Whispers of Deceit.

Chapter 13

Last night, Jared and I managed to get through the evening without mentioning Helen, and I was grateful for it. We stayed up late, just talking, and I felt like we really needed that. For a while, everything had revolved around his mother, but today he woke up to no texts from her, so he left for work around 6 a.m. I haven't heard from him since he said goodbye this morning.

It was nearly 2 p.m. by the time I finally took a late lunch. I figured I might even stretch it out a bit longer today—who knows?

As I entered the kitchen to feed Breeze, my phone started ringing. I glanced down. Jared. He never calls me while he's at work. In fact, we usually don't talk much until he gets home.

"Hey babe, you okay?" I ask, pressing the phone to my ear.

He lets out a sigh. "Look, don't be mad."

"What?" I reply, my tone flatter than I intended.

"My mum called. She wants to cook us dinner tonight."

I almost laugh. "No fucking way."

"Lia, she said she feels really bad about how she's treated you. She just wants things to go back to how they were... before everything."

"Go back to how they were? You mean, her throwing rude, judgmental comments at me while I'm expected to just smile and take it?"

"She sounded sincere this time. She was even going to call you herself to invite you, but I told her I'd talk to you first."

Classic Helen.

I'm quiet for a moment, just letting the words hang between us. Jared waits, probably hoping I'll agree to this out of some sense of obligation or the hope of keeping the peace. But I've played this game before, and I know how it ends. She pretends to make nice, we show up, and before the starter is even served, there's some passive-aggressive comment aimed squarely at me.

"Lia?" Jared's voice pulls me back. "I know you're not thrilled, but maybe this is a chance to start fresh. You know, a clean slate?"

I pace the kitchen, chewing over his words. It's not that I don't want peace—God, I want nothing more than to stop feeling like every family dinner is a battle—but I also know Helen too well. The woman doesn't apologize, not really. She manipulates, she charms, and just when you think you're in the clear, she strikes.

"I don't know, Jared. I just... I don't think I can sit through another night of her faking it, only for her to turn around and criticize everything I do the moment you leave the room."

He's quiet, and I can practically hear him wrestling with what to say next. "Look, I get it. I really do. But maybe this time will be different. Maybe she's finally realized she's gone too far."

I lean against the counter, the weight of the conversation pressing down on me. "Or maybe she's realized I'm not going anywhere, so she's trying a new tactic."

His silence tells me he knows I'm probably right, but still, I can hear the hope in his voice when he speaks again. "Can we at least give her a chance, Lia? One more time. If it's a disaster, I'll never ask again. I swear."

The exhaustion in his voice pulls at me. He's been trying so hard to balance the chaos, and I know this is hard for him too. I sigh, rubbing a hand over my face.

"Fine," I mutter. "But if she so much as looks at me sideways, I'm walking out. I'm not playing this game anymore."

Jared's relief is palpable. "Thank you, babe. I promise, if she steps out of line, we're done with this."

"We'll see." I end the call and toss the phone onto the counter, staring at the fridge like it holds all the answers.

Why does it always come to this? A pit forms in my stomach, the thought of seeing Helen again already making my skin crawl. I can't even enjoy my lunch now, knowing what's coming later.