I did not scream in front of Sophie. I did not throw the milkshake against the wall or beg him to choose his child. Some betrayals are too clear to argue with. I set the food down, sat beside Sophie until her breathing steadied, and then went upstairs to pack.
I called my closest friend, Audrey Lane, the only person who had never treated my pain as exaggeration.
“Can the three of us stay with you for a few days?” I asked, keeping my voice quiet so Sophie would not hear it break.
“Come now,” Audrey said immediately. “Do not explain. Just come.”
I helped Sophie into the car, then called Caleb, who was sleeping over at a friend’s house, and told him to meet us at Audrey’s. He asked only one question.
“Is it Dad?”
That told me he already knew more than I had wanted him to know.
Two days later, I returned to our house for my laptop and a folder of work documents. I thought Daniel would be at the construction office his family owned. I used my key, stepped inside quietly, and walked toward the living room.
