Straightening Affairs - 23. Chapter 23

Five Years Later

Time had marched on, and with it, the pieces of everyone’s lives had shifted into their new places.

Sarah had her baby, a healthy baby girl she named Faith. Faith for the future, for what it would hold for her as a single mother of three. Shawn and Samantha, now ten years old, adored their baby sister and often squabbled over who got to hold her or play with her next.

Ryan had spent years in therapy, confronting the scars he had buried deep within himself. The weight of his past choices—his betrayal, the lies, and the games he played—took a toll he hadn’t fully understood until it all came crashing down. The guilt had gnawed at him, manifesting in sleepless nights and moments of paralyzing self-doubt. There were times when he doubted he’d ever heal, moments when PTSD from the fallout kept him awake, replaying everything he had done.

But slowly, step by step, he began to rebuild. Therapy taught him to forgive himself, though it was a long and grueling process. His relationship with Nate had been strained to the breaking point, and there were times he thought Nate would walk away for good. Yet, Nate stayed. They faced the fallout together, rebuilding trust one conversation, one small act of kindness at a time.

Ryan also worked on mending his relationships with others. Sarah, once like a sister to him, had been deeply hurt by his actions. It took years before she could meet his gaze without pain flickering in her eyes. Jennifer, ever the protective older sister, was slower to forgive but eventually softened, seeing how hard Ryan was working to make amends. Even Ryan’s own mother, who had distanced herself during the chaos, began to reconnect, albeit cautiously, after seeing his genuine efforts to change.

Through it all, Nate was his rock, even when Ryan doubted he deserved that kind of loyalty. Together, they created a foundation stronger than either had imagined possible. Now, as they prepared for their wedding, Ryan couldn’t help but marvel at how far he’d come.

Meanwhile, Michael had lost everything. After Janelle was informed of the truth, tipped off, she quietly initiated an audit of his expense reports, leading to his termination for theft. Though the company chose not to press charges, Michael’s reputation in his field was irreparably damaged. Unable to secure work, he sold the house and used the remaining funds to move back in with his parents. Andre, too, had left him, wanting no part of the fallout from Michael’s life.

Michael didn’t challenge the divorce; he knew he had no ground to stand on. Sarah wanted nothing from him—not the house, not his money, and certainly not shared custody. To her, protecting Shawn and Samantha from the truth of their father’s betrayal was more important than trying to maintain any connection between them. Everything about their life together had been built on a lie, and Sarah was determined to give her children stability and peace, free from Michael’s influence.

Faith had never met her father, and Sarah intended to keep it that way for as long as possible. She knew the day would come when her youngest would ask about him, and when that time came, she would face the difficult task of explaining the past. For now, she focused on the present, shielding her children from the darkness of their father’s actions while building a brighter future for them all.

Ryan and Nate Visit Sarah

One sunny afternoon, Ryan and Nate arrived at Sarah’s new home. It was modest but warm, filled with laughter and light—a far cry from the hollow luxury of the life she had shared with Michael. Faith toddled across the room, her curls bouncing as she babbled nonsensical phrases.

“Sarah!” Ryan called, stepping into the living room with a garment bag slung over his shoulder. “You’ve got to help us. Nate’s idea of a wedding suit is...let’s just say it’s bold.”

Nate laughed, following behind. “What? I look good in green velvet!”

Sarah shook her head, smiling. “Green velvet? Really, Nate? You’re lucky Ryan has good taste.”

Ryan grinned. “That’s what I’ve been saying!”

The three of them sat together, pouring over wedding ideas and suit options, with Sarah offering advice and occasionally teasing Nate for his flamboyant suggestions. It was easy and light, and for a while, it felt like nothing had ever been amiss.

Sarah and Ryan’s Conversation

As the afternoon wound down, Nate excused himself to take a call outside. Ryan started gathering the papers and garment bag, but Sarah stopped him.

“Ryan,” she said softly. “Can I talk to you for a second?”

Ryan hesitated but nodded. He followed her into the kitchen, away from Faith’s giggles and the muffled sound of Nate’s voice.

Sarah turned to him, her expression unreadable. “You’ve been a good friend to Nate. And you’ve been kind to me and the kids. But… I can’t forget, Ryan.”

Ryan’s shoulders slumped. He didn’t try to defend himself; he knew there was no point. Instead, he met her gaze and spoke quietly.

“I know, Sarah. I wish I could take back everything. Even with what happened, I feel responsible. For all of it.”

Sarah’s eyes softened, though her expression remained firm. “The truth came out because of you. I’ll always be grateful for that. But it doesn’t erase the pain.”

Ryan nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat. “I understand. And I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to make up for it. To you, to Nate...to everyone.”

Sarah looked at him for a long moment before sighing. “I’m glad you’re doing better, Ryan. And I’m happy for you and Nate. But don’t let yourself forget what you’ve done. That’s how you’ll make sure it never happens again.”

Ryan nodded, his voice barely above a whisper. “I won’t.”

Just then, Nate peeked his head into the kitchen. “Everything okay?”

Sarah turned, her warm smile returning as if nothing had happened. “Of course. Go on, you two—go pick those wedding suits. Just no green velvet, okay?”

Ryan forced a small smile and followed Nate out the door. As they walked to the car, Nate slipped his hand into Ryan’s. Ryan squeezed it tightly, grateful for the chance to move forward but knowing the scars of the past would never fully fade.

Michael Confronts His Parents

Years had gone by. Michael sat in the dimly lit living room of his parents’ house, the weight of failure pressing down on him. His father sat silently in his recliner, flipping through a newspaper he wasn’t reading, while his mother perched on the edge of the couch, flipping through a magazine. The air was thick with tension, the unspoken truths hanging between them like a storm cloud.

Finally, Michael broke the silence. His voice was hoarse, strained. “Why did you do it? Why did you hate Sarah so much?” After all these years, they had never given him an explanation and he had always avoided asking. But he had to know.

His mother’s lips tightened, but she didn’t respond right away. Instead, she adjusted the hem of her skirt and stared at him with thinly veiled disappointment. “Michael, I told you before. She wasn’t right for you. She was… controlling you, pulling you away from us. We did what we thought was best for you.”

Michael let out a bitter laugh, the sound devoid of humor. “Best for me? You destroyed my life. You turned me into a liar, a cheater. You made me hate myself.”

His father finally looked up from the newspaper, his eyes tired but his tone firm. “No one made you do anything, Michael. You made your own choices. Don’t try to pin this all on us.”

Michael’s jaw tightened, his hands curling into fists on his lap. “You manipulated me for years! You fed me money to keep me dependent, knowing damn well I didn’t want to take it. You planted doubts about Sarah every chance you got. And you—” he turned to his mother, his voice rising—“you made me believe that if I came out, I’d lose everything. That no one would love me. That I’d be alone.”

His mother’s face softened, but her words were sharp. “Michael, you would have been alone. Do you think the world is kind to men like you? We were protecting you. Protecting your future.”

“Protecting me?” Michael’s voice cracked, and he stood abruptly, pacing the room. “You weren’t protecting me. You were protecting your image. You didn’t care what I wanted. You cared about how it would make you look.”

His father sighed heavily, setting the newspaper aside. “Michael, we’re your parents. We’ve always had your best interests at heart. But you let it happen. You could have stopped whenever you wanted, and lived with Sarah, but you wanted it all.”

Michael froze, his father’s words hitting him like a punch to the gut. He turned slowly, his voice quieter now, tinged with shame. “You’re right. I did let it happen. I let you manipulate me. I let you turn me against Sarah. I lied to her, to my kids, to myself—because I was too afraid to stand up to you.”

His mother frowned, her voice softening. “Michael, we only wanted—”

“No,” he interrupted, shaking his head. “Don’t. Don’t say you wanted what was best for me. Because if that were true, you would have let me be myself. You would have let me figure out my life without trying to control every piece of it.”

He sank back into the chair, burying his face in his hands. “I lost everything because of you. Because of me. If I had just been honest—about Sarah, about myself—none of this would have happened. I might have lost her, but I wouldn’t have destroyed so many lives. Hers, the kids’, Ryan’s, Nate’s… my own.”

The room fell silent again, the weight of his words settling heavily over them. His father cleared his throat but didn’t speak. His mother sat still, her expression unreadable, her carefully constructed mask of control finally cracking.

“I can’t do this anymore,” Michael said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. He stood, his movements slow and deliberate. “I’m done letting you run my life. I have nothing left to lose. From now on, I will make my own decisions.”

His mother reached for him, but he stepped back. “ I hope one day you realize what you’ve done. To me. To all of us.”

Without another word, Michael walked out the door, leaving his parents behind. The weight of years of manipulation and regret hung heavy on his shoulders, but for the first time in a long time, he felt a flicker of freedom.

“Where will you go? Who will take care of you? Michael… Michael!” his mother’s voice cracked as she called after him, but Michael didn’t stop. Her words, once able to tether him, now felt like whispers in the wind. He closed the door behind him, leaving the house that had been both a sanctuary and a prison.

His small bag rested by the door, holding the bare essentials of a life now reduced to fragments. He looked at the plane ticket in his hand, the destination blurring as unshed tears clouded his vision. Where would he go? Who would take him in? He didn’t have the answers, but he knew he couldn’t stay. Staying meant suffocating, and for the first time in years, he needed air.

As he stepped outside, the chill of the evening stung his skin, a sharp contrast to the suffocating warmth of his parents’ home. He glanced at the ticket again, gripping it tightly. He thought of Shawn and Samantha, their innocent faces beaming up at him in the photos he’d once taken for granted. That’s all he had now of them. And the child he’d never even met. He didn’t even know if it was a boy or a girl. Nobody had told him. Nobody had spoken to him since that night. The thought twisted his heart.

Would they ever forgive him? Would they even want to see him? He didn’t know. All he knew was that he had to get away. To start over. To become someone they might one day be proud to meet, even if it took the rest of his life.

With a deep breath, Michael picked up his bag and walked toward the unknown, leaving behind the life he’d shattered, one step closer to the man he hoped he could still become.

Ending Reflection

Sarah stood at the window, watching Nate and Ryan disappear down the driveway. Behind her, Shawn and Samantha laughed as they played with Faith. Her life had been shattered and painstakingly rebuilt, but she was stronger now. She had her children—Shawn, Samantha, and Faith. And most importantly, she had found herself.

For the first time in years, she felt free.