CHAPTER 3: THE WOMAN I NEVER KNEW
My mother didn’t leave right away.
She laughed.
Actually laughed.
“You’ll regret this,” she said coldly. “When she ruins your life, don’t come crawling back to me.”
“I already regret something,” I replied.
Her smile faltered.
“Believing you.”
For the first time, she looked… small.
Not powerful. Not in control.
Just a stranger standing in my home.
She grabbed her bag and stormed out, slamming the door so hard the walls shook.
But the silence she left behind was louder than anything.
I turned back to Megan.
She looked so fragile.
So tired.
And suddenly, I saw every moment I had missed.
Every sign I ignored.
Every time I chose comfort over truth.
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered, dropping beside her.
She reached for my hand.
“You’re here now,” she said softly.
But the guilt didn’t go away.
It dug deeper.
Because I knew something she didn’t say.
May you like
I hadn’t just failed to protect her.
I had helped her hide.
