“Mom, we need to talk,” Liam said, cutting me off.
His tone made my stomach twist.
He didn’t look at me. His arms were crossed, jaw tight. Noah sat beside him, fingers knotted together so tightly I wondered if he could feel them.
I sank into the chair across from them.
“Okay, boys,” I said. “I’m listening.”
“We can’t see you anymore, Mom. We have to move out… we’re done here,” Liam said.
“What are you talking about?” My voice cracked. “Is this a joke? Are you filming something? I swear, I’m too tired for this.”
“Mom, we met our dad. We met Evan,” Noah said quietly.
The name hit like ice down my spine.
“He’s the director of our program,” Noah continued.
“The director? Keep talking.”
“He found us after orientation,” Liam added. “He saw our last name, checked our files, and asked to meet us. He said he knew you… and had been waiting to be part of our lives.”
“And you believe him?” I asked.
“He told us you kept us away from him,” Liam said. “That he tried to be involved, but you shut him out.”
“That’s not true,” I whispered. “I was 17. I told him I was pregnant, and he promised everything. Then he disappeared. No call. No message. Nothing.”
“Stop,” Liam snapped, standing up. “You say he lied—but how do we know you’re not lying?”
That hurt more than anything.
“Mom,” Noah said softly, “he told us if you don’t agree to what he wants, he’ll get us expelled. He said he’ll ruin our future.”
“And what does he want?” I asked.
“He wants to play happy family,” Liam said. “He’s trying to get on a state education board. He wants you to pretend to be his wife at a banquet.”
I couldn’t speak.
Sixteen years of sacrifice pressed down on my chest.
Then I looked at them—my boys, scared and confused.
“Boys,” I said. “Look at me.”
They did.
