Page 33 of A Lie so Dangerous and Fragile

“So, that was the reason for the vacation? I would’ve been there for you. I can’t even imagine how hard it was for you. You should have said something, Chlo. Two years, all alone?” A tear rolled down her right cheek, but she wiped it away.

I didn’t know the right words to say to stop the tears and the look of disappointment plastered on her small face.

“I get it. The people you loved hurt you in ways you never expected, but I will never be like that. You were there for me when I felt invisible and worthless because I couldn’t speak English when I came here. I have looked up to you ever since, and I never expected you to keep this from me.” She sniffled, and I found myself crying too.

“Mrs. Porter, or whatever her name is, is trying to play matchmaker. According to that asshole you tied up in your closet, she wanted you two to fall in love and become a family. I hope this is enough to bring you back to your senses and get your baby away from thatvieja bruja.”

She reached down and grabbed the duffel bag on the floor. I never noticed it was there.

“Where are you going?”

“I need to give you space to figure out your shit and make the right choices. I’ll come back when I feel less hurt and angry.” She headed for the door, sniffling. “And you’re welcome. I got rid of the douchebag. He promised he wouldn’t bother you or tell anyone your secret.”

She slammed the door before I could thank her.

“Belvina …” I stared at the door, not sure of what to do.

I couldn’t do this alone. After tonight, I was terrified to stay here alone, and I couldn’t tell Vina to stay.

I remembered the first day I had seen Vina. She was all alone at a corner, just staring at other kids playing. She had just immigrated to America with her family. Her dad had gotten a work visa and brought his family with him. Vina only knew Spanish. She couldn’t speak English. The kids in our class always laughed at her whenever she tried to make a sentence. I had seen her cry countless times at how unwanted she felt. It took her years to learn, and I was by her side to help her. That was how we became besties.

I slumped on the nearest couch and buried my face in my palms. How could all this happen in one night? I didn’t know what she had said to Ryan. I knew she was good at scaring people off with threats. I remembered when she had made a guy pee in his pants because he refused to refund her money.

I stood up and went to my room. Ryan’s things were gone. I was relieved and sad at the same time. I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

Does Tristan deserve to be in Kayden’s life? Will Kayden hate me for hiding him from his father?

I had made the worst decisions that I would forever regret, and I hated myself for it. All the choices I had made felt right to me, and I believed it was the best I could do. There were moments I had wanted to give up and not feel anything, days I had wanted to feel invisible. I’d wanted the pain to end, the overwhelming sadness that crept through my veins to stop.

I gripped the edge of the bed as the tears fell down my cheeks, heavy sobs shaking me. It was getting hard to breathe. It was getting difficult every day to feel normal. Why me? I wasn’t ready for any of this.

I wanted to be strong for Kayden. I wanted to give him a better life. I reminded myself every day to keep trying for him, no matter how hard it might get. He was my everything. He was my lifeline. There were still secrets I didn’t want anyone to know about. Kayden would hate me if he found out one day, and Tristan would never forgive me for my decision, but I had to make that choice. It was the only way.

I slipped to the floor and broke down. I hadn’t cried this much in a long time. I hugged my knees to my chest and cried deeply.

***

I hardly said a word to anyone at work. It’d been a day since Vina had left. She wasn’t picking up my calls or replying to any of my texts. I wanted to apologize to her a million times. She hadn’t deserved to be lied to. She’d been there for me. I wished I hadn’t kept it away from her.

I hadn’t gotten any sleep in the last twenty-four hours. I had sat on my bed with a knife in my hand the whole night. Maybe it had been Ryan following me last night. I didn’t know who to turn to for help. I had gotten myself in this mess, and now, I was dealing with the consequences.

The door opened. I looked up from the cash register to the door with a fake smile, but the fake smile vanished when I saw my mom.

“Chloe, please.” She rushed toward the counter.

I turned away, telling Jules I wanted to use the restroom.

“Chloe, please, just a minute.”

I ignored her. I stayed for a long time in the restroom. When I returned, my mom was gone.

Adrian called me during my break. I’d been avoiding his calls.

“Hey. Sorry I have been busy.”

“You have a son?” That was the first thing he said.

“I don’t wanna talk about it right now. Maybe some other time.”

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