“When Lucas started school last week…”
“…he came home talking about a little boy who looked exactly like him.”
She looked toward the school building.
“I knew eventually you’d meet.”
“So I told Mark it was over.”
My heart pounded harder.
“He still refused to tell you.”
I stared at her in disbelief.
“What are you saying?”
She looked directly into my eyes.
“The boys aren’t strangers.”
My mouth went dry.
“They’re brothers.”
Everything inside me stopped.
I didn’t breathe.
Didn’t blink.
Didn’t move.
The world seemed to disappear around us.
Only her voice remained.
“They share the same father.”
I shook my head immediately.
“No.”
She nodded once.
“Yes.”
“No.”
I laughed nervously.
This had to be some kind of misunderstanding.
Some cruel coincidence.
“You’ve made a mistake.”
“I wish I had.”
“My husband would never…”
The sentence died before it finished.
Would never what?
Cheat?
Lie?
Live another life?
I suddenly realized something horrifying.
I had never actually imagined Mark capable of those things.
Not because I knew he wasn’t.
But because I’d never had reason to question him.
Until now.
Tears filled Elena’s eyes.
“I wanted Lucas to have a father.”
Her voice cracked.
“Mark wanted two families.”
I felt physically sick.
“No…”
“He told me he loved me.”
“No…”
“He told me your marriage was ending.”
“No…”
“He promised he was only staying because of Noah.”
Each sentence struck harder than the last.
“I don’t believe you.”
“I know.”
“I can’t.”
“I know.”
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