Husband With Benefits-Chapter 37: A Heart To Heart[Bonus - ]

"I’ve used your kindness and sacrifices for my own gain, without truly considering how you felt."

Nora remained calm as she heard the words but said nothing. As Nora continued to maintain her silence, Sara fidgeted more and more until she could barely keep still.

"Say something, Nora."

Nora shrugged her shoulders and questioned," Do you want me to refute your words? You want me to say that you’ve never done that?"

Sara raised stricken eyes to Nora as she was questioned by the latter and spoke slowly," I hope you will not hold the past against me. I... I never meant you harm."

"Now that is a lie, Sara. You and I both know it."

Another small period of silence followed that statement with Nora making no effort to ease Sara’s discomfort. She wanted to. She’d had to forcefully clench her hands to not go forward and hold Sara’s hand, reassuring her that all was well. But she had to remind herself that this girl was too selfish to deserve such consideration.

"No! I know I’ve hurt you physically and sometimes... emotionally, but don’t you know I’d stepped back so much when you started going out with Antonio? Did I not try to avoid you at all times?"

"And you did that for your own purposes, Sara. So don’t come to be like a bleeding heart. Tell me why you have been following me around."

"I...I don’t... I don’t know!" Sara burst out.

Nora raised an eyebrow at that, and Sara explained," I have not been following you around! Only today, I gathered the courage to come and talk to you. I want you to forgive me."

Nora looked at Sara, her expression a mixture of weariness and detachment. "Sara, do you truly feel remorse for what you’ve done, or is this all an act to make me surrender to you again? Because I have trouble believing that suddenly you want everything to be alright between us. I haven’t forgotten how you are good at using your tears against me. So, I do not wish to be entertained by your act. Come to the point and let’s talk directly. What do you want?"

Sara’s eyes widened, and she stammered, "No, I swear, I’m really sorry. I didn’t realize how much I was hurting you. So just forgive me and let us move on."

Nora studied her for a moment before speaking, her voice calm and measured. "You see, that’s the thing, Sara. You’re not apologizing. You’re demanding forgiveness. And that’s not how things usually work."

Sara’s face fell, and she looked down at her hands, her fingers twisting nervously. "I know, but... I just thought maybe if you saw how much I regret my actions, you might consider forgiving me."

Nora shook her head slightly. "Regret is one thing, but understanding the depth of your actions and the pain they caused is another. You used my kindness, my sacrifices, for your own gain without any regard for how it affected me. Hurt me? That is too kind a word, Sara. What you and Lara Anderson have done all these years is not something that can be called hurt! The right word for it is ’abuse’."

Nora watched as Sara flinched at the word and continued," Yes Sara, the word is abuse. You’ve both abused me emotionally, physically and mentally. So the next time you want to try getting my forgiveness, I expect you to come on your knees and beg for it. And even then, I will be the one making the decision whether I want to give it to you or not."

Sara’s eyes welled up with tears, and she reached out as if to touch Nora’s arm, but then withdrew her hand when she saw Nora flinch. "I never meant for it to get this far..."

Sara wiped away a tear and looked up at Nora. "So... what do I do? How do I make this right? I know it is very difficult for you to accept this, but I really am trying to make amends. You have to understand something. Just like you did everything to gain mother’s approval, I did everything for that too!" frёeωebɳovel.com

Nora shook her head. Already Sara was so much like their mother. Not even willing to accept her own mistake and quickly blaming someone else. However, Nora had no intention of finding out if today was an act. She just needed Sara to stay away from her. So, she sighed and finally spoke," If you truly are repentant, then stay out of my way, and I’ll stay out of yours. Give me the space I need to heal and move on."

Sara nodded, sniffling. "I can do that. I’ll do whatever it takes."

"Good," Nora replied, "But remember, this doesn’t mean we’re suddenly friends. You are and will be the person who has tormented me for the most part of my life. Whether I forgive you or not, the past cannot be changed."

Sara wiped her tears and managed a small, watery smile. "Thank you for giving me a chance, Nora. I won’t disappoint you."

Nora said nothing as she watched Sara walk away. She’d never imagined such a day. Sara apologizing to her for hurting her? The little sister whose love she had yearned for. Of course, the cynic in her did not believe Sara and was pretty sure it was all an act, but the sister inside her could feel some hope unfurling.

Ruthlessly, she curbed the instinctual hope and redirected her attention to the question that Sara’s denial had left behind. If Sara had been telling the truth and had not been following her then who had been leaving behind those ’notes’ for her. And why?

Nora quickly went to the changing room of the cafe and checked her locker. There were three notes in all. The first one had been left on her desk when she had gone to the classroom a day after the Maths fiasco. The second one had been left at the cafe here. And then the third one today... Could the person who had sent the note be... Antonio?