My breath stumbled. For a moment I could not speak at all. Cassandra was my older sister, someone I had trusted more deeply than anyone outside my marriage.
I looked at Parker, trying to read his expression. Instead of confusion or worry, he wore a small, knowing smile. It was not cruel, but it chilled me. It felt like he had been waiting for this moment. I forced my voice to remain steady.
“How do you know that, sweetheart”
He lifted one shoulder, almost casually. “I have a surprise for you, Mom. Can you come to my room”
My heart hammered with each step as I followed him down the hallway. His laptop sat open on his desk, the blue glow of the screen illuminating his face. His fingers moved quickly. Confidently. As if he had rehearsed every click.
When the first window appeared, my breath caught. Whispered messages. Late night conversations. Reservations for a romantic dinner in Rome. All between Trent and Cassandra. My hands trembled as I scrolled further. The dates matched the departure on the plane tickets. The nicknames they used for each other were sickeningly intimate. The familiarity between them unfolded across dozens of screenshots.