Vanessa looked at me again.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

“For everything.”

“I wanted to believe him.”

I looked at her swollen stomach beneath her heavy coat.

I remembered being pregnant with Lily.

Daniel had been distant even then, always working late, always hiding his phone.

The anger I had carried for months felt heavy, but it was useless now.

“Just help us finish this,” I said.

“That is all I want.”

She nodded quickly.

“I will.”

“I’ll sign whatever you need.”

Robert closed the manila envelope and slid it into his briefcase.

He snapped the locks shut.

The sound was sharp in the quiet diner.

“Let’s get you to our office,” Robert said.

“We need to draft the motion immediately.”

We stood up from the booth.

The rain was still pouring outside, blurring the streetlights.

Vanessa followed us out, her steps slow and hesitant.

As we reached the parking lot, my phone vibrated in my purse.

I pulled it out.

It was a text from Rachel.

*Daniel just drove past the house.*

*He slowed down, then sped away.*

*Are you okay?*

My heart skipped a beat.