Twenty Five

The shock was written on both Lenora and Margaret's faces as they stood, frozen in place. Their eyes widened as they registered the fact that their private argument was no longer private. Everyone had heard everything they just said, and there was no escape now.

"This can’t be true," Julie stammered, shaking her head as if to erase the words she had just heard. "I must have heard wrong... I'm imagining things, right, Mason?"

Mason remained silent, not knowing what to say to his sister. Raven moved closer to Julie, gently placing her hands on her friend's shoulders, trying to offer some kind of comfort. But even she couldn’t comprehend the intensity of the bombshell that had just been dropped.

"Margaret," Charles’s voice broke through the silence. His face masked with growing fury, and his body trembled with anger. "What is she talking about? What 'fake pregnancy'?" He stepped toward Margaret, his voice rising. "Speak now, woman!"

Margaret flinched at the booming sound of Charles’s