“Ethan Ross… I haven’t heard that name in years.”
“He told me you stole a watch from him,” I continued, my voice growing stronger. “And that you ran away with Dad after taking all his money. Is that true?”
There was a long pause. I could almost hear her heavy sigh through the phone. “Harper,” she began, “I never wanted you to know about that part of my life. I was young and desperate back then. I did things I’m not proud of.”
I felt a surge of anger mixed with sadness. “Why didn’t you ever tell me? Why did you keep this from me?”
“I was trying to protect you,” she said softly. “I didn’t want you to see that side of me. I’ve spent my whole life trying to be a better person, trying to leave that past behind.”
“Ethan wanted me to know the truth. He said there’s no point in holding onto the past, but I feel so betrayed, Mom!”
“I’m so sorry, Harper,” she whispered. “I never meant to hurt you. I was just trying to survive back then, and I made some terrible choices.”
I felt tears streaming down my face. “I don’t know what to think, Mom. I’ll drop the watch at your place. I don’t want to see it again.”
“Harper, please—” she started, but I cut her off.
“No, Mom. I need time to process this,” I said firmly. “I’ll talk to you later.”
I hung up, my heart heavy with conflicting emotions. I took off the watch and placed it on the table, staring at it for a moment. I needed to figure out how to move forward, but for now, I just needed some space.
I curled up on the couch, feeling exhausted. It had been a night full of unexpected revelations, and I wasn’t sure what to do next. All I knew was that things would never be the same again.
What should I do next?
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
