ked me in the eyes and swo

innovator, for three years, promising me a world wh

ieved

nded me the file, my fir

ssets. But one recurring transfer caught my eye. A substantial sum, sent every month

ent property, Ava," she sugges

she wa

ed with identical houses and manicured lawns. In the driveway of the hous

n to beat a l

oman stood there. She looked vaguely familiar, a distant cousin of Mark'

oy and a girl who looked like twins

caught in

apron, the smell of baking cookies wafting from inside,

portrait, and I

e a little shaky. She couldn'

ut, a bag of groceries in his hand, a tired but content s

are you do

finality. His constant late nights at the "office

cret. This was

led up. They got out, beaming, carrying brightly wrapped

said, her eyes immediately going to the children.

ers, leaving me standing on the porch wit

ad so carefully built

ace, Mark' s own composure broke. His eyes filled with tears

s not what

was a desp

my kids. I swear

unable to process the lie. I

ed. "She was so ashamed of the unplanned pregnancy, she almost took her own

the door, began to cry. She wiped at he

g. "Mark saved me. He saved my reputation. Please, Av

orward, reach

, let me

s shifted, and I saw it clearly. A s

t. A new wave of c

demeanor changed in a flash. Her eyes widened in panic. She pulled a small paring knife from h

he shrieked, her voice hysterical. "

t. Mark' s parents rushed out, their faces a mixture of alarm and

to his feet,

t a formality. We' ll give her and the kids a roof over their heads for a while.

shooting me dirty looks over her shoulder. They were

ional manipulation. In that moment, looking at the crying childr

e of exhaustion. I jus

tiff, relu

d, the word tas

nife, collapsing into Mark' s mother' s arms. Mark looked at me

de me had broken. He hadn't bought himself more time.