INICIAR SESIÓN“It would be,” he insists. “If you and Dad got married. Then you’d be our mom and you could stay.”My heart twists. Where and when did they even come up with that? I know they want me to stay, but Noah and me? That’s something that will never happen. Not ever. Marriage isn’t even a distant possibili
SIERRA.The drive to my mom’s place is quiet. I’m in an Uber since the insurance company is still processing my claim, which, by the way, makes no sense. Why are they painfully slow when it comes to payouts but lightning-fast when it’s time to remind you to renew your insurance?I lean my head again
Sierra brought that light back into their eyes. She was what they looked forward to and now, without her, I’m terrified that all the progress they made will unravel.I stroke Nova’s hair and murmur, “I know. I’m sorry.”They don’t respond. They just cling to me, as if I’m the only thing keeping the
NOAH.The door closes.She doesn’t slam it in my face, and for some reason, that feels worse. If she had slammed it, I could’ve read it as anger, something loud, something temporary. But this quiet closing feels final. Like she’s closing a chapter... And that makes my heart sink.I stand there a sec
It doesn’t help. Nothing I say or do seems capable of making them accept that I can’t stay, no matter how much they want me to.I swallow hard and reach into my bag.“I have something for you.”I pull out two small velvet boxes.Nova sniffles as I open the first one. Inside lies the diamond necklace
Noah is quiet for a long moment. His eyes staring at me like he’s seeing me for the first time. The silence stretches, until I start to wonder if he’s even still standing there. I sit down and keep folding clothes, keep my hands busy because if I stop, I might break.Finally, he speaks.“There’s not
I swallow the bitterness and stare straight ahead.“What did you expect? ” I ask, my voice quieter than I intend. “At this point, even if the evidence slapped him in the face, I doubt Noah would believe you. He’d justify it… anything except admit that the people he trusted were the ones lying to him
My legs refuse to move. They’re rooted to the floor as my mind tries and fails to catch up with what I’m seeing.For a moment, I’m convinced I’m hallucinating. That my tired brain has finally snapped and started producing high-definition delusions. But then my gaze snags on Aunt Ava’s face. The way
I start reading. My voice is a little shaky at first, but it steadies as the story unfolds. It’s some fantasy adventure about a boy and a dragon. The kind of story that would have lit my imagination on fire as a kid.At some point, I feel Noah’s gaze on me. It’s not heavy. Not intense. Just there. W
We leave the house after what feels like an entire emotional marathon, even though it is barely past mid-morning. My chest is still tight, my mind still buzzing, but the twins don’t seem to notice the tension humming between their father and me. They chatter nonstop as we walk toward the car. “Lio







