I didn't make it far.
I barely reached the outside walkway before my knees threatened to give out. My mind was spinning so violently I thought I might collapse right there in front of strangers.
His son?
Frank's son?
No. No way. That wasn't real. That couldn't be real.
I gripped my chest, dragging in air like I was drowning.
Behind me, the restaurant door slammed open.
"Leah!"
Edward's voice. Deep. Urgent. Too close.
I took several steps away from him, shaking my head like a madwoman. "Don't. Just don't come near me."
He froze. "Leah, stop. Just listen"
"Listen?" My laugh came out broken. "To what? That I slept with my ex-husband's son? That I've been in his bed and he's been in mine and" My voice cracked. "God, Edward."
Before he could answer, the door opened again.
Footsteps. Two sets.
Frank and Vivian.
Frank's voice cut through the air like a blade.
"Son… what are you doing here?"
I flinched.
Edward stiffened beside me.
Everything in me recoiled at the word son.
Son.
Not stepson.
Not adopted son.
Biological son.
I glanced between them Frank's tense jaw, Edward's stunned confusion and I whispered, "Please tell me this is a joke."
Edward turned to me, desperation flickering in his eyes. "Leah, let me explain"
Frank interrupted like he always did, arrogant and condescending. "Edward, why are you with her?"
Her.
Like I was dirt.
Like I was nothing more than a stain he wanted scrubbed out of his life.
Vivian folded her arms, tilting her head at me. "Wow. I knew you were lonely after the divorce, Leah, but sleeping with a younger guy? I didn't think you were that desperate."
Edward shot her a glare so vicious she actually took a step back.
"Don't talk to her like that," he growled.
My stomach twisted.
Frank's eyes snapped to him. "Edward. Answer me."
"No," Edward said firmly. "Not here. Not like this."
Frank gestured at me with disgust. "Why were you sitting with my ex-wife?"
Something inside me snapped.
"You don't get to ask me anything," I spat. "You cheated on me with her" I glared at Vivian" and you destroyed our marriage like it meant nothing."
Frank scoffed. "That still doesn't explain why you're with my son."
Edward took a step closer to me. I backed away. Instinctively. Stupidly. It hurt him I could see it.
"Leah," he said gently, "I never wanted you to find out this way."
"That means you knew," I whispered.
The silence that followed was louder than any scream.
Frank's voice cut in sharply. "Of course he knew. I'm his father."
Every cell in my body detonated at once.
"You knew," I repeated, shaking. "You knew who I was. You knew what Frank did to me. You knew I was his ex-wife."
Edward's jaw clenched. "I yes. But"
"But you still slept with me."
"But you still touched me."
"But you still let me fall for you."
I backed up again, but this time my heel hit the curb. I steadied myself with a hand on a cold railing, breathing like I'd been punched.
Edward reached out, but didn't touch me. His voice dropped, thick with something like pain. "Leah, please. I need you to understand I didn't come to you because you were his ex-wife. I came to you because I wanted you. Because the moment I saw you, I"
"Don't," I whispered. "Don't say anything romantic right now. It'll only make this worse."
Frank scoffed. "Romantic? Edward, are you out of your mind? She was your stepmother. This is unacceptable."
"She was your wife," Edward snapped back. "You don't get to act righteous now."
Vivian stepped closer to Frank, touching his arm like she belonged to him. "Babe, let's just leave. This is embarrassing."
Edward looked like he wanted to punch something. Hard.
Frank pointed at me. "Stay away from my son, Leah. You've already ruined one of my relationships. You won't ruin this one too."
I barked out a shocked, humorless laugh. "Ruined? Frank, you ruined our marriage the moment you stuck your"
Edward interrupted softly, "Leah…"
When I looked at him, I wished I hadn't.
His eyes were full of something dangerous. Something tender. Something I couldn't handle right now.
I took a breath.
Then another.
Then I said the words that tasted like blood.
"This was a mistake."
Edward immediately shook his head. "No. No, don't say that."
But I kept going, tearing myself open with every syllable.
"This… you and me… whatever it was… it can't happen again."
Frank's shoulders relaxed. Vivian smirked.
Edward didn't move.
He kept his eyes on me like he was memorizing my face.
"Leah," he whispered, "don't walk away from me."
A tremor ran through my entire body.
"I have to."
Then I turned.
And this time, I didn't stop.
I didn't look back.
I didn't breathe.
I walked until I couldn't hear Edward calling my name anymore.
But even as I left him behind…
I felt the truth clawing its way up my throat…
I wasn't just hurt.
I wasn't just ashamed.
I was falling for him.
And that was the part that terrified me the most.