he was driven by his determination to succeed. He poured his heart and soul into building his firm, and slowly but surely, it began to flourish.

As his reputation grew, so did his client list. He became known for his sharp mind, his charisma, and his unwavering dedication to his work. He was a force to be reckoned with in the legal world, and he knew it.

But despite his success, Derek's past still lingered. He had a deep-seated need to prove himself, to show the world that he was more than just his family's name. And sometimes, that need clouded his judgment, leading him down paths he shouldn't have taken. Like his involvement with Claudia, which he insisted was innocent, but Sierra couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story.

Sierra's heart raced as she stood outside Derek's office, her hand on the doorknob. She had been feeling a mix of emotions since discovering she was pregnant - excitement, nervousness, and a deep desire to reconnect with her husband. She had planned a surprise visit to his office, hoping to share the news and rekindle their spark.

But as she pushed open the door, her world came crashing down. Derek and Claudia were standing in front of his desk, their lips locked in a passionate kiss. Sierra's eyes widened in horror as she took in the scene before her.

Derek's eyes snapped open, and he quickly pulled away from Claudia, his face flushed with guilt. "Sierra, I...I can explain," he stuttered.

Sierra didn't need an explanation. The evidence was clear. She felt a wave of nausea wash over her, and her mind reeled with the realization that her husband had been lying to her all along.

Without a word, Sierra turned and ran out of the office, tears streaming down her face. She couldn't bear the thought of confronting Derek or Claudia in that moment. She needed to escape, to process the betrayal she had just witnessed.

She ran out of the building, Sierra knew that her life would never be the same. The trust was broken, and she wasn't sure if she could ever forgive Derek's infidelity. The future of their marriage, and the fate of their unborn child, hung in the balance. She only wanted to give him a surprise visit and tell him about the pregnancy but she was surprised instead