As Luke and I stepped out into the night, the air felt different—charged with the weight of what had just transpired. My mind reeled, trying to make sense of how things had spiraled so quickly. Luke squeezed my hand, his presence grounding me. “We’ll be okay,” he whispered, his voice steady and reassuring.

Back in the safety of our car, I finally allowed the tears to fall. The betrayal cut deep, deeper than I had anticipated. It was as though my mother’s true intentions had been laid bare, and there was no going back to the illusion of family I had desperately clung to.

Luke drove in silence, understanding that words were insufficient for the storm of emotions raging within me. I stared out the window, watching the world blur by, trying to find some semblance of peace amidst the chaos.