Chapter 44: Shattered Dreams

As we glided across the water, Jack turned to me with a serious expression. "I have something important to tell you," he said.

My heart skipped a beat as I looked at him. "What is it?" I asked.

Jack took a deep breath before speaking. "I've been keeping something from you," he said. "Something that could change everything."

I felt a sense of unease wash over me. "What is it?" I repeated.

Jack's eyes dropped, and he looked away. "I'm married," he said quietly.

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. "What?" I whispered.

Jack turned back to me, his eyes filled with tears. "I know it's no excuse, but I was trapped in a loveless marriage," he said. "And then I met you, and everything changed."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "You're married?" I repeated, feeling like I was in a nightmare.

Jack nodded, his eyes filled with shame. "I'm so sorry," he said. "I never meant to hurt you."

I felt like my world had been shattered. I didn't know what to say or do.

As the boat drifted to a stop, Jack reached out and took my hand. "Please forgive me," he said.

But I pulled my hand away, feeling like I'd been betrayed. "I need time to think," I said quietly.

Jack nodded, looking devastated. "I understand," he said.

As I got off the boat and walked away, I felt like my heart was breaking into a million pieces. I didn't know if I could ever forgive Jack for his deception.

And as I disappeared into the night, Jack's cries of "I love you" echoed through the air, but I didn't look back.

I walked for what felt like hours, trying to process everything that had happened. I couldn't believe that Jack had lied to me, that he was married.

As I walked, I felt a sense of anger and betrayal wash over me. How could he do this to me? How could he lie to me and deceive me like this?

Eventually, I found myself back at the hotel, sitting on the bed and staring blankly at the wall. I didn't know what to do or where to go from here.

As I sat there, I heard a knock at the door. It was Jack.

"Please let me in," he said, his voice shaking with emotion. "I need to talk to you."

But I didn't want to talk to him. I didn't want to see him or hear his excuses.

"Go away," I said, my voice cold and detached.

But Jack didn't go away. He stood outside the door, pleading with me to let him in.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he gave up and walked away.

As I sat there, listening to the sound of his footsteps fading into the distance, I felt a sense of sadness and loss wash over me. I had thought that Jack and I had something special, something real.

But now I realized that it was all a lie. Jack was married, and I was just a mistress, a secret lover.

I didn't know how I was going to get through this. I didn't know how I was going to heal and move on.

But as I sat there, feeling sorry for myself, I knew that I had to be strong. I had to pick myself up and dust myself off.

I had to move on, no matter how hard it was going to be.