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...