The Cheater

Chapter 25

Two days later, Lisa stood outside Jennie's apartment, her heart pounding so loud she could hear it echo in her ears. She'd told Somi she was just going to clear her mind, but they both knew where she was heading.

Jennie opened the door, her eyes rimmed with sleeplessness. The baby, their baby, supposedly, was asleep in her arms.

"Lisa," Jennie said softly, almost afraid to breathe.

Lisa stepped inside. The apartment smelled faintly of baby powder and jasmine, a scent that tugged at old memories.

"I came because I need answers," Lisa said, her voice sharp, controlled. "Not because I trust you."

Jennie nodded slowly. "I understand."

Lisa's gaze dropped to the baby. Her tiny chest rose and fell with every breath, her lips forming the faintest pout. Something inside Lisa shifted. A strange pull, one that scared her.

"Tell me the truth," she said. "No games. No lies."

Jennie looked down at the child, her expression softening. "She's yours."

Lisa's throat went dry. "How can you say that? You-" she hesitated, the words bitter on her tongue, "you cheated on me."

Jennie's eyes shimmered with tears. "I know. I'll regret it for the rest of my life. But Gail was conceived after that. I didn't even know I was pregnant until months after we separated."

Lisa stared at her, anger and confusion warring in her chest.

"Then why didn't you tell me?"

"I wanted to," Jennie said, voice cracking. "But every time I tried, I convinced myself you'd never believe me. And maybe I didn't deserve for you to."

Lisa stepped closer, her tone trembling between fury and disbelief.

"You let me hate you more than I already did."

Jennie nodded, tears spilling now. "Because I thought it was better that way. I didn't want to ruin whatever peace you'd found. I saw you with Somi. You looked happy."

Lisa's chest ached. "You don't get to decide what I should know."

The silence that followed was heavy, filled only by the baby's soft breathing.

Lisa turned away, pressing a hand to her forehead. The truth was a jagged thing, too sharp to hold, too heavy to ignore.

When she finally spoke, her voice was low. "I need time."

Jennie nodded. "I'll wait. Whatever it takes."

Lisa hesitated before leaving, her eyes lingering on Gail one last time. The baby stirred, a tiny hand curling as if reaching for her. And for a fleeting second, something inside Lisa cracked open, a small, fragile sense of connection she didn't want to admit.
That night, back home, Somi was waiting in the living room, their daughter asleep in her crib.

"How was it?" she asked softly.

Lisa sank onto the couch, exhaustion written all over her face. "I don't know. I'm still trying to understand everything."

"Do you believe her?" Somi asked carefully.

Lisa hesitated. "Part of me wants to. The other part... doesn't know how."

Somi nodded slowly. "You don't have to decide tonight. Just... don't shut yourself off."

Lisa leaned her head against Somi's shoulder, the familiar comfort grounding her once more. "I hate that she still has this kind of power over me," she whispered.