a's

a prickling sensation that made my skin crawl. He probably thought I had lost my mind, that I was having a public mel

sband. I didn't go home. Not to his home. I went to my parents' small, cozy house, a place that, de

ress. "Aliza, darling, what's wrong?" she asked, pulling me into a

Frida. He put her on my project, then blamed me for her 'accident,' and then fired me from my dream job! He uses her trauma as an ex

, "he's never been good enough for you, Aliza." My father, usually reserved, pounded his fist lightly on the ta

ring through me. "He always has been. He sees me as a convenient di

boy. Carrying such a heavy burden, living in his mother's shadow." She shook her head

ust throw away your marriage." He looked at my stomach, a flicker of hope in his eyes. "A child can heal so many wounds." My mother nodd

oked out the window. It was Dax's black

eed to talk to him. Face him. Don't let him w

ll impeccably dressed. My mother, ever the gracious hostess, offered him a

I had a slight disagreement. I apologize for the abrupt d

rstand, you cannot treat our daughter this way. She's not some toy to

ance. "With all due respect, sir, this is a private

, Aliza," she urged softly. "Face him." She led my fat

About pushing you too hard. I know you've been through a lot." He looked at me, a strange uncertainty in his eyes. "I just... I don't want us to fall apart. Not n

ybe, just maybe, if we were away from the pressures, away from Frida's shadow, we could find a way back. A

elt real. He was attentive, almost kind. We walked on the beach, our hands sometimes brushing, a tentative connection fo

surprisingly gentle. His lips found mine, hesitant at first, then more urgent. I responded, a flicker of the old longing stirring within me. For a moment, just a moment, I allowed myself to forg

lled onto his back, staring at the ceiling, his hand still resting on m

ain lobby, looking radiant in a wide-brimmed hat and oversized sunglasses, flanked by a small entour

lattered against his plate. "Frida," he breathe

ur table, her gaze lingering on Dax for a moment, then dropping. She didn't acknowle

he doing here?" he muttered, a

my hand gripping his a

t-stopping moment, I thought he might choose me. He sat back down, a muscle ticking i

nswered, his voice low. I couldn't hear the words, b

ident. They sent her here for 'rest and recuperation.' Apparently, she specifically requested this resort, thinking it would be qu

another disruption. My brief reprieve, our "second honeymoon," was shattere

cold, devoid of emotion. I stood

s. "Aliza, where are you going? Don't be ridic

and her, and the ghost of your past. I can't live like this." I walked away

t as I thought I could compose myself, a shadow fell over me. I looked up. Frida. Sh

ink I'm trying to steal Dax. But you don't understand. Dax and I... we have

y a whisper. The childhood memory, the boy who had comforted me, had made

was there. He saved me from those dreadful men. He swore he'd never let anything bad happen to me again."

whispered promise... That was me. My memory was clear. He had seen me, a terrified little girl, hiding from men with harsh voices, had

ispered, the words c

truly saved that day. Ask him who he made his promise to." She leaned closer,

My vision blurred. I clutched my stomach, a gasp escaping my lips. Was it

ilt her entire future on a lie, had stolen my past, and in doing so, had destroyed my present. And Dax, blinded

spat, my voice shaking. "I'm going to tel

t believe you. He never believes you." She turned, walking away, leaving me crumpl

nstant, agonizing throb. Dax was gone. Of course. Just his no

ou, claiming you assaulted her in the lab, causing her injury, and now harassed her at the resort." He paused. "And she's claiming you're deliberately

. Dax, Frida, the baby, my job, my reputation, my very sanity. It was all gone. A

ion, and then, nothing. I collapsed onto the cold tile floor, the phone still clutch