Contract Marriage: I Will Never Love You Chapter 52: Forgive Me

Sarah

"What are you doing here?" Rebecca asks, looking at questioningly.

I force out a smile, trying not to let her harsh attitude hurt my feelings. "Can I please co in?" I ask.

Rebecca hesitates, her grip tightening on the doorfra. Her eyes scan my face, searching for an answer beyond my words.

"Why?" she asks.

I swallow hard. "I just... I need to talk to you. Please."

For a mont, I think she’s going to slam the door in my face. But then, with a sigh, she steps aside. "Fine. Co in."

I step inside. The living room is just as I rember—cozy, cluttered, lived-in.

Rebecca crosses her arms. "Well?"

I take a deep breath, my hands trembling at my sides. "I know I have no right to be here, but I didn’t know where else to go."

Her expression softens, but she doesn’t say anything.

I press on. "I thought we could talk."

Rebecca exhales sharply as if weighing her patience. "Talk about what?"

I shift on my feet, suddenly unsure. Now that I’m here, standing in front of her, the words feel heavier than they did in my head. "I am pregnant, Rebecca."

Her eyes turned wide. "What?"

"Yes. I am pregnant," I repeat.

"We have been on this road before, Sarah. I supported you back then because you were my best friend, but then—" Rebecca pauses as if she does not know how to end her thoughts.

Tears threaten to spill, but I hold them back. "I know. I was stupid back then. A liar. But I am not lying about that anymore."

Rebecca sighs. "What does Matthew have to say about this?"

I hesitate, lowering my gaze to the floor. "He said he doesn’t trust anymore. He accused of lying and carrying soone else’s child," I admit quietly.

Rebecca exhales, rubbing her forehead. "Sarah, can you really bla him?"

My stomach twists at her words, but I force myself to stay calm. "I get it," I say. "I ruined things before. I hurt people. But this ti, I’m telling the truth, Rebecca. I swear."

She studies , her arms still crossed over her chest. "And what do you expect to do? Talk to him? Make him believe you?"

I shake my head. "No. I just... I didn’t know where else to go. Who else to talk to."

Rebecca sighs and runs a hand through her hair. "Sarah, I care about you. I always have. But trust is a fragile thing. If Matthew doesn’t believe you, you need to prove it to him—not to ."

I let the tears fall. "I just...I need my best friend back. I don’t have any other friends, Becky."

"Co sit, Sarah," she says quietly.

I do as she says and sit down on the couch.

I wipe at my tears, my chest aching. "I don’t want to do this alone." My voice breaks on the last word.

Rebecca watches for a long mont before sighing and sitting down beside . "You have your parents. And you have Marishka."

I shake my head. "It’s not the sa."

She exhales sharply, rubbing her hands over her thighs. "Alright. You start by proving you’ve changed. By being honest. No more half-truths, no more manipulation."

"I swear, Rebecca. I’m done with all of that forever." My voice wavers, raw with emotion.

She studies for a mont before finally nodding. "Okay. I forgive you."

I break down then, tears flowing freely. All the tension I’ve been carrying—the fear, the loneliness—it all cos rushing out.

"Thank you," I whisper, my voice barely audible.

Rebecca hesitates, then reaches out and takes my hand. Her touch is tentative, but it’s there. "Don’t thank yet. We have a lot to work through."

I nod, wiping my face with my free hand. "I know."

"So what’s your plan?" she asks, her voice gentler now. "Have you been to a doctor?"

"Not yet. I’ve only just found out." I pause, gathering courage. "I’m scared, Becky."

She squeezes my hand. "That’s normal. But you need to see soone, get proper care."

"I will." I look around her apartnt, noticing the small changes since I was last here—new throw pillows, different pictures on the wall. A life that continued without . "He is so angry at ."

Rebecca sighs. "Matthew needs ti. You hurt him badly last ti."

"I know I did," I admit, the weight of my past mistakes heavy on my shoulders. "But this baby is his. I haven’t been with anyone else."

Rebecca studies for a long mont before nodding slowly. "I believe you."

"Really?"

"Really. And I will help you win Matthew over," she says. "He will change his attitude toward you sooner or later."

For the first ti in months, I feel sothing like hope.

"Thank you for saying that, Rebecca," I say.

"Is it weird to see Josh back in town?" Rebecca suddenly asks.

I nod and smile. "Yeah, I didn’t expect to see him back. He just showed up at my house and scared the crap out of ." I giggle.

Rebecca raises an eyebrow. "And how did Matthew react? He never t her before, had he?"

"No. He seed...jealous," I say, oddly feeling satisfied over the fact. Matthew is only jealous of Josh because he cares, right?

Rebecca smirks, leaning back against the couch. "Jealous, huh? That’s interesting."

I shrug, trying to seem nonchalant, but I can feel the warmth creeping up my neck. "I don’t know. He was just acting weird, like he didn’t like Josh being there."

Rebecca tilts her head. "Well, can you bla him? Josh is always so touchy-feely, and Matthew’s already struggling to trust you again. Seeing another guy from your past show up probably didn’t help."

I bite my lip, thinking about it. "Maybe. But I wasn’t trying to make him jealous or anything. Josh is just a friend."

Rebecca gives a skeptical look. "Co on, Sarah. Josh always liked you a little more than a friend. I am sure Matthew can feel it."

I shake my head. "No, that’s ridiculous. Josh always dated those model-type girls when we were in college."

Rebecca rolls her eyes. "That doesn’t an he didn’t have a thing for you. You were always the one person he’d drop everything for."

I let out a frustrated sigh. "Josh and I were never like that. He was just a good friend."

Rebecca gives a knowing look but doesn’t push it further. "Alright. If you say so."

I smile. "I should get going. It’s almost dinner ti, and Matthew will be ho soon."

Rebecca smiles back at . "Take care of yourself, Sarah."