I was his mistress. A secret. A lie. My breath shakes as I return to the present, my mother’s arms around me. How could I have been so blind?
I press a hand to my chest, trying to hold myself together, but it’s useless. The pain is too much, too unbearable. I gave him everything—my love, my trust, my body—and in the end, I was nothing but a secret he could throw away when he no longer needed me.
I don’t know how long I sit there, crying, shaking, breaking.
Then, with trembling hands, I pull out my phone.
The call rings once before my mother picks up. "Claire? What’s wrong?"
My throat tightens. The words won’t come out.
She hears my silence, my choked sobs, and that’s enough. "Come home, sweetheart. Come home now."
That’s all I need.
I wipe my tears, forcing my broken body to move. I hail the first cab I see and head straight for the airport.
The plane ride feels endless. I stare out the window, my reflection hollow, lifeless. Ethan’s cold words play over and over in my mind.
"I don’t know her."
I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to block it out, but the pain refuses to fade. What about Liam? What will I tell my son?