The room spun.

"What?" My voice came out hoarse, breathless. "Bloody hell, that’s not true!"

Claire stumbled back as if recoiling in horror. And then—

Footsteps thundered down the hall.

Archie burst through the door, eyes wild. He took in the scene—Zac crying, Claire’s stricken expression—and then turned to me.

"What the hell is going on?" His sharp gaze flickered between us.

Claire hiccupped, her tears flowing effortlessly. "I was just telling Wendy the truth," she sobbed. "But she—she got angry and tried to harm Zac. I tried to stop her, but she lashed out at me instead."

My stomach twisted. "What?!"

Archie’s expression darkened as he looked at his son’s red, wailing face.

"Wendy," his voice was low, dangerous. "Tell me Claire is lying."

I opened my mouth, my mind racing for words, for anything—but Zac’s cries only grew louder.

I saw it then. The way Archie’s jaw tightened. The way his eyes burned with suspicion.

And I knew—he had already made his choice.

His voice was ice when he spoke. "I can’t believe you, Wendy."

Tears pricked my eyes. "I didn’t do anything, Archie! You have to believe me!"

Archie laughed—a sharp, bitter sound.

"Believe you?" His gaze seared into me. "How many times have I believed you, Wendy? And what has it ever given me? You couldn’t even take care of your own pregnancy—when I was so looking forward to it!"

My breath hitched.

"You weren’t looking forward to it!" I snapped, my voice breaking. "You—you killed my son for him!"

A sharp crack filled the air.

Pain exploded across my cheek.

I stumbled back, my face burning. My hands trembled as I touched my skin, realising—Archie had just slapped me.

A stunned silence fell between us.

Archie exhaled slowly, shaking his head. "I can’t do this anymore," he murmured. "I won’t do this anymore. You always play the victim, Wendy. But maybe it’s time you realise—you were never the victim at all."

I stood frozen, tears blurring my vision.

But what truly shattered me—what drove the knife deeper into my chest—was what he did next.

He turned away.

Walked to Claire.

And as I watched, powerless, he reached out—stroking Zac’s head, his touch tender, affectionate.

A family.

Their family.

As if I had never even been part of his life at all.

After that argument, I decided to leave the house and head to the Harvest Café to meet Leon and discuss my divorce from Archie. He had promised to help me erase Wendy Clark’s identity for good.