Days passed, and despite Alex's earlier promises—ones that had sounded so sincere—Samantha felt something had shifted. The air between them was tense, as if every word needed to be carefully measured to avoid triggering a storm. They were together, yet more distant than ever. With each passing moment, Samantha increasingly doubted whether Alex truly understood the weight of his actions.
One evening, she returned from work and sensed something was wrong. The apartment was eerily quiet, the lights off, as if someone was trying to hide their presence. She stepped inside and shut the door behind her. Alex wasn't in the living room.
As she reached for her phone to call him, something made her pause. She stared at the screen, as if trying to read an answer from the blank space. Then, she heard a faint sound coming from behind the bedroom door.
She held her breath and slowly walked toward it, her hand resting on the doorknob. The wave of uncertainty washing over her was stronger than ever. She opened the door.
The room was dimly lit. Alex sat on the bed, staring at his phone. There was something on his face—an expression she couldn't bear to see. A mix of unease and shame. And then she saw what made her heart freeze.
A woman sat next to him. Tall, slender, a brunette with a cold, piercing gaze. Her clothes were provocative, her body demanding attention. That damned model. Samantha recognized her instantly.
Everything clicked.
The woman looked at Samantha, her eyes gleaming with what seemed like satisfaction—like she knew she was witnessing the moment everything fell apart.
"Hi, Samantha," she said, her voice full of careless confidence. "I'm Selena. Nice to meet you. Alex and I were just discussing a few... private matters."
Samantha felt the world around her become increasingly unreal. Like everything was disappearing, and all that remained was one question in her mind: Why?
Alex looked at her, his face stiff. He swallowed hard, as if he didn't know what to say.
"It's... it's not what it looks like," he began, but his voice sounded like an excuse. Far too late for that. "I thought you'd be home later, but it's good you're here. We want to clear up what happened at the party."
Selena let out a soft, mocking laugh.
"It's always the same. Sorry, but I can't keep pretending," she said. "You know he can't control himself. I mean... Alex is famous for this sort of thing, isn't he? I don't even understand why he got married."
Samantha felt something inside her shatter. It was as if her life, her entire relationship, was falling into a void.
Alex didn't respond. Standing in the doorway, she stared at them, trying to comprehend what had just happened. Then something broke in her. She couldn't take it anymore.
"It's over," she said quietly, barely able to speak the words. "It's over, Alex. I don't even want to hear your excuses. From what she just said, it's clear you're not innocent."
Her voice was heartbroken but firm. Before Alex could say anything, she turned and left the room—and the apartment. Her heartfelt hollow, a void no word or gesture could fill. The sound of the door slamming echoed in her mind.
She knew she couldn't return to that toxic reality. She had to start over.
Outside, the air was cool, and the wind brushed against her face. She stopped at the corner, not knowing where to go, but somehow, it didn't matter. She walked away. That was what mattered.
And though her heart was bleeding, she knew it was the only right decision.
Everything changed after that night. Samantha knew she wouldn't go back to Alex. At least not now. Her world had been turned upside down, and all that remained was a shadow of the confidence she once had. As she walked away from their apartment, she no longer felt anger or sorrow—only emptiness. As if something essential had vanished forever.
She had no idea what to do next. Where to go, what to do. For now, one step forward was enough, even though her mind kept returning to that scene. Selena, Alex, their glances, and that atmosphere that made her feel like a stranger in her own life. He had once been hers—now she had nothing.
Thankfully, after hours of wandering the streets, her phone rang. It was Naomi. She could always count on her. Though they hadn't gotten along well at first, they had grown close over time.
"Samantha? What happened?" Naomi's voice was full of concern. "Why aren't you answering? I've called several times."
Samantha sat on a park bench, resting her head on her hand.
"Naomi... everything's fine," she replied, trying to mask the tremble in her voice. "I just... I need to think things through. Thanks for caring, but I really need some time."
She went quiet for a moment, staring at the fading city lights beyond the trees. She wanted so badly to believe she had done the right thing, but she couldn't escape the feeling of loss. It felt like she had lost not only Alex, but a part of herself.
"I want to help you. Remember, you can always call me," Naomi insisted. "If you like, I can come to you. We'll talk, and then figure out what's next."
Samantha closed her eyes, feeling the weight of those words settle on her shoulders. Naomi was right. She had to face what had happened and move forward.
"Maybe you're right. Perhaps I do need to get it together... it's just overwhelming."
"I understand if you need space. But don't shut yourself off from the world, Samantha. I'm always here for you. And I know you need to go through this on your own terms, whatever they may be."
Samantha nodded, though Naomi couldn't see her. She decided to return to the home where she once lived with her mother. Time to think. Then she'd figure out what to do next.
After hanging up, she rose from the bench, feeling the weight of the last few hours begin to lift. She didn't have all the answers—but she knew she wasn't alone. Naomi was there. And she had to find her own strength again.
When she returned to the house she once shared with her mother, she started organizing things. Two years had passed since her mother's death. The illness had struck suddenly, giving no chance for rescue. That time had been filled with grief—and Alex had only added to it with rumors of an affair with a celebrity. Thankfully, it turned out to be just gossip, and he had supported her through the darkest days.
She had always had a strange urge to organize her space when life felt chaotic. As she arranged books and picked up scattered items, her eyes landed on a photo of her and Alex—taken during one of their first trips together. Laughter, peace, freedom. Once, it meant something to her. Now? Just a reminder of a past that no longer existed.
She decided to throw it away.
After a moment of hesitation, she picked up the photo, folded it in half, and tossed it in the trash. Simple, yet symbolic.
As she stood by the window, watching the shadows of people passing by on the street, she felt something new begin to grow inside her. She still didn't know exactly what it was. She hoped that in time, she would figure it out. But for now, even though her heart was broken, she felt something she hadn't experienced in a long time: a breath of relief. She had just taken a step toward freedom.
*
A few days later, when she had calmed down a bit, she decided to meet with Naomi. She needed company—someone to help her get through the storm. Together, they went out for coffee, like in the old days.
"So, how are you feeling?" Naomi asked as she sat down at the table in the café. Earlier, Samantha had decided to open up to her and Mark about what Alex had done. Her friend had been in shock for a long time, unable to believe that the girl from college he knew so well had ended up in bed with a married man.
Samantha looked at her and gave a sad smile.
"Better. You know, I have to get through this on my own terms. It hurts, but I have to move forward."
Naomi took a sip of her coffee, looking at her with a warm smile.
"You're right. And I'll be here for you. No matter what happens, you'll find your path. And when you're ready, take a step forward—but only when you're sure. Don't forget, you deserve someone who respects you, Samantha. And I say that even though Alex is my friend."
Samantha nodded, feeling the strength in Naomi's words giving her a bit more courage. For now, she had time to just be herself. And later—who knows? Maybe fate would smile on her again.
*
The days passed, and Samantha began to rebuild her life, piece by piece. She woke up in the morning, went to work, spent time with Naomi and Mark, and tried not to think about what had happened with Alex. Still, despite trying to keep her emotions in check, she felt an emptiness inside. She felt stuck—unable to forget what happened, but unwilling to keep living in the past.
One evening, when she returned to her apartment, she noticed an unknown number on her phone. A feeling of unease crept in. It wasn't a number she recognized. Without hesitation, she picked up.
"Yes?" she said cautiously, trying to mask the anxiety in her voice.
"Samantha?"—the voice on the other end was familiar, though slightly muffled. "It's Alex."
Samantha's heart skipped a beat. There was something in his voice she couldn't quite place. It seemed like he had something to say, but she wasn't sure if she wanted to hear it.
"What do you want?" she asked, knowing the answer wouldn't be simple.
"Please, just give me a moment. I want to explain everything. I know I hurt you, but I have to tell you. Please, Samantha." His voice sounded almost desperate.
Even though she knew it might be a trap, she couldn't stop herself. She agreed to meet him, not knowing exactly what to expect. She knew it would be hard, but she needed to understand what really happened that night. Furthermore, she decided to hear his side of the story—maybe this was her last chance to close this chapter.
They met at a small café, where they used to spend hours talking and laughing. Now, it was a different café, and the atmosphere was heavy. A cup of cold coffee sat on the table, and Samantha felt Alex's gaze on her as he sat across from her in silence.
"Before you say anything, I need to know…" Samantha began, not looking at him. "Was what happened with that model your decision, or were you drawn into it? Don't blame it on being drunk. You should have had enough sense even after drinking."
Alex closed his eyes for a moment, as if searching for the right words. Finally, he looked at her with pain in his eyes.
"It was a mistake. It's possible I was drugged. I never get that drunk. Alcohol never knocked me out before. I only remember fragments of that night, and the rest… I know it's no excuse, but that's how it was. I know it doesn't change anything, but I have to tell you. I never wanted to hurt you—never."
Samantha looked at him for a moment, feeling anger mix with something she couldn't name. Maybe it was regret, or perhaps sadness. She knew he wasn't saying this to gain her forgiveness. What he said sounded more like a final attempt to salvage what he had destroyed.
"And what about all those other women, Alex? What about your coworkers? Were those mistakes too? Were they drugged as well? Are they all just 'innocent victims'?" Samantha didn't hide her disappointment. Her eyes were filled with silence and coldness.
"No… not all of them. That was something I couldn't control. It's my fault I let those things happen, but now I understand how wrong it was." His voice trembled. "I understand that if you can't trust me, you won't want to be with me. But I really want to fix this. I would like to start over—with you."
Samantha looked at him with confusion, feeling a storm of thoughts swirling in her chest. She wanted to believe him—but how could she? Was she ready to trust someone who had hurt her so deeply?
"I don't know, Alex. I really don't know what's next. You know I can't forgive you right now. Occasionally, I think maybe we'll never be able to fix this. Possibly, what happened was too much to come back from." As she spoke, something inside her cracked. It was the truth. Despite the love, despite wanting to be with him, she couldn't forget.
"I understand. And I'll support you—whatever you decide." His voice was quiet, but there was still something in it that made Samantha feel like this wasn't really over.
She said nothing more. She stood up and walked out of the café, leaving Alex behind—someone who couldn't fix things anymore, but wasn't ready to let go either.
That evening, Samantha returned to her apartment and felt something break inside her, yet at the same time, she felt stronger. Possibly, she didn't have all the answers, but she knew she had to face whatever was coming. In the end, only time would tell what would really happen.