We checked into a hotel, and for the first time in weeks, I saw Luke smile. But on the third day, everything changed. Luke ran up, shouting, “Mom’s back!” I turned, and there she was — Stacey, alive and standing on the beach.
I was frozen. My mind raced, but it was unmistakably her. As Stacey hurried away with a man, I grabbed Luke and fled. The next night, I called her mother for answers. They had told me it was an accident, but something didn’t add up.
The truth came out the following day when Stacey confessed — she’d faked her death to escape an affair. She was pregnant with someone else’s child, and her parents helped her orchestrate the entire plan. The betrayal cut deep, especially when Luke saw her. His innocent questions about why she wasn’t coming back broke my heart.
The weeks that followed were filled with pain, confusion, and legal battles. I had full custody of Luke, and Stacey’s parents were no longer part of our lives. Slowly, we began to heal. Luke and I moved to a new city, away from the memories, but Stacey’s texts still came — full of regret and sorrow. I deleted them without response.
Now, every day, I cherish the moments with Luke, knowing that no matter what happens, we have each other. Life may never be the same, but we’re going to be okay.