3 Days until The Unforgiving Wife

We've all made mistakes. But what your mistake was going to cost you the love of your life?

We all hate cheating husbands, especially when they're our own. But what if he's sorry, I mean really, really sorry.

Yesterday you met Juliette in the first snippet from The Unforgiving Wife. Now don't track me down and throw rotten tomatoes at me, but I can't hate Roland.

Here's a sneak peak from Chapter 1 and you'll see why. Don't forget, you can still get The Unforgiving Wife for my new-release price of $2.99.

-------------------------

Roland

“Zoe, I need the florist’s number,” he called out to his assistant. For years he had Zoe send flowers to Nina and separate arrangements to Juliette. Nina was more natives, long lasting Australian flowers and leaves. For his precious Juliette he always sent roses, demanding the most perfect buds that would open gradually and fill the room with their scent.

The love he had for his wife was insurmountable, overwhelming. It always had and always would be. From the first day he saw her sunbathing on the beaches of Byron Bay and offered to buy her an ice-cream, to when she agreed to follow him to Sydney to see whether the hippy princess and the northern shore prince could find anything in common. In all the years passed, he loved her, completely but to his now regret, not faithfully.

No matter the changes to their relationship in the bedroom after Cat’s birth there was not a single minute from any day when he regretted his life with Juliette.

Not for even one second, hell in a twisted way he had convinced himself that his affair with Nina was the only way to save his marriage.

What a bloody fool he’d been.

Even when he and Nina were at the peak of their “love”, not once did he think about leaving his beloved wife.

Juliette. Mother of his children and love of his life.

Avoiding him. Understandably unable to forgive him.

“Zoe, I need that number now,” he called again unable to hide his impatience.

“Roland, why don’t you let me order something for you,” Zoe handed him the slip of paper. “You have back to back meetings today and I can handle ordering flowers.”

“Zoe, I appreciate you wanting to help, but I need to do this.” Fifteen minutes later and disregarding multiple hurry ups from Zoe, he closed the door to ignore his clients and focus on making sure the order was perfect.

Yes, business had been his life, but this was about his future. Even if Juliette never forgave him, she had to know how much she was loved as a woman, his wife and a mother. He needed to make up for every tear he heard her shed, the sunken and dead eyes. Her broken heart. He needed to make up for it all and remind her of how amazing she was and how much he valued their life together.

“One single white lily surrounded by baby’s breath, sounds fine. Thank you.”

Message sent, even if she wouldn’t listen to him, she couldn’t ignore deliveries. One flower sent on the hour, every hour for twenty-five hours. One for every year they had been married plus one for forever.

“Roland!” Zoe buzzed as soon as his line was free.

“I’m finished, send them in,” Roland cleared his papers away so he could at least pretend to focus on work.

“It’s not them. Nina is on the phone. Again.”

Ironic, he thought. His wife wouldn’t talk to him and his ex lover couldn’t get the hint.

No, he didn’t want to talk about it.

No, he would never forgive her husband for the cruel way he lay the trap to make sure Juliette would find out about the affair.

No, he didn’t want to buy out her share of the unit they bought together to hide their affair from the world. His lawyer had been clear, sell it and give the proceeds to the RSPCA, Juliette’s favorite charity.

No, no, no. Nothing Nina could do or say meant anything to him anymore.

“Roland, what should I tell her?”

“Nothing, just hang up and send in the Fredericksons.”

Two hours later and his new clients were taking him to lunch to celebrate their latest deal. Zoe cancelled all his other meetings for the day. They could wait.

“Zoe, can you scan the contracts and ensure the termination letter is sent to Derek Casbar with my fondest regards.”

He couldn’t hide the satisfaction. So far, he had reached out and stolen five of Derek’s clients. All he had to do was be himself. Solid, stable and almost boring. A safe pair of hands to steer companies through change, and he had the practicing legal certificate to back up his consultancy expertise.

Derek couldn’t compete.

For years, Roland had lived in Derek’s shadow. Derek with his dark, Mediterranean looks had won the girl at Heathrow Airport, pushing Roland aside in his eagerness to do whatever it took to bed and then wed Nina.

Then, he had the audacity and lack of shame to boast about every one of his affairs, needing to prove to Roland his superiority. Mr Charisma could win and wed Nina without losing his single man lifestyle. His invincibility lasting until finally Nina found out and left him.

Of course, she came to Roland and Juliette for support.

Only Juliette was out with the kids.

Suddenly the taller ex-rugby body, average brown hair and his light brown eyes didn’t seem as boring. The body that once crashed through tackles on the rugby field wasn’t as fit, but the softness was perfect for comforting a sobbing friend.

A hug turned to a kiss. One delicious, regrettable kiss that drove them apart. No matter their own needs, neither of them were willing to betray Juliette. Nina learned to forgive Derek while she and Roland learned to avoid each other.

He forced himself to take up masters rugby, rowing and squash. Any sport that would dull the frustration of not being able to lie with his wife as her husband.

It had been so close, he and Nina almost made it back to being only friends.

Until almost a year later, the one kiss became more. Then for over a decade, he became the soothing balm to Nina’s hurt. They could go weeks, even months without each other. Then Derek would stray, and Nina would call.

Damn it, Roland plastered a smile as he opened the car doors for the Fredericksons. Nina used him to keep her marriage solid almost as much as he used her to unleash his frustrations at a sex-less marriage. Derek, master of infidelity, should have tried to understand how affairs could happen and thanked him for comforting Nina, instead of trying to destroy his life with Juliette.

So ... is an affair really a betrayal of love? Or are relationships more complicated? Tomorrow I'll share one of my fav scenes, when Juliette confronts her husband's mistress.

Get your copy of The Unforgiving Wife on pre-order today.