mind could catch up. I surged forward, trying to get past the guard

led, my voice cracking. "What

y. A woman with perfectly styled blonde hair, wearing a crisp white blazer and de

she sla

y head snapped to the side, my cheek s

son," she hissed, her v

her mother." She was beautiful, polished, and radiated an intimidating confidence. She

rk mentioned you might show up one day. The obsessed ex-wife.

"Obsessed?" The narrative was being written and c

The sting on my cheek was nothing compared to the pain of h

ou've really lost it. Mark and I have been together for years. We have a son. Finn." She gestured to the

ising again. "And that's not your son, he's..

bout the basic facts of my own life. Every denial I made only seemed to make me look more unhinged to the assem

hones, and she played to her audience. She p

dripping with condescension. "Let' s get the man of

put the phone on speaker. A knot of dread tightened in my st

rang onc

had whispered loving words to me a hundred times, the same voice that read bedt

oice became soft, trembling, and full o

n to the bootcamp. Now. That woman... the crazy one you warned me about... she's

ld my breath, praying for a sliver of loyalty, a mom

was

erious. "Don't let her near you or Finn. Securit

hun

cruel smile spreading across her face. She looke

tone. "Let's see what you have to say when your supposed 'husband'

isper meant only for me. "You are go

They, along with everyone else in the room, were now just waiting for the final act of my public humili