Chapter 34: Who Did It?

Sharon’s POV

The next day had arrived like an unwelcome guest, far too soon, and before I felt anywhere close to prepared. I sat in the passenger seat of Douglas’s car, my fingers nervously tracing the leather stitching of the seat. It was hard to believe that just a few hours ago, I had been wrapped in his arms, safe from the world. Everything had felt normal. Now, I was going back to campus, back to the whispers, stares, and judgment. The weight of it all hung over me like a dark cloud. Every ugly word, every rumor still echoed in my mind: "slut," "homewrecker," "husband snatcher." The kind of labels you didn’t just shake off, even if the truth came to light.

Douglas parked in the lot near the baseball field, cutting the engine but not making a move to leave the car. His hand rested on the gearshift, but his focus was entirely on me. I hadn’t even realized I was staring down at my lap, too lost in my own swirling thoughts to notice much else.