Page 112 of The Fiancé Hoax

Outside, headlights turned into the driveway. I watched from the window as Felicity parked her car, got out, and opened the front door. Her beautiful face was red and tear-stained. And it was all my fault.

But she was keeping her word and spending the night here. Just as she had agreed to.

I fought the urge to run downstairs and confess everything to her.

I’d been lying through my teeth when I said I didn't want a future with her. I loved her and I wanted nothing more than to spend my life by her side.

But that would only end up hurting her in the long run. It was better to hurt her now, when she could still bounce back. She was still young. Her life was full of possibilities.

I would just be a millstone around her neck. A heavy burden, weighing her down.

So I got into bed and waited for the alcohol to lull me to sleep, feeling emptier than I ever had.

* * *

The next morning, I felt like shit. And it wasn't just the hangover.

I emerged from my bedroom, squinting at the bright light, and woke the girls. Felicity's door was shut, but her car was parked outside. Maybe she’d had a bad night, too, and was sleeping in.

I got the girls dressed and fed. I gulped down extra coffee and a few bites of toast so I could feel somewhat human.

Upstairs, footsteps came from Felicity’s room. It sounded like she was waking up and moving around, but she didn’t make an appearance in the kitchen. I couldn’t blame her.

Eva and Lily noticed my ragged appearance and asked if I was getting sick. I shrugged it off and hustled them into the car to drive them to school.

Despite feeling like my life was falling apart, I managed to keep it together long enough to pull into the school parking lot.

Lily spotted her teacher at the door. After I freed her from her car seat, she ran off across the yard with her backpack over her shoulders.

But Eva didn't move from her car seat. She studied my face as I leaned on the open back door, waiting for her to get out.

“Okay, your turn, Eva. Have a nice day at school.”

She eyed me suspiciously. “What happened with Felicity, Daddy?”

I blinked. “What do you mean?”

“How come she's never around anymore?”

“She’s busy with work,” I muttered.

Eva gave me a skeptical look. Clearly, she wasn’t buying that line. “And even when she is at home, everything's different with you guys.”

I took a deep breath and looked at her.

“Eva, I know this will be hard for you and your sister. But Felicity is going to move back to her own house after the judge decides where you girls are going to live. I’m sorry for all the changes at home. But I want you to know everything I’ve done has been for you and Lily.”

I regretted telling her so much, but Eva was so smart, there was no sense in hiding things from her. She would figure it all out anyway.

She tilted her head sideways. “But you don't want Felicity to leave, do you?”

I rubbed the back of my neck. “Eva, this is grown-up stuff. I've told you too much already.”

She rolled her eyes. “Come on, Daddy. You can tell me.” She pressed her hand to her chest dramatically.

“Well, as you figured out from the beginning, Felicity moved in to help me. If the judge thinks I have a girlfriend, then…” My voice trailed off. I couldn't believe I was telling my daughter this. “Then it will be easier for me to keep you and Lily living with me at home.”

“I know all that,” Eva said impatiently. She squinted at me. “But you like her, don't you?”

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