My Cheating Mate (Emma and Jeremy) novel Chapter 47

Chapter 47

“You can’t keep punishing yourself,” Emitra sald softly. “That doesn’t help me freal. It doesn’t undo what happened. It just

creates more trauma.”

“I’m starting to see that.” I looked down at our joined hands. “Emraa, I want to fix us. Want to fix me. But I don’t know how. Don’t know where to start.”

“We start with therapy,” she said. “Individual sessions to work on our own trauma. Then maybe couples therapy to work on us. And Jeremy-” Her voice became firm. “You have to commit to this. Really commit. Not just go through the motions because you think it’s what I want to hear.”

“I’m committed,” I said immediately. “Emma, you’re the best thing that ever happened to me, and i destroyed it through selfishness and stupidity. If therapy is what it takes to become someone worthy of you, someone who won’t hurt you again, then I’ll do whatever Dr. Chen tells me to do.”

“Even if it

that ar

onting things you’d rather avoid?” she challenged. “Even if it means admitting frings about yourself

About the version of me who’d had the affair, who’d gaslit Emma, who’d planned to use her as a rson was ugly, cruel, unworthy.

was still me. Part of me. And I co

1. “Even then. Especially then.”

as quiet for a long moment. The

washed over me so intensely I

haven’t decided anything yet,’ ill have to earn back my trust.”

“I know. And I will. However

“It might take a long ti back sometimes, mi

Could I? The tho to heal, if that’

“Yes,” I said long haul

if I didn’t acknowledge him.

1. Chen today. Set up appointments for both of us.”

athe. “Thank you. For giving me this chance. For not giving up on us.

rapy is a starting point, not a solution. We still have a long way to go. You

ybe years. Can you be patient with that? Can you accept that I might need to pull we’re working on this?”

even temporarily, made my wolf whine with distress. But if that’s what she needed something real-

e you space when you need it. Because Amma, I’m not going anywhere. I’m in this for the

Γ

first real smile I’d seen from her in what felt like forever. “Good. Because I’m going to hold

sm

hand coming up to cup my face. The touch was gentle, careful, but it made my heart race.

low,” she said. “One day at a time. One therapy session at a time. No rushing, no pressure, no wing up and doing the work.”

greed. “I can do that.”

ver push yourself like you did yesterday-if you ever put proving a point above taking care of yourself -1 manently. Because I can’t watch you destroy yourself. Can’t be with someone who values punishment over

as clear, and she meant every word

+25 Bonus

“understand. And I promise I’ll take care of myself. Will listen to dectors. Will ask for help when I need it instead of trying to do everything alone.”

“Good.” She settled back in her chair but kept hold of my hand. “Now rest. Dr. Reeves said you need at least another week in the hospital before they’ll even consider discharge.”

A week. A week of Emma by my bedside, of slow healing, of beginning the long journey toward becoming someone worthy of her love.

It wasn’t ideal. It wasn’t what I’d wanted when I’d pushed to testify,

But it was a start.

And starts were what we needed.

“Emma?” I said as my eyes started to drift closed again.

“Yeah?”

“I love you. I know I’ve said it before, and I know words are cheap after what I did. But I need you to know-I love you. ‘The real you. Not the fantasy I had or the obligation of the bond. You.”

She was quiet for so long I thought maybe I’d said too much, pushed too hard.

Then: “I know. And Jeremy? I love you too. I’m still hurt. Still angry. Still scared. But I love you. That’s why I’m here. Why I’m

willing to try.”

My chest felt too full, like my heart might burst from the relief and hope and love threatening to overflow.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

“Don’t thank me yet,” she said, but her voice was soft. “We have a lot of work ahead of us.”

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