NoahThe sound of Cassandra's excited voice filled the air as she spun around, a whirlwind of energy and enthusiasm. I watched her with a mix of amusement and hesitation. Vegas? I wasn’t sure if I could. My heart was still heavy, weighed down by everything that had happened with Raymond. The idea of celebrating anything just felt… wrong.“I know you’re my maid of honor, Noah, so traditionally you would be in charge of organizing my bachelorette party. But with everything you’re going through… I thought I’d take it on myself,” Cassandra explained, her smile bright and infectious.I opened my mouth to protest, to tell her that I wasn’t up for it. My mind was a fog of confusion and sadness. The last thing I felt capable of right now was partying in Las Vegas.“Oh… I don’t know, Cass… I’m not really in the best space right now,” I began, trying to find the right words to let her down gently. “Exactly,” she interjected, her tone firm yet gentle. “This will be the perfect distraction, Noah
NoahThe policeman, tall and broad-shouldered, pulled me up against him. “You are under arrest for being too beautiful tonight,” he said, his voice low and playful.Oh no… Suddenly, it dawned on me. Did Cassandra hire a stripper for me?! The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. I felt my face flush with mortification. I glanced over at Cassandra, who was laughing so hard she could barely stand. The other girls joined in. Their laughter echoed in my ears, making my embarrassment even more unbearable.I couldn’t believe this was happening. How did I go from dealing with marital chaos, to being the center of a bachelorette party gone wild in Las Vegas? I wanted to disappear. To melt into the floor and escape the humiliation. This wasn’t me. I wasn’t the kind of person who enjoyed this kind of attention. Especially not from a complete stranger who was only here because he was paid to be.The other stripper, equally as muscular but with a charming grin, focused on Cassandra. “Good e
NoahThe neon lights of Las Vegas flickered against the inky sky, casting a surreal glow over the bustling streets. My head was spinning. Not just from the alcohol, but from the whirl of emotions I couldn’t seem to escape. Cassandra and I had just left the club, the loud music still echoing in my ears, when I spotted him—a tall figure standing a little distance away. The outline of his broad shoulders was eerily familiar, even in the dark.I blinked, trying to steady myself. There, under the glimmering lights, was Raymond. My breath caught in my throat. What was he doing here?He was smoking a cigarette. A scantily dressed woman stood next to him. Her hand rested lightly on his arm as she leaned in close, laughing at something he said. My heart dropped. Since when did Raymond smoke? And why was he in Las Vegas, of all places, with this… woman? The jealousy flared hot in my chest, followed by confusion. This wasn’t like him.Without thinking, I staggered closer. My heels clicked again
NoahShould I dance with this Raymond lookalike? In my drunken state, it was almost funny. It was like the universe was playing a grand, cosmic joke on me. Here I was, in the middle of a crowded Las Vegas club. Facing a man who looked so much like my husband. The same husband who had broken my heart.I hesitated for a moment, lost between the intoxicating buzz of alcohol and the flood of memories that came with just looking at him. My lips curved into a dazed smile at the ridiculousness of the situation. Thomas interpreted my smile as a yes, and moved in closer. His movements synced up effortlessly with mine as the beat pulsed through the air.I stepped back slightly, raising my voice to be heard over the thumping bass. “Oh no, no… I’m married. To Raymond, in fact.”His eyes widened in recognition. And then he laughed, the sound somehow both charming and mocking. “No way! That explains the look of confusion last night.” His grin didn’t falter as he raised his hands. “Don’t worry, I
NoahThe girls erupted into excited cheers. “Whoa, Noah! A million dollars!” Cassandra beamed at me. Harper was practically bouncing in her seat, her wide eyes glittering with enthusiasm. But I just sat there, frozen, as the reality of my win sank in.Across the table, Thomas leaned back in his chair. His light brown eyes twinkled with amusement. “Looks like luck’s on your side tonight,” he said, his voice low and smooth.I barely heard him over the rush of blood in my ears. What was I supposed to feel? Joy, shock, confusion? It was as though my brain hadn’t caught up with what had just happened. The flashing lights of the casino felt overwhelming. The excited chatter around me was deafening. All I could think about was how unreal it seemed.“Are you okay?” Cassandra asked, her hand squeezing mine. I blinked, pulling myself back to the present.“I... I think so,” I stammered, clutching the chips tightly in my hand. “I just can’t believe it.”The others laughed and cheered again, swep
NoahMy heart sank. Neil needed me. But I was hundreds of miles away. I squeezed the phone tightly, forcing myself to focus on Raymond’s words through the ringing guilt in my ears.“Oh no, I’m really sorry, Raymond,” I stammered, glancing at the table of rowdy gamblers nearby. Their cheers cut through my thoughts. “I can’t today.”There was a pause. A heavy silence that seemed to grow between us. Then, Raymond’s voice shifted, tinged with suspicion. “Where are you, Noah?”I winced, my stomach twisting in knots. “I’m in... Las Vegas. It’s Cassandra’s bachelorette party. Just a few days.”“Las Vegas?” His tone sharpened, laced with shock and something else I couldn’t quite place. Disappointment? Anger? I could feel his frustration even through the phone.“Yes,” I admitted, guilt seeping into my voice. The noise of the casino felt deafening now. The flashing lights were too bright. I shouldn’t have come here. What was I thinking, running off to Vegas in this dire time for my family?Raymo
NoahRaymond's words stung, piercing deeper than I’d expected. His eyes burned with a cold anger that I hadn’t seen in a long time. Fear twisted inside me. I could feel the foundation of our marriage trembling beneath us. But I didn’t want to have this confrontation in front of Neil."Why don't we grab a coffee, Raymond?" I said, trying to keep my voice light. I glanced at Neil. My heart ached at the sight of his pale face and cast-covered arm. “We’ll be right back, honey.”Raymond nodded silently and followed me out of the hospital room. I could feel the tension thickening between us as we walked down the hall.Once we were out of earshot, I turned to him. "Raymond... Why would you say something like that?" My voice trembled, betraying my calm facade. "I came home as soon as you told me about Neil’s injury. Do you really think I’d lie about something like that?"He raked a hand through his hair, his jaw tightening. “Well… I just…” He let out a long breath, and when his eyes met mine
Noah“What are you talking about?” I asked, eyebrows raised in surprise. Raymond’s sudden outburst took me off guard. My stomach tightened with anxiety.His expression was hard as he yanked his phone from his pocket, thrusting it in front of me. “What is this, Noah? Who is this man?”I blinked, trying to focus on the screen. I immediately recognized the source of his anger. It was Cassandra’s latest social media post: “Fun in Vegas with the girls! #bachelorette” Below the caption were photos of us at the casino. Most of them were harmless—just us posing with drinks, laughing, enjoying the night—but one photo made my heart stop. It showed me sitting at a small table with Thomas. He was leaning in close. His face was tilted toward mine, as if sharing something conspiratorial.Raymond’s voice was tight, barely holding back the frustration. “You said nothing happened, Noah. Then why were you sharing drinks with a man? And why does he look just like me?”I glanced at the photo again, my th