Confrontations and Revelations

The restaurant buzzed with excitement as Jane and Emily made the final touches to Nick's surprise birthday party. The soft glow of fairy lights reflected off the neatly arranged table settings, while balloons bobbed gently in the cool air. A warmth spread through Jane's chest as she stepped back to take it all in—this was for Nick. She wanted him to walk in and feel special, to see how much he was loved.

"Do you think he'll love it?" she asked, her voice laced with anticipation.

"Absolutely! He'll be thrilled," Emily reassured, nudging her playfully. "You worry too much, Jane."

Jane laughed softly, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her dress. Excitement, nervousness—it all swirled inside her. This night had to be perfect.

Just as she glanced toward the entrance, her gaze landed on a familiar figure weaving through the crowd. Her stomach flipped. Richard.

Brows furrowing, she quickly stepped outside to meet him. "What are you doing here?" she asked, confusion slipping into her tone.

Richard greeted her with an easy smile, pulling her into a brief hug before stepping back. "Hey, Jane! I'm here for dinner—with my wife."

Jane blinked. His wife? A strange, fleeting disappointment pressed against her ribs.

"She should be arriving soon," Richard continued, oblivious to Jane's momentary pause. "I actually planned a surprise for her."

Jane forced a smile, pushing aside whatever she had felt seconds ago. "Oh… that's nice," she said, shifting on her feet.

A beat of silence passed before she exhaled, letting excitement take over once more. "I have a surprise planned too… for Nick. It's his birthday."

Jane hesitated before nodding, leading Richard inside. As they stepped into the warmly lit space, she gestured toward the decorations—the balloons, the twinkling fairy lights, the carefully arranged table filled with memories of Nick. Every piece of it held a story, a moment she wanted him to relive.

Richard took it all in, but his gaze flickered back to her, something unreadable passing through his expression. "You really went all out for him," he murmured.

Jane smiled, though a nervous edge tugged at her lips. "He deserves it."

A quick glance at the clock sent her stomach twisting. Nick was supposed to be here any minute.

Outside, Nick sat in his car, gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white. His heart pounded as he watched Richard walk into the restaurant, a bouquet of flowers in hand.

"What the hell is going on?" he muttered, a storm of emotions swirling inside him. His mind replayed every image—Richard hugging the women from the airport, kissing her, and now… this?

Fueled by anger and jealousy, Nick shoved the car door open and stormed toward the entrance.

Inside, Emily caught sight of him first. Her stomach dropped at the fire in his eyes. "Nick is here!" she whispered urgently, rushing toward Jane.

Jane's breath hitched. No, no, not yet! She turned to Richard, desperation flickering in her gaze. "Can you stall him for just a minute?"

Richard exhaled sharply, his jaw tightening. He didn't want to be in the middle of this, didn't want to face Nick's burning suspicion—but something in Jane's eyes made him nod.

"Sure," he said, his voice strained.

He stepped outside just as Nick approached, blocking his path.

Nick narrowed his eyes, his entire body coiled with tension. "Get out of my way, Richard."

Richard forced a calm expression, but the jealousy simmering beneath the surface made it hard to keep his voice steady. "Relax, man. I just wanted to talk."

Nick let out a bitter laugh. "Talk? You mean about how you've been sneaking around with another women?" His fists clenched at his sides. "You think I don't see what's going on?"

Richard stiffened, his patience wearing thin. " What are you talking about?"

Nick took a step closer, his anger bubbling over. His voice was dangerously low, sharp enough to cut. "I know what you are doing?"

The sharp crack of Nick's fist against Richard's jaw split through the quiet night like a firework exploding in the dark. Richard staggered back, eyes wide with shock, his hand flying to his face.

"What the hell, Nick?" he stammered, his voice laced with disbelief.

Nick wasn't finished. His fingers twisted into Richard's collar, yanking him closer, his chest heaving with rage. "How dare you?" His voice was dangerously low, raw with fury. "I trusted you. She trusted you."

Inside the restaurant, Emily gasped, her eyes flicking to the window. "Jane! They're fighting!"

Jane barely heard her. Her heart slammed against her ribs as she bolted for the door, shoving past the stunned guests. No. No. No.

She burst outside, her breath hitching at the sight of Nick, his fists clenched, ready to strike again. "Nick, stop!"

He froze at the sound of her voice, his grip loosening just enough for Richard to wrench himself free.

Jane stepped between them, her pulse pounding. "Are you crazy?" she snapped, her voice sharp with disbelief. "Why would you hit him?"

Nick's eyes burned as he met hers. "Did you know what he did?" His voice was still thick with anger, but beneath it, something deeper—hurt, betrayal. "He's playing you, and you're too blind to see it!"

Jane's brows furrowed. "What are you talking about?"

Nick let out a bitter laugh, running a hand through his hair, frustration radiating off him in waves. "I told you from the beginning he wasn't the right guy for you! But did you listen? No. And now, guess what? Last night, I saw him with another woman."

Silence.

Jane's breath came out slow, steady. Too steady. The weight of Nick's words pressed against her chest, but not in the way he expected.

She sighed, her voice quieter this time. "Nick… You misunderstood Richard."

Her voice was firm, but her eyes—God, her eyes—held something unreadable. Not anger, not hatred, but disappointment.

The fight drained out of him all at once, leaving behind an ache he didn't know how to name.

Richard exhaled beside them, rubbing his jaw before throwing Nick one last unreadable glance. He didn't say a word, just turned and walked off into the night.

Nick turned to Jane, disappointment swirling in his gaze. "It's no wonder your ex-husband left you. Now I understand. You get attracted to these kinds of men and let them use you."

Jane's eyes narrowed in anger, her voice rising. "What did you just say?"

"I came here to warn you about him, but you are protecting him. Why? Because you love him or is it more than that? 

"What?" Jane's voice was sharp, disbelief flooding her.

"Oh, just don't act too innocent," Nick shot back. "I came to his birthday party and saw him taking you to his room!"

In a split second, Jane's hand flew across Nick's face, the slap resounding in the charged air. The shock of the action left them both silent for a moment, the world around them fading away as their eyes locked, emotions swirling in a turbulent mix of anger, hurt, and confusion.

"I can't believe you would say that," Jane breathed, hurt flickering in her eyes as she stepped back, the weight of his accusations pressing down on her like a suffocating blanket.

Nick felt the sting of her slap, but the pain in his chest was far greater. "I'm just trying to protect you!" he insisted, desperation creeping into his voice.

"But at what cost, Nick?" she shot back, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and sadness. "You're not listening to me. You're just jumping to conclusions!"

"I know what I saw!" he retorted, frustration etched into every feature.

The tension between them crackled, leaving both of them standing in the aftermath of words thrown in anger, hearts heavy with misunderstandings and unspoken feelings.