Arlene
Breathe, Arlene, breathe.
I repeated the words silently, trying to calm myself as I stared at Liam. Funny how I hadn't forgotten his name after Matilda mentioned him during our car ride earlier.
The crowd blurred into a sea of curious faces as I stood frozen, stunned by Liam's sudden declaration. My father's sharp voice sliced through the tension in the room.
"Explain this, Arlene. Why have I never seen you two together? How did this happen?" His tone was more perplexed than angry, as though he were trying to solve a puzzle with missing pieces. "You’ve said nothing about a baby or a boyfriend since you returned."
The room felt suffocating, every pair of eyes fixed on me, waiting for answers. Liam, however, remained infuriatingly calm. One hand casually rested in his pocket, the
