Chapter 3

Those were lies meant to put me off, so of course Keith didn't believe me.

His eyes moved back and forth between me and Athena, as if he couldn't decide which way to go.

Athena said nothing either. She just gave her son a small push, and the boy was clever enough to run forward and wrap his arms around Keith's leg.

"Daddy, you don't want me anymore?"

Keith heard that.

And finally made up his mind.

"Catherine, I admit it. I wronged you."

"But I've been good to you too. You had that miscarriage and never got pregnant again all these years, and I never once blamed you. You can't stop me from keeping my own child!"

"Since you've found out now, I won't have to hide it anymore."

"You'll still be Mrs. Morton, but Athena and the boy will stay with me too. They're moving back into the house, and the two of you had better get along!"

"And you're pregnant now, you need someone to look after you. Athena has experience, she can help the nanny take care of you. Then you'll believe me and see that she's a good person!"

Athena nodded again and again.

"That's right, I know exactly where I stand."

"From now on you're my big sister. When I move in I won't fight you for anything, I'll treat you with respect!"

"Even if not for my sake, think about Keith and the child in your belly. If this blows up, it won't just hurt me, it'll hurt the two of you."

"And once your baby, Sarah, is born, my son will be good to her, I promise."

I was shaking all over with rage, and had no idea what to say.

Sarah, though, braced herself like she was facing an enemy.

"Mom, don't agree to her. I don't know how you found out about them in your last life, or why you agreed to let her into the house, but I'm certain of one thing. Agreeing to that is exactly what got you killed last time."

"You absolutely cannot repeat the same mistake."

Five:

It snapped me back to my senses at once.

I grabbed the cup off the table and hurled it at Keith. He didn't see it coming and didn't dodge, and it caught him full in the head, leaving him bleeding.

"Keith, you cheat, you feel no remorse, and now you want to have it both ways?"

"How can you be this disgusting!"

Athena had been playing so meek, but watching me strike Keith again and again, she finally couldn't hold it in.

"Catherine, can you get a grip on yourself?"

"Going by how long we've been together, Keith and I have known each other longer, and loved each other longer. If it comes down to who was first, then you're the one who came later."

"And from everything today, you can see it too, Keith loves me and our child more!"

"So whether it's first come or true love above all, I'm more fit to be Mrs. Morton than you. Yet I've swallowed my pride this far, what more do you want?"

"Don't forget, my son may be illegitimate, but he's Keith's only son!"

At that.

Athena stepped closer and murmured against my ear, in a voice only the two of us could hear.

"Either you agree to accept me, and from now on we're sisters, neither above the other, or you can wait and see. Wait for the ending this time-traveling daughter of yours predicted."

"To clear every obstacle out of my son's way, there's nothing I won't do!"

Looking at the darkness in Athena's face, I believed Sarah completely.

I didn't raise my hand again. I only let out a sigh.

"Let's divorce."

"I'll give the two of you what you want."

To my surprise, Keith wouldn't agree to a divorce.

"There are still feelings between us. Loving Athena doesn't mean I don't love you. There's no need for a divorce at all!"

"As long as you accept Athena—"

I let out a few cold laughs. I had no intention of staying any longer. I took Sarah's hand and turned to leave, but before I went, I left two hard lines behind.

"Either we divorce, or I tell the media everything that happened today."

"We'll all go down together."