I froze.
The world tilted as I stared at him, my mind struggling to make sense of what I was seeing. My heart pounded so hard I could hear it in my ears.
Aaron.
But not just any Aaron. My ex. The man who had broken my heart, shattered my trust, and disappeared from my life without a trace.
He looked just as shocked as I felt. His smile faltered, his eyes widened, and for a split second, I saw panic flicker across his face. But then—just like always—he composed himself.
“Hey,” he said smoothly, like we were old friends, like he hadn’t ghosted me after two years together.
I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t breathe.
My mother beamed, oblivious. “Isn’t this wonderful?” She clapped her hands together, completely unaware of the silent storm raging inside me. “Come in, come in! I’ve been dying for you two to meet.”
I felt my feet move forward, but it was like I wasn’t even in control. My body went numb, my mind still reeling. Aaron—my Aaron—was standing here, in my mother’s home, smiling like he wasn’t the same man who had walked out of my life and never looked back.
I sat at the dinner table, my hands gripping my lap so tightly my nails dug into my skin. Mom poured wine, humming as she moved around the kitchen, absolutely glowing with happiness.
Aaron’s eyes flicked to mine. A silent warning? A plea? I didn’t know, and I didn’t care.
“So,” I forced out, my voice tight, “how did you two meet?”
Mom giggled like a schoolgirl. “Oh, it was fate! We bumped into each other at the bookstore. He helped me reach a book on the top shelf—so charming! We started talking, and well… here we are!” She squeezed his hand, her smile so genuine it nearly broke me.
I gripped my wine glass so hard I thought it might shatter.
Aaron was good at this. He had always been good at this. Charming, smooth, saying all the right things. He had fooled me once. Now, he was fooling my mother.
I needed to get out of there.
But as I stood, he spoke.
“So, how do you like the food?” His voice was casual, but there was something beneath it—something only I would recognize.
A challenge.
I met his gaze, my heart burning with anger.
Mom had no idea who he was. No idea what he had done to me. And now, I had a choice.
I could keep the secret. Let her have her happiness.
Or I could shatter it.
The room suddenly felt too small, the air too thick. My mother deserved to know the truth. But could I do that to her?
I took a deep breath, looked into my mother’s bright, hopeful eyes, and made my decision.