Chapter 6 - The LieThe guests were dismissed. The wedding was over.
Noah sat in a chair across from me, his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands. He hadn't moved in twenty minutes.
"I don't know where to start," he said finally. "I don't know how to fix this."
"Start by telling me you believe me," I said. "That's all I need."
He looked up. His eyes were red-rimmed. "I believe you. I can't believe I didn't see it. She was so... so good at lying."
"She's had years of practice."
He was quiet for a moment. Then he said, "I remember that night. I didn't know your name. I didn't know anything. I woke up in a hotel room, and there was a note. It said you didn't want to be found."
"I was scared," I said. "I didn't know who you were. I was just a waitress."
"And I was an ass," he said. "I should have tried harder to find you."
"You couldn't have known."
He shook his head. "I should have."
Leo was asleep in my lap, exhausted by the chaos. His little hand was curled around my thumb.
"Can I hold him?" Noah asked.
I hesitated. Then I nodded.
He lifted Leo gently, cradling him in his arms. The boy stirred but didn't wake.
"He looks like you," I said.
"I know," Noah said. "I can't believe I didn't see it."
"You saw what she wanted you to see."
He looked down at Leo, his expression soft. "I'm going to make this right," he said. "I'm going to make sure she never hurts you again. Or him. I promise."
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I wanted to believe him. But trust was hard. So hard.
I just nodded.
