Three Tracker Alerts Led Me To Uncover My Whole Family’s Secret Betrayal Chapter 03

Three Tracker Alerts Led Me To Uncover My Whole Family’s Secret Betrayal Chapter 03

The cab beat Chase’s car there.

I stood in the shadows of the dimly lit neighborhood and watched Chase lead Piper by the hand into the townhouse right next door to my parents’.

A few minutes later, my parents walked in.

Then my brother and Sasha.

The small yard came alive with warmth and laughter.

I stood under the cold white streetlamp on the other side of the fence.

Like a clown peeking into someone else’s happiness.

My mother’s voice was soft, but her words cut straight through me.

“The day we saw this townhouse for rent, we signed right away. That way, whenever Chase comes to see Piper, he can just tell Mara he’s visiting us.”

Sasha clapped her hands.

“Genius!”

Then she sighed. “Poor Piper, though—she’ll have to stay inside a lot. Too risky to be seen running into Mara.”

Through the gaps in the fence, I caught a flicker of guilt on Chase’s face.

“I’m sorry you have to put up with this, Piper.”

Piper shook her head, eyes reddening.

“I don’t mind. As long as I’m with you.”

She forced a brave smile, and my parents looked at her with pure sympathy.

“Piper’s so understanding. Nothing like Mara…”

That near-sigh of a sentence landed on me like a weight.

I could barely keep myself together.

Sensing the tension, Sasha quickly changed the subject.

“Look—look at all the stuff I bought for my goddaughter!”

Her excited expression and the sparkle in her eyes reminded me of nights we’d hidden under the covers, back when she first found out I was with Chase. She’d poked me in the ribs and said, “You know I’m the only godmother, right?”

“Maybe it’ll be a boy,” I’d answered then.

The exact same words Piper said now.

Sasha’s face flickered for just a second.

She shook it off fast, pasted on a smile, and laughed. “Boy or girl, I’m in!”

She turned to Chase. “Have you picked out a name yet?”

Chase’s gaze dropped to Piper’s belly. He gave a small nod.

“Yeah. Holden.”

My eyes flew wide. The last thread inside me snapped.

Two years ago, Chase and I were expecting a child. Everything fell apart after I found out about the affair.

Holden—that was the name I’d chosen for the child we’d once dreamed of.

In the yard, everyone’s expression shifted.

But no one said a word.

I gripped the wooden fence so tightly my palm started to ache. I shoved the gate open.

A beat of frozen silence.

Then, in unison, they all moved to block Piper.

Chase’s face went pale.

“Mara… how…”

He stopped, his voice trembling.

“You know?”

Everyone else’s faces changed too.

But I saw it in every single one of them—wariness.

Anger burned through me so fiercely I could barely keep my composure.

“That man doesn’t get to use the name I chose for my baby.”

I pointed at Piper, my voice scraping out raw.

Chase’s face went from pale to cold.

“Mara. Don’t talk about her like that.”