Shattered Trust

Ch.30: Shattered Glass

The days passed in a whirlwind after Marie Li's birth. Claire was learning how to balance her new life as a mother while navigating her complicated relationships with Liam and her friends. On the surface, things seemed to be smoothing out. She had an incredible support system: Liam was by her side, and her friends-Madison, Sarah, and Emily-were a constant source of encouragement.

But deep down, Claire could feel a storm brewing. It was the kind of quiet tension that lingered just beneath the surface, waiting to erupt. And she wasn't wrong.

One afternoon, about a week after bringing Marie Li home from the hospital, Claire sat on the couch in her apartment, feeling the gentle rise and fall of her newborn daughter's tiny body as she slept on her chest. She couldn't help but smile as she gazed down at her-Marie Li was the one thing in her life that brought pure happiness, free from all the chaos.

Liam had been working more often recently, trying to support their new life, and Claire missed him. The long hours were difficult, but they both knew it was necessary. Still, the distance between them had started to weigh on her, especially with everything she'd gone through during the pregnancy.

Her phone buzzed beside her, interrupting her thoughts. It was Sarah. Claire's heart clenched when she saw the text.

Sarah: "We need to talk. It's about Liam... I'm coming over."

Claire felt her stomach twist. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, unsure of how to respond. The last time Sarah had wanted to "talk" about Liam, it hadn't ended well. She quickly texted Madison and Emily, asking them to come over too. If this was going to be another confrontation, she didn't want to face it alone.

By the time Sarah arrived, Claire's anxiety was through the roof. Sarah's expression was serious as she stepped into the apartment, her eyes immediately darting toward Marie Li, who was now resting in her bassinet.

"I don't want to upset you," Sarah began as she sat on the couch. "But you deserve to know what's been going on."

Claire's heart raced. "What are you talking about?"

Sarah handed over her phone. On the screen was a message thread between Liam and Samantha. Claire's blood ran cold. The messages were recent-too recent. Liam had been talking to Samantha again. Flirting, even. Claire scrolled through the conversation, her chest tightening with every word.

"How long has this been going on?" Claire whispered, her voice shaking.

"I don't know," Sarah replied softly. "But I saw them together last night. He said he was 'working late,' but he wasn't. He was with her, Claire."

Claire felt as if the floor had dropped out from beneath her. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she fought to keep them at bay. Not again. She couldn't handle this betrayal again. She had trusted Liam-especially after everything they had gone through together.

Before she could process what was happening, the door swung open, and Madison and Emily rushed in. Their expressions immediately darkened when they saw the look on Claire's face and the phone in her hands.

"What's going on?" Madison asked, sitting beside Claire and gently taking the phone from her.

Claire could barely speak, her voice breaking. "Liam... he's been talking to Samantha again. He lied about working late."

Emily's eyes widened, and Madison let out a low curse. "Are you kidding me? After everything?"

Claire felt the tears finally spill over. "I thought we were done with this. I thought... I thought he was committed to me, to Marie Li."

Madison pulled her into a tight hug as Claire sobbed. "You don't deserve this, Claire. Not after everything you've done for him."

The anger in the room was palpable, but Claire was too shattered to process it. She had given Liam everything. She had stood by him, trusted him, and even defended him when her friends had their doubts. And now, it felt like all of that had been for nothing.