When Love Was A Lie

ning, the do

pushing food around her plate, the enga

ttentive fiancé,

soft, tearful tones, and th

n the doorway,

ain, with tired eyes, holdin

s dark, wavy hair and his

his voice strained. "This is.

va, her eyes brimmi

ce trembling. "Ethan, I just... I couldn't manag

da

Vanessa a p

ickly, his hand on Vanessa' s arm. "He, uh, he died in Appalachia

ily. The resemblance t

r. The one he' d hid

ather, Ethan?" Ava asked,

d directl

u her f

her was my colleague. He... he died saving my life down there. Li

s. So ma

' s arrangements weren' t final yet. She

, brittle smile. "

than has been so good to us. I do

ion. "Ethan, Lily needs to see a pediatrician. She'

w her

d, her tone surprisingly even. "After all, you o

parent acceptance. "Yes, yes, o

girl, who had been shyly hiding behin

s arms with a practiced

like a father.

gave Ava a fleeting, a