I turned around.
Hannah, Brooke, Lila, Jenna, and Marissa stood in the doorway, staring at Jack with cold, steady eyes.
They must have come in when I didn’t return to the taxi.
On the phone, Brenda’s voice sharpened. “Jack has a friend over?”
“I’ll call you back, Brenda.” I ended the call.
“Nina was adopted,” Jack said quickly. “It’s complicated family drama—Mom wouldn’t necessarily know—”
“Enough! I can’t do this.” Nina stepped away from him. She looked at me, something like relief in her expression. “He’s lying. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gone along with the cousin story, but I’ll tell you the truth.”
“Keep quiet,” Jack snapped.
She ignored him. “We met on a dating app. He told me he was separated. We’ve been seeing each other for weeks.”
“Weeks?” I looked at Jack. He said nothing.
There was nothing left to say.
“You both need to leave,” I said.
“This is my house,” he replied.
“It’s our house,” I said. “And you don’t get to lie to me in it.”
He tried again. “Michelle, think about the kids—”
“I am thinking about the kids. Liam heard you. He knew enough to warn me not to come home.”
That shut him up.
Nina cleared her throat. “I’ll get my things?”
“Go ahead. Keep the robe. And you,” I said to Jack, “pack a bag. You’re not staying here tonight.”
“Michelle—”
“No. Tomorrow, we’re calling a lawyer.”
Moments later, we stood in the entryway. I opened the door.
A curtain shifted in the neighboring window. The taxi was still outside, engine running.
Jack walked out, head lowered. Nina followed, pausing beside me.
“I’m really sorry. I didn’t know.”
She didn’t wait for a response. She hurried to the taxi and got in.
Jack lingered on the front step like he had something to say.
I didn’t give him the chance.
I shut the door. The lock clicked.
My friends wrapped me in a group hug. They didn’t say a word—they didn’t have to. I may have lost a husband that night, but I was reminded exactly who stood by me.
And I made a promise to myself: I would never ignore my instincts again.
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