Chapter 3

Nadia's POV

Billy nodded.

"Is that true?"

"Yes, Mom. It's a program through school. The teacher said it would look really good for college applications."

My throat went dry.

"You're ten years old," I said quietly. "College applications?"

"It's for my resume," Billy said. "Everyone starts building their resume now."

Connor nodded along. "He's right, Nadia. Things are competitive these days."

Billy is only 10 years old, but he can already lie without batting an eye, not even a hint of guilt on his face. He's become exactly like his father, a perfect copy.

All I feel inside is this crushing emptiness. Betrayed by both my husband and my son at the same time.

This child I carried and gave birth to is actually covering for his father and that woman, not caring one bit about how his own mother feels.

As much as my husband's betrayal hurts, what my son is doing cuts so much deeper.

"I don't want you to go," I said.

Connor's face changed.

"Nadia."

"He's too young," I said. "Three months is too long. I don't—"

"You can't keep controlling everything." Connor's voice had an edge now. "This is important for Billy's future."

"I'm not trying to control—"

"Yes, you are." Billy cut me off. "You always do this. Whenever I want to do something, you say no."

"That's not true."

"It is true!" Billy's face was red again. "I can't even go to my friends' houses because you have to know where I am every second. You have to know what I'm eating, who I'm with, what time I'll be back. It's suffocating!"

Connor didn't stop him.

"Billy," I started to say something, wanting to tell him that I'm only so strict about his diet because he has such bad allergies.

"I want to go on this trip," Billy cut me off. "I want to go with Dad. I don't want to stay here with you."

My chest hurt, like someone had reached in and squeezed.

"No," I said. My voice was shaking. "You're not going."

Connor stood up. "Nadia—"

"I know what this is." I looked at Connor. "I know what you're really doing."

His expression flickered. Just for a second.

"What are you talking about?"

"You're not taking Billy anywhere." My hands curled into fists. "You're taking Kelsey."

Connor's jaw tightened.

"That's ridiculous," Connor said.

"Is it?" I stood up too. "You think I don't know? I heard you at the bar tonight, Connor. I heard everything you said to your friends."

His face went pale.

"You're going to the countryside with Kelsey for three months," I said. "For therapy. And you were going to tell me it was a parent-child program. You were going to use Billy as your cover."

"Mom—"

"And you." I turned to Billy. "You were going to lie for him. You were going to help your father lie to me."

Billy's face went red. Not with shame. With anger.

"So what if I was?" he said. "At least Dad doesn't treat me like a baby. At least Dad doesn't embarrass me in front of my friends."

I stepped back. 

"This is exactly what I'm talking about," Connor said. His voice was cold now. "You're being hysterical. You're making wild accusations—"

"Wild?" I laughed. It came out broken. "Kelsey's illness was fake, Connor. She walks around our house half-naked. She touches you constantly. She sits so close to you I can smell her perfume on your clothes when you come home."

"She's my patient—"

"She's not your patient!" I was shouting now. "I saw the messages on her phone."

"I gave up my promotion for you," I said. My voice cracked. "I gave up my career to raise Billy. I'm pregnant with your child right now, Connor. And you want to abandon me for three months to run away with another woman."

Connor reached for my arm. "You need to calm down."

I twisted away.

That's when Billy moved.

He ran at me, and his face was twisted with rage.

"You ruin everything!" he screamed.

His head slammed into my stomach.

The world went white.

I couldn't breathe, couldn't think. Just pain, sharp and terrible, radiating through my entire body.