When the call with her father finally ended, Lara sat motionless at the edge of the bed, phone still in hand, staring at nothing in particular.
She was relieved. Her father wasn’t angry. But still, a knot twisted quietly in her chest. That relief was fragile—because she hadn’t told him everything yet. She hadn’t told him about the annulment. About Lucas. About how final this all was becoming.
What would he say? What would Mom say?
Telling her Dad about the annulment is one thing… telling her Mom is another.
Her mother adored Lucas. Treated him like the son she never had. In her eyes, he was the perfect son-in-law. Kind, respectful, ambitious. Lara didn’t want to break her heart… but at the same time, she couldn’t keep sacrificing her own.
They’ll understand, she told herself, they hav
