“Cynthia, darling, I am your only friend here. It’s time to face the truth — my son has been cheating on you. Stop torturing yourself and just file for divorce.”
“Divorce…” The word tore out of me like a scream. My head spun as the pieces fell together. “That’s what you’ve been pushing for all along? The lipstick… the perfume…” My voice rose in horror. “Oh God, it was your Chanel I smelled on the jacket! And the lipstick—your shade!”
“Well, well. Looks like the game is up. Finally, you’re not as stupid as you look.”
Gabriel’s mask cracked.
“Mom?” Tim’s voice boomed from the doorway. He had come down, hair wet from the shower, towel draped around his shoulders. “What the hell is going on here?”
Gabriel ignored him. Her eyes locked on me.
“You really are naïve, Cynthia. Did you honestly think I would ever love you? From the moment you married my son, I knew you were wrong for him. A schoolteacher with nothing to offer but pretty smiles.”
“They were an act. I wanted you gone. What better way than to make you doubt him? A little lipstick here, a bit of perfume there. And finally, the perfect touch.”
“That’s disgusting, Gabriel!” the secretary shouted.
Gabriel flicked her hand toward the lace. “Almost worked, didn’t it? If it weren’t for her ruining everything—”
Tim’s face went pale. “You? Mother… you did all this?!”
She lifted her chin defiantly. “I did what had to be done. You deserve better.”
“No!” His voice shook with fury. “You humiliated me. You nearly destroyed my marriage. Get out.”
“Timothy—”
For the first time, Gabriel faltered. Her eyes darted between us, searching for support she no longer had. With a sharp, bitter laugh, she stalked down the driveway.
Silence crashed over us. Then, the secretary pressed the documents into my hand, muttering softly, “I’m sorry you had to go through this,” before hurrying away.
Finally, Tim turned to me.
“Cynthia, honey… I’m so sorry. I should have trusted you, should have seen what she was doing. Please… forgive me. No more endless trips. I’ll be here with you. With us.”
All I could do was collapse into his arms, clutching him as if he might vanish.
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