“How could you do this to me? To Will? ” Debbie’s voice cracked as she stared at the man I’d trusted. I stood there, arms crossed, refusing to break.
“He’s never acted like your son,” I shot back, the words tasting bitter. “I’m only human, Debbie. I can only be pushed so far. I’m not going to apologize.
Not now. Not ever. ”
She flinched, and for a second, I saw the weight of everything she’d hidden crash down on her. But I couldn’t feel sorry for her.
Not after all the lies. Not after bringing Carl into our lives and letting him tear everything apart. I glanced over at Ollie, who stood silent, his face unreadable. He was always the peacemaker, but even he looked worn out.
“You missed the signs,” Debbie muttered under her breath, and I snapped. “After everything we’ve been through, you want to call the shots now? ” I turned to leave, but she raised her voice. “You’ve got no idea what you’ve walked into.
”
I laughed, a dry, hollow sound. “You think I’m afraid of Carl? He’s two steps ahead. He always is.
And you’re just his puppet. ” Debbie shook her head, tears welling up. “That’s not why I’m here. ” I scoffed.
“Then why? To make nice? To pretend we’re a family? ” She looked at me, pleading.
“I’m trying to put things right. Ronnie isn’t to blame. ”
“Ronnie? ” I spat.
“You’re picking his side now? ” The hurt in her eyes was real, but so was my anger. I’d spent years feeling like an outsider in my own life. Now my biological mother wanted to waltz in and demand my forgiveness.
“Look at all the stuff you’ve done,” I said, my voice shaking. “It’s all too little, too late. You can’t make me responsible for all the pain you feel. ”
Debbie took a step back, her composure cracking.
“I’m doing my best. ” I shook my head. “Your best wasn’t enough. It never has been.
” She reached for me, but I pulled away. “You should go. ” She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Finally, she whispered, “Please, don’t shut me out.
” I met her gaze, cold and unyielding. “You missed all the signs, and all you know is blame. ” Her face crumpled. I felt a flicker of satisfaction, but it was hollow.
This wasn’t winning. This was just more pain. I glanced over at Ollie, who looked like he was about to say something, but I cut him off. “We’re done here.
”
Debbie turned to leave, stopping at the door. “I hope you figure out who you’re really angry at. ” I didn’t answer. The door clicked shut, and the silence filled the room.
Ollie cleared his throat. “That went well. ” I let out a bitter laugh. “She brought it on herself.
”
But as I looked around the room, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t over. Carl was still out there, manipulating everything. And Debbie had made a promise before she left. “One day I might not remember that you’re my son,” she’d said.
“And that will be your loss. ” I told myself I didn’t care. But late that night, sitting alone with my thoughts, I wondered if she was right. The next day, the phone rang.
It was an unknown number. I almost ignored it, but something made me pick up. “I know what you did,” a voice said. It wasn’t Carl.
It wasn’t Debbie. It was someone who had no reason to call me. And they knew about the night everything fell apart. “Meet me at the old pub,” they said.
“If you want the truth about your mother. ”
I hung up, my heart pounding. The truth about my mother? What else was there to know?
But as I grabbed my coat, I realized I had no choice. I had to go. Because if there was one thing I’d learned, it was that secrets had a way of destroying everything they touched. At the pub, the place was empty except for a single figure in the corner.
I walked over, eyes narrowing. “You called. ” The person looked up, and my breath caught. “You?
” I whispered. They smiled, a sad, knowing smile. “I’m sorry, Ollie. But there are things you need to know.
About your mother. About me. And about the night Debbie blamed you for everything. ”
I sat down, the world spinning.
“Start talking. ” And then they told me something that turned everything I thought I knew upside down—a secret so buried that it should never have come to light. And I realized Debbie wasn’t the only one who’d been lying to me.
The person across from me had been lying to me my whole life.
