Deceit and Distance

A bitter laugh escaped her. "I'm out here scrambling to pay rent, keep the lights on, get Mason to school, and take care of Mom. I don't have time or energy for anyone else's drama. I'm just... trying to survive."

As she spoke, her voice cracked. Tears spilled over, streaming down her cheeks. She wiped them away, but they kept coming.

"Gideon, you should tell Gemma about Mason," she said, her word