I looked at him coldly.
“You’re leaving now?”
“Yeah.”
I nodded, then saw a woman pushing a young
boy in a wheelchair.
The boy was about three years old, with a
face that bore a striking resemblance to Nate.
It all clicked into place.
I had been a fool.
Г
Nate and I had been together for four years,
but this boy was only three.
He panicked when he saw me looking at the
boy, quickly introducing us.
“Sarah, this is Claire Callahan, an old
classmate of mine.”
“You must be Sarah. Nate has told me all
about you.”
Claire looked at me with forced warmth. “My
son is sick, and we’re here for treatment.
Nate offered to help me out. You don’t mind,
do you, Sarah?”
I forced a smile. “Of course not.”
Г
“Nate, look how tired Sarah looks,” Claire
said pointedly.
She looked me up and down. “You really need
to take care of yourself, Sarah. Otherwise,
you’ll age fast.”
Her words were like acid on my skin.
If she and Nate hadn’t stolen my child’s life, I
wouldn’t be so worn down.
Now she was rubbing salt in the wound.
“Don’t, Claire,” Nate snapped, looking
uncomfortable.
Claire smiled, but didn’t say anything more.
<
“Where are you going, Sarah?” she asked,
gesturing to my suitcase.
“Just going away for a while.”
I kept my voice even.
I was barely holding myself together.
“That’s perfect. While you’re gone, I’ll take
care of Nate. He’s a man, you know. He can’t
take care of himself.”
Claire looked at me, smiling sweetly.
“And since I’m here, I don’t have anywhere to
stay. You don’t mind if I stay at your house, do you, Sarah?”
Before I could answer, the boarding
<
Before I could answer, the boarding
announcement came over the loudspeaker.
I smiled. “I have to go.”
I looked at Nate. “I’m leaving now.”
“Sarah!”
Nate grabbed my arm. His eyes were filled
with a mixture of fear and desperation.
“Claire and I, there’s nothing between us.”
“Okay,” I said, nodding.
I turned and walked toward the gate, leaving
him standing there, a guilty look on his face.
Chapter Two
My dad picked me up from the airport.
く
When he saw how tired and drawn I looked,
he started to cry.
“I knew Nate was bad news, but you wouldn’t
listen.”
“Over the years, I helped Nate a lot behind
the scenes. He wouldn’t be where he is today
without me.”
He took my hand. “You’re home now. Don’t
ever leave again.”
I threw myself into his arms, and the emotions
I had been holding back for so long exploded.
I wept uncontrollably.
My dad held me, his hands trembling.
く
I knew he was hurting for me.
After my mom died, he had doted on me,
never even scolding me when I did something
wrong.
I had always been the most important person.
in his life.
The only time we had ever really fought was
over Nate.
I had fallen head over heels for him, but my
dad said he was no good.
I didn’t listen and ran away with Nate.
But my dad had been watching over me,
helping Nate get deals behind the scenes to
make my life better.
Now I knew it was all for me.
He soothed me, listening to my story.
I looked at my dad.
His face was pale, his fists clenched.
I knew he was furious.
“Stay here. I’ll take care of Nate,” my dad
said.
He took the screenshots I had taken and had
me sign a form refusing organ donation.
He also called a private investigator.
He was going to get to the bottom of
<
Then, my dad took me to our old family home
and arranged for security to protect me.
