The Price of a Perfect Lie

red at my bedside, his face a mask of weary concern

me," I said,

ve sent Holly to a retreat in the countrysi

aid, turning my

zed. It was an audio file from an unknown

"Jaden, my sweet boy, Daddy' s here." T

aden. Jaden. The name echoed in the empty room. He had sent her away

e me to our apartment. He drove me to a ski resort up

n in love with. He knelt before me, just like he did that

red. "I told you I' d hold your ha

ered that he had let me fal

den. He was holding Jaden' s small hands, patiently teaching him how to glide on the ice. Holly stood nearby, beaming,

t rooted to the spot. Holly saw me. She s

a video of Jaden laughing as Gregory spun him around. "Gregory i

d my mother was dying in the hospital. He had told me he w

hrough my foot. I looked down. There was a shard of glass embedded in the toe of m

dripping with venom. "Something you could never g

about my child," I h

. "He wasn' t real anyw

over, his brow furrowed. He automatically position

he demanded. "Why a

med his head into my stomach, right where my surgery scar was still healing. T

!" Jaden yelled. "Y

' t. His gaze was fixed on Holly, who had a hand pressed to her stomach,

voice laced with disappointment. "She'

Holly let out a piercing scream. "Th

o his arms and started skating furiously toward the exit.

burning gash. He didn' t even look back. The last thing I saw was Jaden, l

rly alone. A resort employee helped me up, his face full

old and shock. I called Gregory' s phone. Again. And again

ed the nurse' s offer of a wheelchair. I limped ou

He was standing outside a room, his back to

use of you, Holly almost had a miscarriage. The doctor