lm, almost cheerful, as if our last conversation

alk. I think it's ti

the phone so hard my

they're so excited to meet you. I know you'll love them once you get to

mitting her betrayal; she was trying to rebrand it as a quirky,

aid, my v

h birthday party is this weekend. Everyone

request. It

t anything she said. I called the private investigator again. "I need everyth

s copies of school enrollment forms where Liam was listed as "Father" and the emergency contact was "Sarah Jenkins (Mother)." It was a copy of a preliminary agreement,

e party. I had to see it for myself. I h

e. But the moment I walked in, I felt a chill. Old family friends who used to greet me with a warm hug now offered a pol

t me with a plate of appetizers and a tight, disapproving frown. She went straig

O'Con

that didn't reach his eyes. Sarah was standing next to him, her hand resting po

alse smile, and waved me over. "Ethan! Ther

khaki pants, were standing in front of Liam. Th

oice dripping with forced sweetness. "He

me up and down with open disdain. One

nearby to hear. "You're the one. Mom says you couldn't

of their pity and judgment. Sarah's face flushed, a flicker of panic in her eye

ed. A slow, tr

blic execution of my dignity. And my wife, the woman I ha