Chapter 4Strangers in the Night Wind

I went to my mom's house.

I’d been away for so long that my rare visits home were mostly spent with Eric. My parents, always so understanding, would tell me, "You have so little time. Of course you should be with your husband."

Looking at the gray that now peppered their hair, I was struck by the sudden, painful realization that I had been a terrible daughter. I had poured all my money, my love, and my energy into Eric and my career, rarely sparing a thought for them.

I tried to pull myself together, to act like nothing was wrong. But my mom saw through it instantly.

"Did you and Eric have a fight? You haven't been home in so long, honey. Why would you argue now?" she murmured, her brow furrowed with worry. "Men have their pride. Don't be too hard on him. It hasn't been easy for him either, waiting all these years."

My dad came out of the kitchen, wiping his hands on his apron. "Alright, let her be. The girl just got home. Let's have a nice meal, get some rest. Whatever it is, it can wait." He looked at me, his eyes soft. "She's tired and hungry. Don't pester her."

Their gentle words were the final straw. The dam inside me broke. As I served myself rice, tears began to fall, one after another, splashing onto the table.

Dinner was silent after that. Neither of them asked another question. They just kept quietly placing more food on my plate.

That night, lying in my old bed, I could hear them talking through the thin walls of the old house.

"Go buy her favorite snacks tomorrow," my dad said. "Good food and a full stomach can solve half of life’s problems."

"I'll talk to Eric," my mom replied. "Married couples fight. It's never as serious as it seems. They'll make up."

I curled up under the covers, a fresh wave of tears soaking my pillow. If Eric had just told me he didn't love me anymore, I would have let go. I wasn't the type to cling. But he hadn't. He and his entire family had conspired to build a separate life in the house I paid for, right under my nose.

I tossed and turned, sleep eluding me until the early hours of the morning.

I was jolted awake by the sound of cheerful laughter from the living room. It sounded like… Eric.

Dazed, I scrambled out of bed and threw open my door. And there he was. Eric, sitting on my parents' couch with Claire and their son.

How dare he?

How dare he bring his mistress and his illegitimate child into my parents' home?

My chest tightened, and I couldn't breathe.

Before I could say a word, Eric spoke, his voice breezy and casual. "You're awake! We were just saying, with Claire due any day now, maybe we should work on giving you two a playmate. It would be nice for them to be in-laws, right? We all know each other so well."

He even had the audacity to wink at me.

My mouth opened, but no words came out. What could I say? Could I call him a liar in front of my parents? Tell them that Leo wasn't just Claire's son, but my husband's too? Tell them that my perfect husband had cheated on me the year after we were married? How could I possibly…

I had to admit, Eric knew me perfectly. He had me completely trapped.

I looked around the room. Everyone was smiling, laughing, a perfect portrait of familial bliss. Everyone except me. I was an outsider, separated from their happiness by an invisible wall.

Claire smiled sweetly at my parents. "Mia has always been so busy with her career, flying everywhere. I already told Eric, when Mia has her own baby, I'll be there to help take care of everything. You two won't have to worry about a thing."

She looked at me, her eyes glinting with a hidden, mocking light, and I suddenly felt exhausted. If the rest of my life was going to be this charade, then I wanted out. Now.

I took a deep breath. "Well, I don't think we'll be in-laws, seeing as the two children are—"

Before I could finish, Eric shot up from the couch and grabbed my arm.

"Mia, didn't you say you were taking Claire to her appointment? We're going to be late. Mom, Dad, we'll be back soon. You guys chat."