Page 32 of A Lie so Dangerous and Fragile

He was taken aback by my words, but I knew his family too well. He could fake being shocked, but he was capable of it.

“What the hell, Chloe? I’m not going to do that. Why would you …” He paused and shook his head. He seemed hurt by my comment as he looked down and stayed silent for a while. “I just wanna be a part of his life. Please, Chloe, don’t take that away from me. You can think of another way to punish me, but not like this.” He looked back at me, stepping closer to me.

I stared at him, analyzing his words.

“If they find out he is a Sanchester, they will do everything in their power to take him away. You might never see him again.”Mrs. Porter’s voice replayed in my head.

“So, what’s your plan now? Gang up with your family and take him away? That’s what you Sanchesters are good at, destroying lives.”

“Chloe, I would never do that. I know we’ve done awful things to you in the past, and we are going to live with that for the rest of our lives. I’m better now. I promise I can be a good father. I want to feel that joy again. Please let me,” he begged. He looked so desperate. His intense blue eyes looked glossy, like he was about to have a breakdown.

An unknown feeling consumed me slowly. I should hate him. Things would be so much better if I felt nothing but hatred toward him. I wished I could move on from what had happened, but every time I recalled those memories, it hurt, and I found myself drowning in resentment and rage again.

“I’m sorry. I can’t allow you anywhere close to him. Maybe it will take time, but not now. I can’t trust you with him,” I said, not looking at him.

“I will give you some time to think about it. He is my son, Chloe. You can’t keep me away from him,” he said and opened his car. “Just one day with him. That’s all I’m asking for.” He got into his car, and he drove off, almost knocking down the recycle bin at the side of the road.

I released a deep breath and looked up at the sky. Things had just gotten a lot more complicated. He was going to tell everyone. Kayden wasn’t a secret anymore. Why was nothing going my way? Ryan was already a burden.

Shit, Ryan!

I walked home, feeling devastated. I heard footsteps behind me, but when I looked back, there was no one there. Maybe it was my paranoia, but I could swear someone was following me. I increased my pace and kept looking over my shoulder. I made it into the building and rushed into the elevator with a thumping heart. As the doors shut slowly, I saw a hooded figure just outside the entrance to the building. He was staring directly at me, but I couldn’t make out his face. I frantically pushed the closed button on the elevator.

Who was that? Was I hallucinating?

I tried to find my breath as I leaned on the steel wall. I unlocked the door quickly and stepped into the apartment. I kicked my shoes off and dropped my bag on the rack. I froze when I saw Vina in the living room, wearing my burgundy sweatshirt, which, of course, was from my closet.

“Vina, you’re back.” My voice was shaking from fear.

“Ohh, hey, Chlo.” She smiled at me, and it looked too fake to be real. “Hope you don’t mind. I decided to borrow this from yourcloset.” She laid emphasis on the last word.

“I can explain.”

“No need. He told me everything. I can’t believe you have a son. A two-year-old son!”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t want anyone to know.”

“I have been with you, Chloe, right from the start. I trust you more than my own family. I believed you when no one else did. You couldn’t tell me? I thought maybe you trusted me a little bit.”

“I’m sorry, Vee.”

“I have done nothing but stuck by you. I have been loyal to you since we’ve known each other, Chloe, and you couldn’t trust me?” Her eyes looked glossy, and the pain in them made me feel like shit.

“I was scared, Vina. I was terrified of what might happen if people found out.”

“It breaks my heart, just knowing you doubted me, even for a second. I will never do anything to hurt you, Chlo, and you know that.” She began to cry. “I wonder what else you’re not telling me. You’ve been lying to me all this time. You’ve been smiling and laughing with me like everything is okay, like you’re not hurting and terrified. You even went as far as to kidnap someone. Who are you?”

“He blackmailed me. Just hear me out, please. I wasn’t ready to let anyone know.”

“Well, I didn’t know I was part of thisanyone.” She sniffled.

“I’m really sorry.”

She didn’t say anything. She stared at me with tears glistening in her hazel eyes.

“You’re not just my best friend, Chloe; you’re my sister. I love you, and I will never hurt you.”

“I’m sorry.” That was all I could say to her.

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