The Cheater [JenLisa]

Chapter 29

Somi sat in the car, her arms crossed over her chest, Liam buckled in beside her. At nine years old, Liam knew enough to understand the seriousness of today's visit, but he sat quietly, focused on his sketchpad, scribbling little cartoons to pass the time. Somi let him be—he didn't need to witness the tension she felt every second Lisa spent inside Jennie's apartment.

Somi's eyes flicked to the building across the street. The familiar white bricks of Jennie's apartment felt smaller than usual, almost fragile, but she knew what was waiting inside: Lisa, poised and precise, Gail, small and trusting, and Jennie, caught somewhere between guilt and apprehension. And somewhere in the room, she imagined Blake, silent, cold, like a shadow.

Her chest tightened. She didn't like it. Not one bit. But she forced herself to breathe.

Lisa had insisted on going alone. Somi understood why—this was about establishing a bond, something private, something that had to be hers and hers alone. Gail's existence had been hidden for years, and now that the truth was out, Lisa's place in her daughter's life had to be unshakable.

Somi knew that when Lisa walked into that apartment, she would command the room. And Somi trusted her.

"You'll be okay," Somi whispered quietly, mostly to herself. She rested a hand on Liam's small shoulder. "Lisa knows what she's doing."

Liam looked up briefly, then returned to his drawing, a faint frown still on his face. Somi smiled softly. He didn't need to speak. He didn't need to understand every detail. Somi would carry the burden for him if she had to.

Minutes passed. Somi's gaze never left the apartment. Inside, she imagined Lisa kneeling to lift Gail into her arms, holding her with careful strength, talking softly, laughing quietly, her voice calm but commanding. Jennie hovered nearby, unsure, tense, but Somi had no doubts—Lisa would not let the past or anyone else shake her.

Lisa's gaze briefly flicked toward the building, sharp, calculating, aware of every detail. Somi knew exactly what she was thinking: she was protecting Gail. She was marking her territory, silently but powerfully. Nothing—Blake, Jennie, the ghosts of the past—would threaten her child while she was present.

Finally, Lisa opened the car door.

Somi reached out immediately, brushing her hair back and steadying her. "Everything okay?" she asked softly, keeping her voice calm, controlled.

Lisa exhaled, allowing a fraction of tension to leave her shoulders. "Yes," she said firmly.

Somi nodded, her own shoulders relaxing. She could feel the weight of all the years—the betrayals, the secrets, the pain—and she knew that today was a victory, even if it was small. Lisa had claimed her place in Gail's life. She had faced the shadows without flinching.

Liam, sitting quietly beside them, looked up at Lisa. "I'm glad she has you, Dada," he said softly.
Lisa's lips curved into a tired, small smile. "She's lucky," she said, her voice steady. "And I'll make sure she always knows that."

Somi's heart swelled. This—this family, imperfect and complicated was theirs to protect. They had survived the betrayal, they had survived the lies, and they had survived the uncertainty of the past few years. And now, standing together, they were strong.

Even if Jennie hovered on the edge of guilt and confusion, Somi felt a profound sense of calm. Lisa was unshakable. She would not fall for Jennie again. She would not let anyone threaten Gail or Liam. And Somi would be there, unwavering, beside her, supporting her, protecting her family.

As they drove away from Jennie's apartment, the city humming quietly around them, Somi stole a glance at Lisa. Her fiancée's hands rested lightly on the steering wheel, her jaw set, her gaze forward. The weight of the past and the tension of the present pressed down on them both, but neither faltered.

Somi reached out, resting her hand over Lisa's. A silent acknowledgment passed between them—strength, trust, and love. No matter what shadows waited in the world, no matter what complications Jennie or Blake might throw their way, they would face it together.

Lisa, Somi, Liam, Ken—they were a unit. And in that moment, Somi knew that nothing could break them.