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"How serious?" His voice was perfectly controlled.

"A TIA—a mini-stroke. He's conscious, stable. They're keeping him for observation."

He nodded, processing. Then: "How did you know?"

This was the moment. The question that demanded either truth or deception.

" I heard through the Children's Hospital Foundation network I have a friend who sits on the board," I said, the lie sliding out with shocking ease.

"Richard was supposed to attend an emergency board meeting about the new wing funding tonight. When he didn't show, someone called to check on him and found out he'd been hospitalized."

Lucas's eyes narrowed slightly. Richard no longer attends evening meetings. His schedule is strictly mornings due to his medication regimen."

My blood chilled.

"Maybe it was... maybe I misunderstood the details. The important thing is?—"

"Who specifically told you?" His voice remained calm, but something had shifted—a coolness that hadn't been there moments before.

I started the car, desperate for something to focus on besides his increasingly skeptical expression. "One of the other board members. I don't remember exactly who?—"

"Savannah." The quiet authority in his voice stopped me in my tracks.

"There was no emergency board meeting tonight. The foundation doesn't meet in the evenings, and Richard hasn't attended a meeting in six months due to his health."

The careful fabrication crumbled around me.

We sat in silence as I navigated out of the airport, each lie I'd told echoing in the space between us.

"The truth," he said finally. "Now."

I pulled over in the hospital parking lot, my hands shaking slightly as I turned off the engine.

"Miles called me this morning. He couldn't reach you and asked me to meet your flight, to tell you in person about Richard."

"And you couldn't simply tell me that because...?"

"Because I didn't know how to explain why he called me." The words came out in a rush.

"Because we've been in contact since our breakup—not romantic, just... friendly. Family updates, checking in. I never told you because it seemed harmless, but then this happened, and I realized how it would look."

Lucas went very still. "What kind of contact?"

"Texts mostly. Calls occasionally. He'll update me about Richard's health or mention running into mutual friends. Normal things."

I was making it worse with every word.

"I know I should have told you, but I didn't want to create drama over something innocent."

"Innocent." He repeated the word as if it tasted bitter.

"My son has been in regular communication with the woman I'm sleeping with, and you deemed this 'innocent' enough to hide from me."

"It wasn't hiding, exactly?—"

"What would you call it then?" His phone chimed. He glanced at it, his expression hardening further.

"Miles just landed. His Sacramento meeting ended early, and he'll meet us inside."