Chapter 2

James' dashcam had been broken for two weeks.

When he mentioned it, I nagged him to get a new one, but he brushed me off, saying he'd been driving forever and could handle things without it.

Looking back, that was probably when things started getting strange.

I took my dashcam and installed it in his.

I'd cheaped out on a small one, and now it came in so handy.

Once everything was set up, I waited for James to slip up.

He made his move the very next day.

At lunchtime, James drove over to the hospital.

Suddenly, everything clicked. That woman was sick, which explained why he kept asking me to make those light, nutritious meals.

On the drive there, my mind kept spinning. Even if I caught James red-handed, I'd have to wait before filing for divorce—Luke had his SATs next semester and was already buried in schoolwork.

As a mom, I couldn't mess up my son's future for my own comfort.

No matter what happened, I was determined to keep this from Luke for now.

The second I stepped into the hospital, though, I ran smack into him.

He was talking to a girl, completely unaware I was there.

The girl was striking with big bright eyes and tanned skin who reminded me so much of someone I used to know.

My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly asked a nearby nurse, "Excuse me, is there a patient named Linda Summers here? I'm a friend here to visit."

"Linda Summers is on the fourth floor, room 402," the nurse said.

I took a deep breath. That entire floor was cancer patients.

I found the room, but right at the doorway, I nearly collided with Luke and that pretty girl again.

Luke looked panicked and quickly blocked me. "Mom? What are you doing here?"

I stared back. "I could ask you the same thing."

"Just visiting a sick classmate," Luke stammered, then turned toward the room and hollered, "Mom! What are you doing here!"

He was loud enough for the whole hallway to hear.

I tried to push past, but he planted himself in front of me with everything he had.

Just then, a man in a cap bolted from the room, head down.

We'd been married for decades—I could spot James anywhere, let alone hiding under a cap.

I screamed through gritted teeth, "James, where the hell are you going!

"Get back here! Have the nerve to do all that but not the guts to admit it—you coward!

"James Evans!"

My throat was raw as I fought to break free from Luke.

But he just held me firm.

There he was, my own son—an 18-year-old, six-foot-tall man I had raised.

"Mom, what are you saying? Dad's not here!" Luke's voice was pure panic.

I looked up at him, taking in every part of his face. This was my kid, the one I fought tooth and nail to bring into this world, the son I'd raised with everything I had.

And now he was treating me like some gullible fool, siding with his dad to deceive me and turn against me.

Rage washed over me.

"Mom, don't look at me like that..." His voice shook.

Guessing his dad had bolted, Luke let go and turned away, unable to meet my eyes.

Gritting my teeth, I raised my hand, my whole arm trembling. Luke squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for the blow.

But my hand never landed.

Instead, I let it fall softly across his cheek, my heart aching, then quickly withdrew and wiped my own tears.

For all I knew, this might be the last time I ever touched his face.

Luke turned to look at me, confused and panicked. "Mom?"

I ignored him and tried to enter the room, but he still blocked my way.

I narrowed my eyes. "Who's in there that I'm not supposed to see?"

Before Luke could answer, the girl beside him cut in. "Who are you looking for? My mom's the only one here, and she's resting."

"So your mom's classmates with my son?" I scoffed.

They both froze, speechless.

I pressed on. "Linda Summers is my friend—I don't think she'd refuse to see me."

Right then, a frail voice drifted from inside. "Emily, Luke, let Ms. Taylor in. She's a friend of mine."

Luke finally dropped his arms but couldn't hide his nerves. "Mom... Mrs. Summers isn't feeling well. Can you please keep your voice down?"

I shot him a glare. "Who exactly are you calling 'Mom'? Isn't the woman inside the real one you mean?"

His cheeks went bright red, and he stood there mortified, unable to get a word out.

The moment I stepped inside, my eyes landed on Linda, half-reclined on the bed.

Unlike most cancer patients, she had glossy curls and flawless makeup—if it weren't for the patient gown, you'd never guess she was sick.

But up close, the illusion crumbled. That hair was obviously a wig, and no amount of foundation could hide the sickly pallor beneath.

I settled quietly by her bedside. "We haven't seen each other in over 20 years. Never thought it'd be here."

Linda and James were childhood friends who'd always had feelings for each other, but fate kept getting in the way.

She gave a wry smile. "James only helped because he felt sorry for me. Please don't blame him."

"What are you sick with?" I asked.

"Breast cancer." Her voice dropped. "Ever since I got married, life's been one struggle after another. I basically worried myself sick."

I hesitated, then encouraged her. "They say it's got a high cure rate. Hang in there."

Linda nodded. "Nothing's going on between James and me, I swear. We just ran into each other.

"He felt sorry for me when he found out I was sick and divorced, so he started helping out a little. Given the situation now... trust me, there's nothing between us. There couldn't be."

I let out a faint smile. "You're sick, so focus on getting better. Whatever happens between me and James—that's between us."

She nodded awkwardly. "Sorry."

I looked at the lunchbox James had left on her nightstand and said, "If you'd just come to me—we've been friends for years—I'd have been glad to cook for you.

"But with all James' lies... it honestly makes me sick. So you won't be eating my cooking from now on."

Luke tugged on my sleeve, his voice quiet and pleading. "Mom, please, enough."

Linda's eyes went wide with surprise, then embarrassment. "Sorry—I really didn't know. James said he got it from some home-style restaurant he likes. If I'd known you made it yourself... No wonder it tasted so good."

With everything out in the open, I said my goodbyes and wished her a speedy recovery.