“If it’s any consolation,” my brother adds, “We’re all glad to have you back home with us.”
I offer him a genuine smile. “Me too.”
“What are your plans now?” he asks.
“I’ll be staying with Mum and Dad for the next two months, until my tenants move out of the house. Then Zac and I will move back in. I’ll contact my old boss at the private hospital tomorrow and see if I can get my old job back, which I’m sure won’t be an issue, considering they’re desperate for more nurses. And I’ll be re-enrolling Zac at his old school.”
“Have you told him about what’s going on?”
“I’ve only told him that we’re moving back to Sydney because things aren’t working out in Sandy Vale. I explained that his dad would be staying behind to finish the school year but would visit as soon as we’re all settled. I think hewas more excited about the fact he’s going back to his old school. Eventually, once I have all my ducks in a row, and talk to Adrian, I’ll tell him the full truth.”
“Well, just let me know if you need a hand—with the move, babysitting, or even just some company. You’re always welcome to come hang out with me and the girls.”
“That’s a wonderful idea, darling,” my mother says after sitting quietly for some time just listening to us talk. “She’ll take you up on that, won’t you, Hope?”
“Of course.” I smile. “And thank you for the offer.”
“I’m curious. How did you find out about the affair?” Finn asks.
“Funny story actually.”
“Go on.”
“I received a random message on Facebook from a man I’d never met before, claiming he had something on Adrian that I deserved to know. At first, I ignored it, thinking he was just some weirdo trying to get my attention. But something felt off—like maybe he was telling the truth. So, after work one day, I messaged him back and asked to meet in a public place.”
My brother frowns. “Wait! You actually met up with some strange man you’d never met before, not knowing if he was dangerous?”
“It was definitely a risk, but one worth taking. When I met him at my local food court, he was already there, sitting with a file as thick as a book, packed with all the evidence of Adrian’s affair. Photos, screenshots, every text exchange between Adrian and his mistress were in there.”
“How did he get hold of all that? And why was he even looking into Adrian?” the question comes from my father this time.
“Because that woman Adrian was seeing, was this man’s girlfriend. He had a PI tail them, and that’s where it all came from.”
“Holy shit!” my brother curses.
“Yeah, some story, right?”
“Whoever this man is, he basically saved you from a lifetime filled with lies and deception. Have you heard from him since?”
“No. I think I’m too ashamed to speak to him again. Though… maybe one day I’ll check in, see how he’s doing, and perhaps even thank him for telling me the truth about Adrian, even though he didn’t have to.”
“That would be a wise thing to do,” my mother says. “And who knows—you might even gain a new friend in the process.”
“We’ll see,” I say, though I know that’s highly unlikely.
Kaden seems like a genuinely nice person, from the brief encounter I’ve had with him, but having him around would only remind me of Adrian’s betrayal and what I’ve lost.
It’s for the best that we never cross paths again. I don’t think I can handle another man around me for a very long time.
Chapter 15
Kaden
I pull into my parents’ driveway, stopping in front of their two-storey suburban home, the same house I’ve lived in since childhood. It’s been several months since I last visited.The last time had been Christmas, when Lucia and I told them we were expecting. It was the first time there hadn’t been any drama at the family table.
To say my relationship with my parents hasn’t been the greatest would be a complete understatement, it’s been strained and slightly dysfunctional at most, but we’ve always managed to stay cordial.
My mother, Susan, is the type who likes to present herself as a loving, overprotective parent, when in reality she’s just a miserable, bitter old drunk whose main purpose in life is to torment my father.
