Chapter 5

Ross's POV

Gripping the steering wheel, Ross stared blindly at the dark road.

The drive back from the community picnic took less than ten minutes.

Inside his head, a carefully crafted apology played on a continuous loop.

He planned to tell Erin he was sorry for yelling, fully expecting her to finally understand the immense pressure weighing him down.

To his own mind, balancing two fragile families felt like a noble, heavy burden.

The years of deception were simply a necessary tool to maintain the peace.

Shielding Micah from the cruelty of a normal classroom justified the secrecy, just as…