"MUM IS BACK"

The moment we pulled into the driveway, my stomach dropped.

Mum’s silver Mercedes was already parked neatly in front of the house. She was back earlier than expected. My heart started hammering so hard I could feel it in my sore, swollen pussy. Every tiny movement in the car seat had been painful on the drive home, but now the pain felt secondary to the panic rising in my chest.

Louis turned off the engine and looked at me calmly. “Breathe, Scarlet. Act normal. You’re just glad your mother is home. Nothing more.”

I nodded, but my hands were shaking as I opened the car door. Walking...