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NathanielMercer’s house had gone quiet a long time ago, but I remained awake in the living room with the lights turned low, my phone resting on the table in front of me. Every few minutes I found myself looking at it, even though I already knew there would be nothing new there.I had been tempted to call Amelia more times than I cared to admit. I wanted to hear her voice, even if she was angry with me. I wanted to know whether she had eaten, whether she had gone to bed, whether she was crying the way I suspected she might be. I wanted to hear her tell me that she was all right, because the knowledge that she was hurting while I sat here doing nothing felt unbearable.But every time I reached for my phone, I remembered the way she had looked at me before I left. Not angry. Not even accusing. Just hurt. And beneath all of it there had been something that frightened me more than her anger ever could.Fear.She had told me I was supposed to be her safe place, and somehow I had become th
AmeliaThe house felt different without him.Nathaniel had only been gone for a few minutes, yet the silence seemed to have settled over everything the moment the door closed behind him. I remained where I was for a while, staring at the empty doorway, almost expecting him to turn around and come back. Part of me had wanted him to leave. I had told him I needed space, that I couldn't breathe properly with him standing there because every time I looked at him, I saw something different: the man I loved and trusted, and the man who had kept something this important from me.I finally turned away and walked back to the sofa.I sat in the same place where I'd been sitting when he told me about Ethan, and the memory returned with such clarity that my chest tightened.Seven years old.Blake's son.His son.The possibility of it had changed everything in a matter of minutes.I covered my face with my hands and tried to breathe through the ache in my chest. I had wanted the truth, hadn't I?
NathanielBy the time we reached Blake's house, the sky had turned completely dark.I sat in the passenger seat, staring through the windshield at the familiar house ahead. The first time I came here, I was looking for an answer. The other times, I told myself it was because Ethan needed me.Tonight, however, everything felt different, maybe because Amelia's voice was still in my head. I don't believe you.I had spent the entire drive trying not to think about those words. I had failed.Mercer pulled into the driveway and turned off the engine. For a few seconds, neither of us moved."You ready?" he asked."No."He nodded. "Good. At least you're being honest with yourself."I glanced at him. He shrugged. "You're walking into a complicated situation. Pretending you're fine won't make it easier."I opened the door. "Let's just get this over with."We walked toward the house together. I had barely raised my hand to knock when the door opened. Blake stood there, and the relief that cros
NathanielBy the time I pulled into Mercer’s driveway, I wasn’t sure what I was hoping to find. Maybe an empty house. Maybe a few hours where I wouldn’t have to think. Maybe just somewhere I could sit without seeing Amelia’s face every time I closed my eyes.I turned off the engine and remained behind the wheel for several seconds, thinking about everything that had happened back home. The look of betrayal in Amelia's eyes as she looked at me. The pain that seeped through every word she spoke. It hurt seeing her like that; it hurts even more knowing I caused it. I sighed slowly before getting out of the car Mercer opened the door before I could knock. One look at me and his expression changed.“What happened?”I walked past him. “I told Amelia.”He closed the door behind me. “Told her what?”“Everything. Ethan. Blake.”He exhaled slowly. “That is what you should have done a long time ago.”“I know.” I dropped my keys onto the table and rubbed a hand over my face. “I regret keepi
Amelia.“I don’t believe you.”Nathaniel went completely still. For a few seconds, neither of us moved. I could see the hurt in his face, the slight drop of his shoulders. A part of me wanted to take the words back. Even now, after everything he had just told me, I still cared about how much I was hurting him.Then I remembered Ethan. Seven years old. A little boy Nathaniel believed could be his. And Blake. His ex. The same woman who had sent a gift to my home for my husband, knowing I would be the one to receive it. When Nathaniel told me he hadn’t asked her to send it, I had believed him. I had trusted him. And now he was telling me he had been going to her house behind my back.How was I supposed to simply accept that?I looked away, blinking rapidly as tears blurred my vision. “I don’t know what to believe anymore.”My voice sounded strange to my own ears. Nathaniel took a step toward me.“Amelia—”“Don’t.”He stopped. I pressed my lips together, trying to keep them from trembli
Nathaniel“I’m sorry.”The words came out quieter than I intended.Amelia remained seated on the sofa, her hands resting loosely in her lap, her eyes fixed somewhere beyond me. She hadn't said anything since I told her we needed to talk, and somehow her silence was harder to face than anger would have been.I took a slow breath.“I’m sorry for the way I handled everything. For the things I kept from you, for the lies I told you last night, and for whatever pain my actions have caused you.”I waited for a response or reaction, but when she said nothing, I continued. “I know saying sorry doesn't fix any of this. I should have told you the truth a long time ago. You have every right to be angry with me. I just... I never wanted to hurt you, Amelia.”I moved and sat across from her, leaving enough space between us that she wouldn't feel trapped.“Last night, I went to Blake's place.”Her eyes finally lifted to mine; there was no anger in them, only shock and what I might call disappointm
Rain continued pouring from the sky while Amelia sat collapsed on the pavement outside the house she used to call home.Her hair clung to her face.Her clothes were soaked through completely.But she barely felt the cold anymore.The older woman standing beneath the umbrella looked deeply uncomfort
Amelia stared at the divorce papers like they were written in another language.The words blurred through her tears until she could barely make them out anymore.DIVORCE AGREEMENT.Her hands started shaking instantly.“No…”Daniel leaned back in his chair with terrifying calm.“It’s over, Amelia.”
By the time Amelia stumbled out of Carter Enterprises, she could barely see through her tears.Rain poured heavily from the sky, cold droplets soaking through her clothes within seconds, but she barely noticed. Her entire body felt numb, hollowed out from the inside.Daniel’s words kept echoing in
The house still smelled like Noah.Amelia noticed it the moment she stepped out of her bedroom, and the realization hit her so hard she had to steady herself against the wall.Strawberry shampoo.Chocolate cereal.The sweet powdery scent of the baby soap Noah still insisted on using even though he







