The Face Swap Scandal

to be in that room for another second. I walked down the hall to the smal

fect. I could hear their voices from th

ne yet?"

affection. "Don' t worry about him, my love. He' s just

you,"

u more," s

nst me. But they didn' t hurt. They clarified. They

hone and dialed m

ght, dear?" she answered,

e, I meant it. "I' m at the apartment. I' m just packing

ice. "Your father and I will be at the station. We can'

I said, my throat tightening.

aid softly. "You' re our son. We love you.

y people who had ever loved me unconditionally, all for a woman who was currently whispering sweet nothings to another man in m

n. Chloe stood in the doorway, a f

ou," she said. "Are you

I said without

e?" she asked, her tone s

mot

again." She paused, then walked further into the room, holding something out t

all, elegantly wrapp

toward me. "He' s really a great guy once you get to know him. I know thi

ng from the man sleeping in my bed. Th

-end chocolatier, but the brand was one

t it," I said

," she chided. "He' s tryi

a wave of nausea washed over me. The smell of the specific dark chocolate they

the box on the floor

ned, her patience gone. "It' s just a box of c

gritted teeth. "To the hazelnuts

expression blank. "Wh

My seventh birthday party? I ate one of these and my thro

on, or maybe just anno

anceled my presentation for the Bridgerton Tower project-a project that could have made my career-to stay home and take care of you? I accidentally ate a granola bar

own discomfort, my own fear, pushed aside

rily flustered. She bent down and p

voice small. "Right.

d irritated, as if my allergy was

ates to her chest and backed out of the room, leaving me alone with the ghost of a