d forward, their faces a mix of horror and shock. Through t

k E

entle as he helped me upright, his face a ma

!" he yelled, his voice

ht seemed to sober some of the onlookers, but not David. He stood holding

he sneered. "I never knew you were so dramatic.

crossed the floor and struck her son across the fa

saying?" she screamed, he

ch. He just held Chloe

er what, I wil

ike him again, but I reach

the blood dripping into my eye. "Since David has someone

anger momentarily forgotten, repla

, his voice laced with impatience. "Sara

bleeding head wound was part of some elaborate play

ipping with condescension, "I can marry you, but only as a mistress.

y mother had been best friends. My mother had died saving her from a terrible accident years ago, and ever since, David's mother, my "Auntie," ha

gedy it ha

e out. David, in a drunken stupor, had collapsed into my arms, sobbing for Chloe. He' d even named our child "Chloe's Thought." The shock and rage sent me into a massive hemorrhage, the beginning of a long decline

ot make the same mistakes. I would make him s

nd. David' s mother guided me away from the

voice filled with anguish. "That boy... he' s los

jaw tight. He had followed us. He looked at David' s moth

kne

and strong. "It' s not just your so

er looked at

rah when I grew up," Mark continued, his eyes fin

rgotten childhood promise

ned, a glimmer of hope in her eyes

sked gently. "A

ether. He had always been there, a steady presence I had overlooked in my blind de

w up together. We' re the same ag

s good. I thought David, being older, could take better care of you. But my son has

s a source of deep shame for our family, and the reason my aunt had been so despe

r so much, being a mistress is fine for her," he said cooll

reed, her mind already work

was alrea