CHAPTER 125

The drive to the café was a blur of passing scenery, but my mind was stuck on one image: Justin, his hand on Regina’s back, guiding her out of the car like it was the most natural thing in the world. I couldn’t shake the sight, no matter how hard I tried to push it away. By the time Aunt Lou and I found a quiet corner in the café, the weight of it all was pressing down on me.

Aunt Lou didn’t say anything at first, just ordered us both a cup of tea. But I could see the tension in her shoulders, the way her mouth was set in a tight line. When the waitress finally left us alone, Aunt Lou leaned forward, her expression dark.

“I don’t understand how he could do that,” she began, her voice low and trembling with anger. “Bringing that woman into your home like it’s nothing. Like, it’s perfectly normal.”

I wrapped my hands around the warm cup of tea, trying to find comfort in the heat. “It’s like he’s not still married to me,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “He’s acting like Regina has