Shattered by the Alpha Stronger Than Ever novel Chapter 84

Chapter69

1 pondered Taylor’s text, but my mind veered to Keith’s cheating. If I were in his shoes, the word “pregnancy” would instinctively evoke thoughts of her. An inexplicable urge prompted me to ask,

“When Taylor texted, “You’re going to be a dad, did you think of her? Keith’s eyes widened, caught off guard, as he stared at me, his silence hanging on my head.

“Unless Taylor revealed it was me, you couldn’t have known for sure,” I pointed out, pressing on. “And considering you were too drunk to distinguish reality from dreams after our last time, I’m guessing your first thought was her, wasn’t it?”

He nodded in admission. I acknowledged it with a curt bob of my head, my lips pressed into a tight line. It was time to confront the messy reality head–on. Life wasn’t always tidy, and sometimes you had to cross a dirty puddle to reach your destination, and I was willing to get both my bottoms and boots dirty.

“Keith, let’s get straight to it,” I said, shifting the subject “We have a baby on the way, and despite our issues, we need to make co–parenting work. I want to clarify that my presence here isn’t about rekindling anything; it’s about our child’s future.”

I wanted to establish boundaries from the outset, preventing any misconceptions about my Intentions. By being clear and direct, I hoped to keep our interactions focused on the baby, avoiding unnecessary tension and complicated emotions.

“Before you say anything, I need answers to some questions that have been eating away at me,” I asserted collectively.

“Now that we’re bound together by this child, I expect absolute honesty from you. I want to lay my anger and confusion to rest sowe can move forward, for our child’s sake.” He nodded swiftly, his expression somber, inviting me to proceed.

“You can ask me anything.” he accepts instantly. “I’ll answer with extreme honesty–something I should’ve done a long time ago.” His words drawls out with regret and I sighed, releasing a deep–seated tension that had been bottled up for far too long

Honestly, I hate this the confrontation, the situation, all of it. All desperately needed was simplicity: go to work, eat, sleep. Yet, lite had a cruel way of twisting the easiest desires into the hardest realities:

“I won’t apologize if any of my questions offend you,” I warned, seeking clarity over sensitivity. “I just need these thoughts out of my head.” Keith’s gaze gentled as he searched my face, understanding painted across his features.

“You can ask me absolutely anything,” he confirmed reassuringly.

“Also, if my questions seem disjointed,” I cautioned. “They’ve been swirling in my head, and I don’t have them organized.” His expression turned thoughtful, his eyes filled with concern as he nodded encouragingly.

“Karissa,” he cuts in with empathy, as he exhaled a deep sigh. “If you’re not feeling up to this, you can go home and rest. We can do this tomorrow.” His words were infused with a tender concern that momentarily transported me back to a time when his care had made my heart skip a beat, But I quickly shook off the memory, reminding myself of the present’s complexities.

“No, this is necessary,” I refused, “The sooner we sort this out, the faster we can move forward.” He nodded in understanding

Keith settled into the chair across from me, his eyes locked onto mine. I took a deep breath, bracing myself for the conversation

“Did you have any second thoughts about us getting married?” I asked, the words tumbling out before I could change my mind. Deep down, I knew the answer wouldn’t alter the past, but for my own sanity, I needed closure needed to sweep away the lingering doubts that had clawed at my head in my sleep.

“What? God, no!” He exclaimed, his response swift, defensiveness creeping into his tone.

The doubt lingered, and I wondered if his fervent denial was genuine. But as I recalled the past, I remembered his unwavering enthusiasm for our engagement. He had been truly happy, beaming with excitement whenever our future together was mentioned. His reaction now seemed authentic, not a cleverly crafted deception. Still, a nagging voice whispered: only he knew the truth.

“Okay, then what made you cheat, Keith?” I urged on. “Was it a desire to try something new, or someone specific? Taylor mentioned your high school love… Was it about her?” His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard, his eyes darting away momentarily, as if collecting himself for the painful truth he was about to reveal

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“Would you mind if I started from the beginning?” He asks, hwith caution, his eyes searching mine for permission.

“You deserve the complete truth, and maybe my honesty is exactly what we need right now.” A glimmer of hope flickered in his gaze, but I had none to share, my own stock had run almost empty.

How bad could it be, my mind hardened by the painful truth. Could anything top the betrayal of being cheated on, a day before your wedding? The humiliation still stung the joke was on me.

–

“Go on,” I agreed, but with an undertone of collected coldness. Keith flinched almost imperceptibly, his eyes flashing with pain.

“Rose,” Keith began, his voice drifting to as past his mind was probably recalling. “She was my junior in high school. At first, I thought it was just a crush. She was quiet, smart, and I was drawn to her. But then I fell deeply in love with her.” The name struck a chord, hauling a forgotten memory from when I first moved in with him.

“Rose? The name stumbled out of my mouth in a shocking whisper.

“Rose?” I repeated my voice trembling as the pieces fell into place. “Is this why your favorite flower is the rose? Why you always preferred room fresheners with a rose fragrance? The tiny tattoo of a rose on your neck…” My words trailed off, choked by the painful realization. “You were in love with her the entire time, weren’t you?” I accused, my eyes burning Keith’s guilty expression confirmed

my suspicions.

“And that rose–shaped diamond pendant with a gold chain… You told me it belonged to your mom, but you had it made for her, didn’t you?