Chapter 3

Clutching the doorframe, Stephen froze, his body rigid with shock.

Instead of snapping "Why?" or "Are you out of your mind?", the first words out of his mouth were laced with panic. "What about our son's study abroad?"

I held his gaze, memories of our wedding vow surfacing unbidden.

He had promised, back then, that even though my family was far away, he'd never let me feel wronged.

I knew the quiet kindness he'd shown me: he'd never been the one to say "Mom isn't coming."

Grabbing my suitcase, I brushed past his stiff figure.

In the living room, Stephen's…