LORRAINE'S POVThe next few days were a struggle. After dropping my kids in school, I laid in my bed all day crying my eyes out. I felt pathetic. I felt heartbroken and used. I couldn't believe Neil would keep such a secret from me. He called me multiple times but I refused to answer. The only person on my mind was Jollie. She must have felt so hurt and betrayed by me. I needed her to know that I had nothing to do with this. I had to find her. After a few days, I worked up the courage to go to the restaurant to see her. It would be fine if she didn't want me to work for her anymore but at least, I needed to clear my end and let her know that I wasn't aware of the situation. She had been such a good friend to me and I didn't want to lose her. I threw on some clothes and rushed out the door, making my way to the restaurant. When I reached the restaurant, my heart sank. The windows were dark, and the doors were locked. There was a small sign taped to the glass that read "Closed." It fe

LORRAINE'S POV (a few days later) I hummed as I set the table for lunch for my kids. They would be back from school in an hour and I wanted everything to be ready by the time they arrived. After setting the table, I wiped my hands on a towel and reached for my phone to call Neil. It rang a few times, but he didn't pick up. I frowned, wondering what he could be doing. He told me he wouldn't be going to work today. I tried again, but there was still no answer."Maybe he's just caught up with something," I muttered to myself. Since I wasn't doing anything till the kids got back, I decided to make most of my time. I grabbed my purse and keys to get some groceries from the nearby market. As I stepped out of the house, I felt a sudden urge to stop by Neil's place. Maybe he was home and just hadn't heard his phone. It wasn't far, and I could use the walk to clear my mind. I could stop by there to say hi to him before going to get the groceries I needed. I smiled to myself as I walked. Th

LORRAINE'S POVThat morning, I heard a knock on the door. Setting my book aside, I rose from my armchair. I wondered who it could be. I wasn't expecting anyone. I stood up and opened the door. To my surprise, it was Wes. I squealed in delight when I saw him. I had missed him so much. I hadn't seen him in a while. "Hi Wes!" I said excitedly. "Hey" he said, pulling me into a tight hug. I stepped aside to let him in."I haven't seen you in a while" I said "How have you been?" ."I've been okay. I've just been busy with pack matters. You know how it is.”“Tea?” I asked, leading him into the kitchen. “That’d be great, thanks.”Inside the kitchen, I prepared enough tea for both of us. When I finally joined him at the table, Wes was already settled there. “It’s good to see you, Lorraine,” he said with a smile “You look well"“Thanks. It’s good to see you too. I’ve missed you.” He took a sip of his tea. “So, how’s everything been? How are the kids? "They're great. How about you? How’s

LORRAINE'S POVThe next day, I woke up with a huge headache. I spent the whole night crying so I wasn't surprised. Even though I was heartbroken, I had to show up for my kids and act like everything was alright. I went to their room with a forced smile. "Wake up, my angels" Slowly, I woke them up one by one, showering them with kisses. I believed my sons were the only people in this world who wouldn't betray me. They were the only ones I could count on. Their smiles made all my hard work worth it. I loved them with everything inside me. I wouldn't trade them for the world. I got them ready and dropped them off to school. When I got home, I crawled back into bed to get some sleep. I barely slept last night due to all my thoughts. I wanted to get some sleep before I started my chores for the day. A few minutes after I closed my eyes, I heard a knock on the door. I wasn't expecting anyone. Who could it be? With a loud groan, I got up and walked towards the door. When I opened it,

LORRAINE’S POVTaking a sip of my tea outside, I watched as Alex and Aiden played in the yard. Their laughter filled the air. I smiled at the sight of them. Neil crouched down beside them with a genuine smile on his face. He handed out the new toys he'd brought for them. The kids adored him, and I couldn't deny how happy they were whenever they saw him. "Look, Mom!" Aiden shouted at me, waving his toy in the air"Uncle Neil got us new toys!"I smiled and waved back. "That's wonderful, sweetheart!"Neil looked up at me from where he sat on the grass. I could see the sadness in his eyes as he stared at me. He'd been visiting us like he usually did. He always brought something for the kids, always trying to find a way back into my heart. But I couldn't let him in. Not after everything that had happened with Kylian. I decided to take a break from relationships. I was too broken. It had been years but it seemed like I wasn't fully healed yet. I still had trust issues. Plus it seemed like e