Chapter 5

He fell silent.

Chloe stood beside him, one hand over her stomach and the other gripping his sleeve, her face a twisted mask of resentment.

"Fine," Austin finally muttered.

I walked into the study and printed two copies of the settlement agreement.

I laid them on the coffee table and handed Austin a pen.

The very second his pen tip hovered over the signature line, the doorbell rang.

All three of us froze.

Austin instinctively dropped the pen, staring at the entryway in dread.

I walked over and peeked through the peephole.

My stomach dropped.

It was Eleanor.

I turned back to look at Austin.

The blood instantly vanished from his face, leaving him a ghastly paper-white.

"Who is it?" he whispered, his voice cracking.

"Your mother."

Chloe sprang up from the sofa as if burned, all color draining from her skin.

"Why is she here?"

"You tell me."

The bell chimed again, followed by Eleanor’s muffled voice through the wood: "Clara, sweetie? Are you home?"

I pressed down the handle, and the door swung open. Eleanor walked in, carrying a large insulated thermos.

"You mentioned you were swamped with work, but you still need to eat properly. I made some braised pork ribs and soup for you."

As she stepped inside, her gaze swept across the living room.

Chloe was still standing awkwardly by the sofa.

The warm smile on Eleanor’s face froze.

"Who’s this?"

"Mom, this is... a coworker. She just stopped by to pick up some files," Austin blurted out, rushing forward.

Eleanor didn't buy it for a second. Her sharp gaze darted back and forth between Austin and Chloe.

"A coworker?" she asked, her voice dangerously calm. "Picking up work files at six in the morning?"

"We worked late last night. She forgot her notes."

"Where are her shoes?"

Austin looked down.

Chloe was wearing fuzzy slippers.

*My* slippers.

Eleanor slowly set the thermos down on the entryway console and walked into the living room, taking a seat on the couch.

"Clara, come sit down."

She patted the cushion beside her.

I walked over and sat down.

"Mom."

"Austin, keep your mouth shut," Eleanor commanded.

Her tone wasn't loud, but it carried an authority that snapped Austin’s jaw shut immediately.

"Clara, tell me. What is going on here?"

"Mom, it’s really nothing—" Austin tried to cut in.

"I didn't ask you."

Eleanor didn't even look his way. Her eyes stayed locked on my face.

"Clara. Tell me the truth."

I took a deep breath and looked straight at Austin.

"Mom... last night, I went into anaphylactic shock. I almost died."

Eleanor’s expression shifted instantly to shock. "What?"

"At three in the morning, Austin pushed me off the bed and told me I was making too much noise. I had to call an Uber to the ER by myself. The doctor told me that if I had been ten minutes later, I would have suffocated to death."

"Austin Davis!" Eleanor snapped her head around, her voice booming.

"Mom, let me explain—"

"While I was hooked to an IV, he was at the same hospital, holding another woman’s hand," I continued without missing a beat. "She had a scratch on her finger, and he was treating it like a tragedy. Meanwhile, his wife was dying in the other room, and he didn't care."

I paused, then pointedly glanced at Chloe.

"And one more thing. She’s pregnant. Six weeks."