Page 2 of Vengeful Secret

My heart clenches.

The personal parts of my life had to be pushed aside when I learned about being pregnant with my baby.

For four years, I’ve done nothing but work and care for Ciara.

Focus, Sutton. This is your life now, and the choice was yours and yours alone.

Not the right choice for some, but the choice I made to protect the most important people in my life. Both my baby and, in a way, her father.

A father who knows nothing about her. A man I have loved for years now and force myself to stay as far away from as possible.

The house is quiet, the absence of Ciara’s chatter almost deafening. Too quiet. A stark reminder that I have no one here for me.

I need to find a balance, a way to integrate my personal life without letting it consume me.

I lean back in my chair, the weight of reality pressing on my already sore shoulders.

I’ve been running on empty, neglecting myself in the process. My life has become a constant juggle between work and motherhood, leaving no room for 'me.'

But that is a worry for another time. For now, there’s work to do.

Except the pang of loneliness and yearning lingers.

“How’s it going,mo stóirin?”I smile as I look at Ciara climbing into her seat in the rearview mirror when I pick her up from school.

She’s just started preschool, and so far, she loves it.

“I had thebestday.”

My smile grows wider. “Yeah? Tell me all about it.”

Ciara goes into a rambling story about finding a butterfly outside during recess and naming it Mr. Blue and how it made her lots of friends because it seemed to like her.

I chuckle. “Where is Mr. Blue now?”

“He flew away,” she says glumly, but then she smiles. “But I bet he’ll be back tomorrow.”

I hum. “Of course he will, sweetie.”

I hope she’s not too disappointed when she realizes butterflies can’t be pets, but at the moment, there’s no reason to burst her bubble.

Pullingup to my mother’s house, I’m not surprised to find her outside waiting for us. She envelops Ciara in a warm hug.

“And how’s my little artist today?”

“Granny! I made a dragon that breathes sparkles, and I made friends with Mr. Blue!” Ciara bounces on her toes.

“Did you now? That sounds wonderful.” She lifts an inquisitive eyebrow at me.

I shake my head and smile. “Mr. Blue is a butterfly that played recess with Ciara.”

Ciara nods. “All of my friends wanted to play with him, but he chose me!”

“That’s so nice of him.” My mom’s eyebrows fly to the line of her hair, but she just smiles and ushers Ciara into the kitchen. “How was your day, Sutton?”

“Oh, you know...busy, as usual.” I shrug.

“Oh honey, you need a break. It’s good you’re getting out tonight,” Mom says. “Maybe you’ll meet a nice guy.”

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