Chapter 2

I managed to get up, my ankle throbbing. Lily clung to me, her small body trembling.

The humiliation burned. I wanted to disappear.

Later, as I sat with Lily at a picnic table, trying to coax her to eat a hotdog, Chloe approached. She held an artisanal lunchbox, the kind that cost more than my weekly grocery bill when I was pretending to be poor for Ethan.

"Hope you don't mind me borrowing Ethan for the day, sweetie?" Chloe said, her voice syrupy sweet, a smirk playing on her lips. She placed the lunchbox in front of me. "He insisted I get you something nice."

I looked at the expensive food, then at her.

I picked up the lunchbox and walked to the nearest trash can, dumping the entire thing inside.

Chloe gasped dramatically.

Ethan appeared almost instantly, his face a mask of anger.

"What the hell, Sarah?" he hissed, grabbing my arm. "Chloe was being nice. She's a struggling single mom. Do you have any compassion?"

"Struggling?" I said, my voice dangerously low. "With the gifts you shower her with?"

Before he could retort, Lily, who had finished her hotdog, ran towards Ethan, her arms outstretched. "Daddy!"

Leo, Chloe's son, suddenly shoved Lily hard.

"He's my dad today!" Leo shouted. Lily stumbled back, tears welling in her eyes.

Ethan didn't move to help Lily. Instead, he put a protective arm around Leo.

He looked at Lily, then at me, his eyes cold.

"Whose kid is this?" he asked, loud enough for people nearby to hear. "If she has vision problems, get her checked. She seems confused."

My world tilted. The man I loved, the father of my child.

I pulled Lily close, my heart shattering into a million pieces.

"My apologies," I said, my voice trembling but clear. "Her father just passed away recently. She's mistaken."

Ethan's face paled slightly, but he quickly recovered, sneering. Chloe looked triumphant.

I took Lily's hand and walked away, leaving him standing there.

Later that evening, my phone buzzed. Jessica, my best friend, had sent me a screenshot.

Chloe's Instagram. A photo of a brand-new luxury SUV, a bow on its hood.

The caption: "Thanks to the best boss for the amazing birthday present! My driving skills need work though! #Blessed #BestBossEver"

Ethan's comment below it: "I'll teach you. Anytime."

His "critical product demo" money, apparently. My money.