CHAPTER ELEVEN - WHEN APOLOGIES COME TOO LATE

Emma collapsed onto Sarah's overstuffed couch, burying her face in a throw pillow. The scent of lavender fabric softener only made her cry harder. Sarah sat beside her, rubbing soothing circles on her back. "He's such an asshole," Emma choked out between sobs. "How could he do this to me?" Sarah sighed, pulling Emma into a tight hug. "I don't know, sweetie. Men can be real jerks sometimes." Emma's phone buzzed again, the screen lighting up with Marcus's name. She glanced at it, then tossed it aside with a groan. "He won't stop calling. I can't... I can't talk to him right now." "Then don't," Sarah said firmly. "You don't owe him anything." Emma nodded, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "I just feel so stupid. How did I not see it?" "Hey, none of that," Sarah chided gently. "This is not your fault. Marcus is the one who screwed up, not you." Emma's lower lip trembled as fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. "But I should have known. All those late nights at work, the myst