No signature. But I knew it was Derek.The beach where we first met was the same beach where I'd fallen into the water as a teenager. He'd pulled me out. We fell in love that day.Going back, I felt nothing.Derek and Ethan were waiting, gaunt and unshaven."Derek. Where is my son?""Vivian, to you it's always about your real son, isn't it. What about me? I gave you eighteen years. Eighteen."Ethan was spiraling, deep in his own victimhood.Without the warmth I'd once had for him clouding my vision, I finally noticed things I'd explained away."You were never actually a picky eater. You faked it to put me through extra work. The fever you spiked that night, you'd snuck out to throw a birthday party for Rachel and came home drenched. And all the trouble at school—"I closed my eyes and breathed. "You acted out so Rachel could watch me humiliate myself apologizing. Didn't you."Ethan said nothing.Derek's expression shifted. "Vivian. After everything, is it really over? I can drop Rachel
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