A Second Chance at Lies

With my business done and out of the way, I got a ride back to the Moretti Estate.

Upon opening the door, I walked into the unfamiliar sound of a woman chuckling in the living room.

The hallway was cluttered with suitcases, and the household help scurried to move the bags upstairs.

Dressed in a comfortable floral nightgown, Charlie nestled on the sofa with her swollen belly.

Casen took the plate of fruit from the butler and brought a piece of apple to Charlie’s lips.

As I stepped into the space, Casen plopped the fruit platter on the table right away.

“Hear me out, Bonnie… Charlie is due any day now. Her husband isn’t around, so I couldn’t just leave her on her own… Rest assured that she’ll be gone the minute the baby arrives.”

Flustered and anxious, Casen had a whole bunch of excuses prepared to convince me to let her stay.

“It’s quite alright. She can stay.”

I cut him off with composure as though the matter was not of concern to me.

“She won’t get in your way—What? You’re okay with that?”

Taken aback at first, Casen quickly beamed.

“That’s great. I knew you had a heart of gold!”

Casen took quick paces toward me. As always, he wrapped his arms around me in a sweet embrace.

He smelled of a peculiar milk scent, mixed with sweet, fruity notes.

Feeling sick to my stomach, I retched and pushed him away.

Before I knew it, Casen pressed me hard into his chest.

“Didn’t you see the doctor earlier? Why are you throwing up?”

His voice was thick with worry. He shook violently out of concern for me.

Tears blurred my vision. I simply couldn’t look away from Casen’s intense love.

Yet, despite his love for me, Casen betrayed me anyway.

I parted my lips, eager to confront him about Charlie.

Charlie’s bragging voice echoed from behind.

“Donna, care for some fruit? The baby’s father went out his way to get it for me.”

Charlie put the emphasis on the child’s father while her eyes drifted to Casen.

“That won’t be necessary. I can provide everything for Bonnie. Just keep yourself in check.”

Before I could answer, Casen jumped in to cut her off, his gaze menacing.

“You’d better watch your tongue, or I’ll have your husband come pick you up.”

Pale in the face, Charlie looked hurt.

However, she knew Casen wasn’t joking. Keeping her head down, she said in compliance, “Got it… Please don’t kick me out!”

Not sparing her another look, Casen helped me to the sofa.

“Arthur, fetch the apple puree and beef bone broth that’s been on the stove all afternoon.”

He turned to me, his eyes sparkling like a child seeking approval.

“I made the soup. Try it and tell me what you think.”

I was stunned. Having been waited on all his life, Casen had never set foot in the kitchen, much less cooked anything.

Keeping my head down, I cried softly, “Sure.”

Casen brought the bowl of soup to me and said with a smile, “Tomorrow marks our fifth Valentine’s Day together. I’ve cleared my schedule, so no one can bother us tomorrow.”

He rambled on excitedly about his plans for tomorrow, his eyes shining with expectations for the day ahead.

“I want to spend every Valentine’s with you.”

I quietly listened to his itinerary, feeling nothing inside.

Tomorrow would be the last Valentine’s Day we would spend together.

For that reason, I went along with his plans. It would be the perfect way to close the final chapters of our lives together.