The lake house was too small to contain secrets. Sierra knew that the moment she heard her mother’s laughter echoing from the kitchen that morning. Every wall seemed thinner here, every floorboard louder. And with Damien moving through the house like he owned more than just its walls, every step felt like a risk.
She lingered upstairs longer than usual, hoping distance would steady her. But the longer she hid in her room, the more restless she became. When she finally came down, Damien was at the counter, sleeves rolled up, slicing fruit with precise, deliberate strokes.
Vanessa stood beside him, sipping coffee and watching him with the soft smile of a woman who trusted her husband completely. The sight twisted Sierra’s stomach into knots.
“There you are,” Vanessa said warmly. “We were
