lah'

lent as Tyra's expression morphed

aid, pushing herself out of her seat. I

on

d do nothing, Kelilah." She

and he's trying for a child! You were just his other woman!" Her voice rose, and I felt eyes turni

eed the reminders." My v

he's done," she spat, once again rising from he

nd out," I lied, knowing it was the only thing th

im?" Her voice softened,

n, the weight of humi

e him. It feels like everyone knows and is sil

self. It's not your fault. He'

t of scandal haunted me. People here would label me as the one

t... I just don't

l him, confront

ot that

simple as it gets. He lied. Yo

whole life was built around him. We were planning to get

urt you more. If he truly loved you, he'd have left his wife by now. Instead

lure. They already knew about Jackson, and my mother had started referring to him as her "only son." Worse, my cousin Loveth had

lilah, someone who will be proud to have you

was right. But still, I couldn't brin

eeting, or at the very least,

r, Tyra. He just doesn't know it y

arrived just as she ordered an Uber for me, s

, thinking of him as the future son she never had? The shame was overwhelming. I thought about going to Tyra's, but solitude was what I neede

let the tears fall, mingling with the water. By the time I finished, I felt a bit lighter. Wrapping myself in soft pajamas, I c

my mom, Tyra, Loveth, and Caleb. Two from unknown numbers, which I deleted

request to call her, and dialed her nu

I've been trying to

while I was working. Didn't

ried. You sound... off. Are y

ngering tears. "No, Mom, I'm fi

love. Have

ing to keep her fr

ed a bit off too. Are you

e held my tongue. "Everything's fine, Mom. Tyra's j

care, love. I lov

hung up, tossing the phon

ng to eat here. I quickly ordered food from a nearby hot

ck

With a sigh of frustration, I blocked his number. Maybe, once I was rea

val of my food. I paid the delivery dr

tarted faintly, like a tap on the door, but grew lo

, halfway to the door, the scene playing out like the start of a horror movie. Seeing as it had been a while since I visi

across the dimly lit room. Step by step, I approached the door, each creak of the wooden floor h

unsettled me more than the sound itself. I decided to check the windows

eft it, and everything seemed normal. But as my eyes trailed lower, I noticed something

e-a trail of something thick and dark staining the pavement. My pulse quickened as I traced the trai

aced with possibilities, but before I could think further

vase-readying myself as I moved cautiously toward t

orescent lights flickered, casting eerie shadows on the walls. As my eyes adjusted, I saw what lo

ery step. Near the bottom, I noticed smudges on the wall-dark and wet, like paint.

paint. It

d echoed, and I swore I heard faint footsteps above me. My instincts screamed at me

porting the bloodstains and suspicious activity. They assured me

thinking the police had arrived. But when I peeked out the window, I only caught a