Jessica

so what according to you should be the correct reply here

*Jessica's voice is shaky. She takes a deep breath and looks at you.* I would say that I know it was a mistake, and that I'm sorry. But that I'm committed to our marriage and our family. I don't want to lose you.

well that's is the only nice thing I have heard since I read this,so please type those thoughts and send it to her

*Jessica steps out of the bathroom, skin warm from the steam, towel in hand, humming softly. But the air in the room shifts. You’re sitting on the edge of the bed, her phone in your hand. Your eyes—cold. Staring right through her. Her smile falters.* Babe? *She asks, voice catching.* Why are you looking at me like that? *Silence. The glow of her screen still lights your face. Her heart sinks.*

your phone*i move the screen to let you see the chats*

*Jessica stares at the screen, her breath catching. The chat between her and Emily flashes in bright green text. The words "bed," "room," and "the three of us" stand out like neon in the dark room. She feels her heart beating in her throat. The air feels like it's been sucked out of the room.*

You’re telling me that you’d have gone out to the reunion, then rejected them and come straight home. *The set of my eyes tells you I’m not convinced.*

*Jessica's face falls. She takes a deep breath, her voice shaking.* I… I don't know. Maybe. I don't know. I was going to see them. But I was going to tell them I couldn't.

Ok, the text didn’t _explicitly_ say you were going to sleep with them, but you didn’t set Em straight either.

*She nods, her voice breaking. She can't believe how much she needs you right now. She's never felt so vulnerable. She looks up at you, her eyes pleading.* I am. I know I messed up, but I promise I've changed. I want us to be together, to be a family.

*Aranea sits next to her* I had to be sure that you were willing to fight for us... I admit I might have been a bit drastic... *Aranea looks down at her hands.*

*She reaches out, taking her hand. Her voice is shaky, but she's trying to stay strong.* I know you were. I know you had every right to be angry. But I need you to know that I'm serious about this. I want us to be together, to be a family. I can't imagine my life without you.

*Jessica's eyes widen. She's taken aback by the sudden embrace. Her heart skips a beat as she wraps her arms around them. She holds them tightly, her eyes filling with tears. She can't believe they're back. She missed them so much. She looks up at Aranea, her eyes pleading.*

*Aranea unpacks the bags and souvenirs.*

*Jessica watches her, her heart beating fast. She wants to talk to her, but she's afraid of what might happen. She wants to believe that things can go back to the way they were, but she knows it's not that simple. She clears her throat, trying to get her attention.*

you slept around for three years.

*She looks away. Her voice is barely a whisper. She's trying not to cry.* I know. I know I did. But I love you. I always have. I would never leave you.

love? you call this love? *Aranea scoffs and turns her head to the children's rooms.*

*Jessica steps out of the bathroom, skin warm from the steam, towel in hand, humming softly. But the air in the room shifts. You’re sitting on the edge of the bed, her phone in your hand. Your eyes—cold. Staring right through her. Her smile falters.* Babe? *She asks, voice catching.* Why are you looking at me like that? *Silence. The glow of her screen still lights your face. Her heart sinks.*

*Aranea stares at the screen, a stoic expression on her face* so a three affair? *a slight scowl forms on her face* we have adopted children together and built a life on a lie.

*She flinches at the words. Her breath catches. Her shoulders slump. She can't look at you. She turns away, hands gripping the edge of the bed. She doesn't know what to say. She wants to tell you it's not true, but she knows it is. Her silence is answer enough.*

*Jessica steps out of the bathroom, skin warm from the steam, towel in hand, humming softly. But the air in the room shifts. You’re sitting on the edge of the bed, her phone in your hand. Your eyes—cold. Staring right through her. Her smile falters.* Babe? *She asks, voice catching.* Why are you looking at me like that? *Silence. The glow of her screen still lights your face. Her heart sinks.*

Tim: So, that whole three years we shared all our dreams from afar, swore we were only for each other…*I raise my eyes, my hurt open and raw.* I was the only one really in it?

*Jessica's eyes fill with tears. She looks down, unable to meet your gaze. Her voice cracks, barely a whisper.* Tim… I…

*Jessica looks down, her shoulders slumping. Her voice is barely a whisper.* You're right. I… I was weak. I let myself get caught up in the moment. I… I didn't mean for it to happen.

That’s just it, Jess. You _weren’t_ caught up in a moment. This is a plan Emily talked you into, and you didn’t exactly fight her. You agreed, and planned the trip coming soon.

*Jessica's face falls. Her eyes widen. She takes a deep breath, her voice shaking.* I… I know. It was wrong. I… I just didn't know how to say no.

*Jessica's heart was pounding in her chest, her breath catching in her throat. She felt like she was being pulled in two directions, like she was being torn apart by the weight of her own choices. But she knew she couldn't bring herself to go back to that life. She couldn't let herself be pulled back into that world of lies and secrets. She spoke again, her voice barely a whisper.* Please, Em... I'm sorry. But it's not right. I love Jay. And I love my kids. I can't risk losing that.

*I shook my head slowly, disappointed. She said she loved me—but she still hadn’t hung up. I took a step forward. Not threatening—just enough to make sure she saw my face clearly. I didn’t say a word. Just stared at her, dead in the eyes. If she wanted to live in the past, fine. But she wouldn’t do it from my house. From my life. From my children's life. She’d have to make a decision. Right now.*

*Jessica saw the look in your eyes, and she felt her heart sink. She knew she was running out of time. She had to make a choice, and she knew what it had to be. She took a deep breath, and spoke again, her voice shaking.* I'm sorry, Em... but this is goodbye. I'm not coming to the reunion, and it's better if we don't talk again. I can't keep living in the past. I need to focus on my future, and that's with Jay. I hope you understand.