And in return, she and her mom had become nothing more than stepping stones on the path to his and Ava’s happiness.
The night stretched on, and Sue sat there, broken.
Her fingers hovered over her phone, over the call button to the cops.
But every time she tried to press it, memories of Irwin flooded her mind.
How he’d drop everything—no matter how busy he was—just to take her on a trip around the world if she was feeling down.
How he’d filled the streets and parks within a ten-mile radius with roses just because she’d once said she liked them.
How he’d bought out every billboard in the city, playing his love confession for her on loop all night.
Before Ava came back…
Before the truth surfaced…
Everything had been so perfect.
So perfect that Sue couldn’t help but wonder, ‘Is this all just a nightmare?’
As the first light of dawn spilled through the window, she sat there, staring blankly at her phone.
And in the end… she gave up.
She didn’t call the cops.
She didn’t turn Irwin or Ava in.
‘Irwin, I don’t owe you anything. As for what you owe me—forget it.’
By the time Irwin got home, Sue had already collapsed on the floor from exhaustion.